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

"You’re not going to please everybody all of the time, but it’s really important… You can only be yourself”: Esther Stanhope - Speaker, author and personal impact expert at the Impact Guru 16.03.2021 31:55

Esther Stanhope Leila is joined by Esther Stanhope – Speaker, author and personal impact expert at the Impact Guru and former Senior Producer at the BBC. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Esther uses the superior communication skills from her media career to coach business leaders to speak well when needed · The two types of public speaker · Esther’s personal battle with Glossophobia ·...

"We as leaders have been trained to problem solve... And that's what's uncomfortable": Mita Mallick - Head of Inclusion, Equity and Impact at Carta 09.03.2021 40:18

Mita Mallick Leila is joined by Mita Mallick - Head of Inclusion, Equity and Impact at Carta. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · The bullying that Mita experienced as a child due to her Indian background · How Mita is challenging leaders to be more inclusive with their day to day practices/activities · Mita’s advice for future generation leaders and how she battles ‘impostor syndrome’ · How t...

"There’s enormous, unprecedented social value in investing in women’s sport”: Susie Petruccelli – Digital Product Manager at Atlanta Media and Author/Publisher 04.03.2021 31:51

Susie Petruccelli Leila is joined by Susie Petruccelli – Digital Product Manager at Atlanta Media and Author/Publisher. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · The moments of gender exclusion that Susie has experienced throughout her life · The lack of media coverage dedicated to women’s sport · How we can level the playing field for women’s sport compared to men’s sport RESOURCES & INFORMAT...

"We’re seeing an increased proportion of businesses that are either wholly run by females or partly run”: Bina Mehta - Partner, member of the board and Acting Chair at KPMG UK 02.03.2021 35:46

Bina Mehta Leila is joined by Bina Mehta – Partner, member of the board and Acting Chair at KPMG UK. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · Bina’s career journey to date, from moving abroad numerous times; from working in India as one of the original members of staff on the ground to joining a more established business in Canada and then coming back to the UK · Bina’s passion for “shifting the di...

"You learn an incredible amount about yourself when you're living somewhere else... You learn who you really are": Costa Delis: Head of Commercial - Classic and Head of Sales & Network - SVO at Jaguar Land Rover 25.02.2021 28:39

Costa Delis Leila is joined by Costa Delis: Head of Commercial - Classic and Head of Sales & Network - SVO at Jaguar Land Rover. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Costa found himself working in the UK after being brought up by Greek potato farmers in the USA before spending several years working in China · The most important lessons that Costa has learned from his time living/working...

"We need to work with young people as equal partners": Rania Marandos - Chief Executive of Step Up To Serve 23.02.2021 38:50

Rania Marandos Leila is joined by Rania Marandos - Chief Executive at Step Up To Serve. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Rania’s desire to work with/help people and drive sustainable change has influenced her career to date · The power of listening effectively and storytelling · Rania’s work in the charity sector at organisations such as Teach First and Step Up To Serve · How best to emp...

"As soon as we're born, we're born into this amazing model minority": Amazin LeThi - Founder of the Amazin LeThi Foundation, Keynote speaker and LGBT advocate 18.02.2021 45:53

Amazin LeThi Please note that some racist language is used briefly during this podcast. Leila is joined by Amazin Lethi - Founder of the Amazin LeThi Foundation, Keynote speaker and LGBT advocate. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Amazin recovered from her experiences of bullying in team sports and rebuilt herself as an individual athlete · The cultural challenges that the East Asian co...

“Dance is this communication whereby you can just fully be yourself and it just grounds everyone”: Bami Kuteyi – Founder of Bam Bam Boogie Dance Fitness 16.02.2021 23:18

Bami Kuteyi Leila is joined by Bami Kuteyi – Founder of Bam Bam Boogie Dance Fitness. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · What led Bami to go from working for Google to founding her own start-up business · The positive impact that twerking can have at work on mental health and fitness · Some tips on improving your twerking! RESOURCES & INFORMATION MENTIONED https://www.linkedin.com/in/ba...

