Leila McKenzie-Delis

Inclusive Leaders & CEO Impact Podcast by DIAL Global

Business EN ↓ 276 episodes

Bi-weekly podcast show featuring conversations with inspiring thought leaders of today, unearthing their unique stories of inclusion, belonging, equity, talent, culture and social impact.

Author

Leila McKenzie-Delis

Episodes

“I always try to instill in people that they need to find some level of comfort in ambiguity”: Karen Walker, Former Fortune 100 Exec, Hyper-growth Tech Advisor, Board Member, Executive Coach, Speaker, Contributor Forbes and Harvard Business Review 15.07.2021 34:52

Karen Walker Leila is joined by Karen Walker, Former Fortune 100 Exec, Hyper-growth Tech Advisor, Board Member, Executive Coach, Speaker, Contributor Forbes and Harvard Business Review. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT – · Karen’s “wow” and fruitful career journey to date. · The importance of diversity of thought. · The advice that Karen gives to CEOs and senior leaders on thriving in hy...

"Women who are driving immense change, they are really our role models" Dr Anino Emuwa, Founder & Director, Avandis Consulting 13.07.2021 41:39

Leila is joined by Dr Anino Emuwa, Founder & Director, Avandis Consulting IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT – · Dr Anino’s background and early career from working in finance, banking and her studies at Cambridge University · Her passion for entrepreneurship, particularly after noticing the gaps in the market for financial help for female owned businesses in Nigeria. · You’ll hear how...

“We’re guilty as a society of thinking that we’ve done and dusted that (LGBT) issue”: Mark Twigg, Executive Director, Cicero/AMO 24.06.2021 31:42

Mark Twigg Leila is joined by Mark Twigg, Executive Director, Cicero/AMO. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT – · Marks difficult up-bringing and not feeling part of his community. · Having an inclusive mindset that was one of the biggest drivers to bring Cicero to life. · How his childhood unknowingly provided him with the skills to do what he does today. · Smashing the stigma surrounding...

Windrush Day 2021 “Those early years did shape me” : Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE 22.06.2021 16:21

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE Leila is joined by Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE , Author and Founder of 'The Black Farmer’. PART 2, IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT – · ‘The Black Farmer’, bringing Wilfred’s dream to life and what the future holds for his business. · Having faith and courage in your own belief system, in your own purpose. · Wilfred’s love for the human spirit, flamenco, an...

“Our purpose says quite simply people, product, place”: Edwin Booth CBE DL 17.06.2021 32:15

Edwin Booth CBE DL Leila is joined by Edwin Booth CBE DL at Chairman & CEO at E.H. Booth & Co ltd. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT – · Changes that the supermarket chain Booths made to reconfigure the business and be more reactive through Covid-19. · Understanding the company’s culture and purpose - people, product, and place. · The importance of listening at senior level- bei...

"Society is governed through fear": Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones 15.06.2021 39:05

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE Leila is joined by Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE , Author and Founder of 'The Black Farmer’. PART 1, IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT – · Why Wilfred puts every success in his life down to guardian angels, understanding the importance and value in humanity. · Leaving his secondary school in Birmingham with no qualifications to working at the BBC (British Broadcast...

“Inclusive initiatives – it’s the employee resource groups that have really led these activities”: Ambily Banerjee 10.06.2021 43:14

Ambily Banerjee Leila is joined by Ambily Banerjee, Director, Therapeutic Groups, Global Regulatory Affairs at GSK. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT - · Ambily background and how her career was a happy accident. ·Gender equality should encompass all women. ·A common enemy amongst us all is “bias” and the solution is “allyship”. · Inclusion dialogues and initiatives leading the way....

“Delving into behavioural psychology, by the time some kids are 18 months. They understand where they fit in society:” Esther Marshall, Founder & Author of 'Sophie Says’ 08.06.2021 44:44

Esther Marshall Leila is joined by Esther Marshall, Founder & Author of 'Sophie Says’. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · Esther Marshall’s entrepreneur spirit and corporate background- former Unilever Global Lead for Gender Diversity and Inclusion. · Being a mum, a millennial leader and why it is important to be proactive and not reactive. · The inspiration behind her book...

"Advocacy at a senior level is very important ": Paul Graham - Managing Director at Britvic 01.06.2021 36:05

Paul Graham Leila is joined by Paul Graham – Managing Director at Britvic. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT - Advocacy at a senior level is very important. - How Paul dads' business and hardworking ethos helped shape and rub off on him in his growing career. - Recognising that to be successful is centred on the team around you. - Why diversity and inclusion are important. RESOURCES &am...

"We’ve gone from what has been a pretty polite conversation around diversity… to a much more passionate and urgent conversation”: Tami Erwin - EVP and Chief Executive Officer, Verizon Business at Verizon 27.05.2021 38:27

Tami Erwin Leila is joined by Tami Erwin - EVP and Chief Executive Officer, Verizon Business. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Tami’s upbringing as the daughter of a farmer/doctor gave her a grounding in compassionate leadership · Tami’s career journey to date, which started over 30 years ago at Verizon as a customer service executive and has now seen her rise through the ranks to EVP/CE...

“And that diversity, as we all know, matters”: Clive Myrie - News Correspondent and Presenter 25.05.2021 37:01

Clive Myrie Leila is joined by Clive Myrie – News Presenter and Correspondent. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · What Clive openly acknowledges as a very happy and lucky childhood, during which he attended a grammar school in Bolton after his parents emigrated to the UK from Jamaica · How Clive moved from studying law at university to a career in journalism · The ongoing lack of black fron...

"You can either choose to be a victim... Or you can choose to stand up": Tania Garrett - Vice President, International Employee Experience at Adobe 11.05.2021 34:15

Tania Garrett Leila is joined by Tania Garrett - Vice President, International Employee Experience at Adobe. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · Tania’s working-class background and how the lack of a pigeonholing approach from her parents led her to embrace a spirit of open-mindedness · How Tania dealt with being harassed by a male business leader in the workplace earlier in her career, and how...

“We’ve lost a lot of the protective factors to really look after our mental health”: Paul Farmer - Chief Executive at Mind 06.05.2021 30:58

Paul Farmer Leila is joined by Paul Farmer – Chief Executive at Mind. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How the mental health problems that Paul’s mother had and a traumatic experience for a close friend at university inspired him to work in mental health · The importance of prioritising your own mental health before that of others if needed, while also doing your best to care for others as...

“Human beings are naturally insecure”: Buta Atwal - CEO at Wrightbus and Ryse Hydrogen 04.05.2021 34:40

Buta Atwal Leila is joined by Buta Atwal – CEO at Wrightbus and Ryse Hydrogen. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Buta was first inspired to go to university and then subsequently found himself entering management training with Unilever after only applying for one job after university · How serendipity and hard work have both played a key role in Buta’s consistent progression through his c...

"Gen Z are the most diverse generation ever": Naomi Sesay - Senior Trainer/Keynote Speaker at APS Intelligence 29.04.2021 35:58

Naomi Sesay Leila is joined by Naomi Sesay - Senior Trainer/Keynote Speaker at APS Intelligence. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · Naomi’s current work training the larger FTSE-listed companies on race fluency · How getting the gender balance right can inspire greater innovation in teams · The ‘smart cities’ project that Naomi is developing to further drive greater equality, diversity and inc...

''Civilisations that have thrived are those that have attracted people from all walks of life'': Aki Hussain - Group CFO at Hiscox 27.04.2021 37:43

Aki Hussain Leila is joined by Aki Hussain – Group CFO at Hiscox. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Aki grew up as a second generation Pakistani immigrant in an industrial setting and learned to prioritise education through his father’s influence · The individuals who have been key influences on Aki’s career to date through their mentoring · The importance of diversity of thought in the b...