“Until we spark something in that person for them to change their mentality… Then we can get the message across”: Kwoklyn Wan - Media Chef and Author of the Chinese Takeaway Cookbook & the Veggie Chinese Takeaway Cookbook 09.02.2021 47:21

Kwoklyn Wan Leila is joined by Kwoklyn Wan – Media Chef and Author of the Chinese Takeaway Cookbook & the Veggie Chinese Takeaway Cookbook. Please note that some racist terminology is used briefly during this podcast. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How a desire to bring people together inspired Kwoklyn to become a chef · How Kwoklyn creates “the perfect mouthful” through combining dif...

"It's very simple that innovation requires cognitive diversity": Heidi Spirgi - Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at Cornerstone OnDemand 28.01.2021 42:47

Heidi Spirgi Leila is joined by Heidi Spirgi - Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at Cornerstone OnDemand. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · The close links between strategy and marketing functions within businesses · The opportunity/role that business has in creating positive change in the world · The importance of using a “human message” within marketing/communications to drive empathy as...

“The boundaries of your firm extend to your supply chain, that is a representation in today’s world”: Dr Nneka Abulokwe - Founder & CEO at MicroMax Consulting, International Public Speaker and Board & Non-Executive Director at various companies 25.01.2021 52:34

Dr Nneka Abulokwe OBE Leila is joined by Dr Nneka Abulokwe OBE - Founder & CEO at MicroMax Consulting, International Public Speaker and Board & Non-Executive Director at various companies. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Nneka built a successful career for herself in the technology sector · How Nneka was given “permission to be different” by her parents during her childhood · Nn...

“I believe that mentoring creates equality of opportunity”: Herman Stewart - Founder & Chief Executive Officer at Every Child Needs a Mentor 14.01.2021 43:45

Herman Stewart Leila is joined by Herman Stewart - Founder & Chief Executive Officer at Every Child Needs a Mentor. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Herman went from playing football for Great Britain Schoolboys alongside famous players such as Paul Scholes and then later recording music to founding Every Child Needs a Mentor · How the birth of Herman’s first daughter changed both hi...

“There is good everywhere, it’s just about being able to shine a light to be able to make it possible for people to tell their stories”: David Macdonald - Director of Communications, Global Brands & Retail Pharmacy International at Walgreen Boots Alliance 12.01.2021 35:36

David Macdonald Leila is joined by David Macdonald - Director of Communications, Global Brands & Retail Pharmacy International at Walgreen Boots Alliance. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How the storytelling aspect of communications can help inspire change · How studying foreign languages helped David develop an appreciation for diversity and difference at a young age · The evolution of...

"We look at methodologies that produce real results…. like blind auditions": Mark Lomas - Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at High Speed Two (HS2) 07.01.2021 45:54

Mark Lomas Leila is joined by Mark Lomas - Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at High Speed Two (HS2). IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · Mark’s personal career journey to date, from growing up in Bermuda to moving to the UK as a 19-year old aspiring musician and then taking a role in the voluntary sector, which led to him working in Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) · The par...

"It’s the layers that make us who we are. We all have those intersectional elements”: Marc McKenna-Coles - Global Diversity & Inclusion Manager at Lloyd’s of London 05.01.2021 40:02

Marc McKenna-Coles Leila is joined by Marc McKenna-Coles - Global Diversity & Inclusion Manager at Lloyd’s of London. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Marc went from earning a degree in theatre to working with Disney in retail/cruise lines before starting his D&I career journey in financial services · The attributes that Marc believes it takes to succeed in a D&I role · What...

"There is something quite freeing in the Menopause”: Midge McCall - Group Head Engagement & Communications at ODEON Cinemas Group 29.12.2020 44:09

Midge McCall Leila is joined by Midge McCall - Group Head Engagement & Communications at ODEON Cinemas Group. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Midge experienced diversity in a person from a very young age thanks to her upbringing in Australia before moving to Japan and then latterly the UK, all the while reinventing her profession several times throughout her career. · What attracted...