"We look for suppliers where they represent the diversity of our customer base and our team members as well”: Jim Townsend - Chief Procurement Officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance 20.04.2021 30:37

Jim Townsend Leila is joined by Jim Townsend - Chief Procurement Officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Jim’s career in procurement has unfolded so far after leaving school at the age of 16 and then subsequently studying at university on a part-time basis as a mature student, which led to him working for companies like General Electric and Walgreen Boots Al...

"Imagine you're putting an orchestra together... If you have a diverse range of instruments, then you can do a diverse range of music": Sam Allen - Managing Partner at Sam Allen Associates 15.04.2021 30:36

Sam Allen Leila is joined by Sam Allen - Managing Partner at Sam Allen Associates. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Sam has built a stellar career despite initial academic struggles, working her way up to board level at Greene King after successful roles at other blue chip companies and latterly founding her own executive search business · The positive impact that Diversity & Inclu...

"We are not supposed to be living in pain": Irene McGillivray - Account Management Lead at Verizon Media 13.04.2021 30:41

Irene McGillivray Leila is joined by Irene McGillivray - Account Management Lead at Verizon Media. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · Irene’s international background, which has taken her from Norway to the UK, Spain and latterly Ireland, as well as her career journey to date · The work that Irene is doing to help young women with endometriosis · The pain and problems for women that endometrio...

"Financial inclusion... People don't talk about it": Ying Tan - Founder and Chief Executive at Dynamo 08.04.2021 33:52

Ying Tan Leila is joined by Ying Tan - Founder and Chief Executive at Dynamo. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · The remarkable emigration story of Ying’s father, who left Malaysia for the UK in the late 1950s; the circumstances of which still inspire Ying to this day · Ying’s career story to date, from starting out in financial services to then starting his own business · How Ying defines suc...

"What if we could really raise the bar when we talk about empowerment and engagement with employees?”: Celeste Warren - Vice President, Global Diversity & Inclusion Center of Excellence at Merck 06.04.2021 36:48

Celeste Warren Leila is joined by Celeste Warren - Vice President, Global Diversity & Inclusion Center of Excellence at Merck. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · The inspiration that Celeste’s father provided her in her childhood by leading the way as the first black principal in his region · The key aspects of Merck’s D&I strategy from a ‘top level’ perspective · The “employee awakeni...

"To say, I don't see your disability is to say, you don't see all of me": Debra Ruh and LaMondre Pough - CEO/Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ruh Global IMPACT respectively 01.04.2021 47:49

Debra Ruh and LaMondre Pough Leila is joined by Debra Ruh and LaMondre Pough - CEO/Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ruh Global IMPACT respectively. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · The culture shock that LaMondre experienced when he first became an adult and realised that the world did not view him the same way his mother did · The work that they are doing at RUH Global to make...

"You can never start your community or your network too early”: Simone Roche - CEO/Founder of Northern Power Women and Northern Power Futures 30.03.2021 37:37

Simone Roche MBE Leila is joined by Simone Roche MBE – CEO/Founder of Northern Power Women and Northern Power Futures. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Simone became an entrepreneur and found herself working in gender equality after starting her career in the Royal Navy · The power of “male advocates as agents of change” within the gender equality space RESOURCES & INFORMATION MENTI...

"Sometimes you’ve got to go back to go forward”: Julia Champion - Managing Director at Champion Talent. 23.03.2021 30:41

Julia Champion Leila is joined by Julia Champion – Managing Director at Champion Talent. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Julia developed a career in talent management · The work she is doing to encourage greater diversity among media presenters · The improved representation of local/regional accents on British TV RESOURCES & INFORMATION MENTIONED https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-c...

"Sometimes fairness may mean that you have to treat someone better": Hannah Awonuga - Vice President - Global Diversity and Inclusion at Barclays 18.03.2021 39:34

Hannah Awonuga Leila is joined by Hannah Awonuga - Vice President - Global Diversity and Inclusion at Barclays. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · What led Hannah to start her lifelong career in banking at the age of 16 and her career journey to date · The need for psychological safety in order to facilitate employees’ ability to “choose to challenge” · The sustainable change for people of co...