"I think anyone who’s not having the conversation because they’re worried they’re going to say the wrong thing is someone who really needs to have the conversation”: Tom Fiennes - Commercial Sustainability Director at Britvic PLC 22.12.2020 37:44

Tom Fiennes Leila is joined by Tom Fiennes - Commercial Sustainability Director at Britvic PLC. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How his personal and professional lives have converged to help him get to where he is today, namely growing up as a straight white male before re-examining his sexuality later in life and then making a number of changes to his life in the workplace as a result · Th...

"If you spend millions on a project and can’t see the difference it’s made, you might feel good but so what?”: Jonathan Freeman Chief Executive Officer at CareTech Foundation and Managing Director at Earlsbrook Consulting Limited 17.12.2020 47:00

Jonathan Freeman Leila is joined by Jonathan Freeman FRSA - Chief Executive Officer at CareTech Foundation and Managing Director at Earlsbrook Consulting Limited. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · Jonathan’s career journey in the voluntary sector to date · Jonathan’s experience of the 1992 racial riots in Los Angeles · The exciting, powerful and unique contributions that the charity sector c...

"Wear your sneakers and your sequins and anything else that’s crazy and that’s you, then other people will realise that they can be themselves... And that's leadership!": Sandy Gould - VP, Talent at Verizon Media 15.12.2020 1:00:53

Sandy Gould Leila is joined by Sandy Gould - VP, Talent at Verizon Media. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Sandy’s passionate interest in comics and superheroes has influenced his career and personal philosophy (“everything is possible”) · Sandy’s career story to date, from initially training as a rabbi to starting his career in recruitment and then expanding to working in HR as well at...

"Why would you exclude talent from your business? It doesn't make any business acumen sense whatsoever": Loraine Martins - Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail 10.12.2020 39:26

Loraine Martins Leila is joined by Loraine Martins - Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Loraine’s upbringing as a young black girl in London by two parents from the ‘Windrush generation’ led to her working in the voluntary sector and, latterly, diversity and inclusion · The inherent value that can be found by studying black history for...

"You’re more powerful as a collective”: Katherine Robinson - Senior Business Development Manager at Boots UK and Vice Chair of Women of WBA-UK Business Resource Group 08.12.2020 32:03

Katherine Robinson Leila is joined by Katherine Robinson – Senior Business Development Manager at Boots UK and Vice Chair of Women of WBA-UK Business Resource Group. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · The successes and challenges that the Women of WBA-UK Business Resource Group have had since it was first founded 18 months ago · The issues with ‘impostor syndrome’ and salary negotiation issues...

"I really hope that a legacy of Covid is an appreciation of a different way of working”: Diane Lightfoot - CEO at Business Disability Forum 03.12.2020 38:41

Diane Lightfoot Leila is joined by Diane Lightfoot – CEO at Business Disability Forum and Chair Of The Board Of Trustees at the Challenging Behaviour Foundation. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Diane found herself working in the voluntary sector to help people with disabilities at the Business Disability Forum (BDI) · The importance of recognising and developing a strong understanding o...

"The huge mistake that every single company is making is failing to hire, value, retain, promote and reward older talent”: Cindy Gallop - Founder & CEO of MakeLoveNotPorn and IfWeRanTheWorld 01.12.2020 49:30

Cindy Gallop Leila is joined by Cindy Gallop – Founder & CEO of MakeLoveNotPorn and IfWeRanTheWorld IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Cindy went from working in marketing and advertising to founding her own companies and becoming a consultant · Cindy’s unique background as a half-Asian/half-English female, and the impact that she feels this had on her own entrepreneurial streak · Cind...

"If one can find out what’s in it for them, it’s more likely that they’re going to pay attention”: Kamel Hothi – Non Executive Director at TLC Lions and Trustee/Advisor on Charity Boards 26.11.2020 38:35

Kamel Hothi Leila is joined by Kamel Hothi – Non Executive Director at TLC Lions and Trustee/Advisor on Charity Boards. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Kamel went from working in an entry level role that she disliked to building a successful career in banking thanks to her rare language skills and then later on a strong NED portfolio · The story behind the creation of Lloyds Banking Gro...

"Sitting on the floor at a refugee camp was when I realised I had the ability to give a voice and to be a voice”: Pauline Miller - Head of Talent Development, Diversity and Inclusion at Lloyd's of London 24.11.2020 37:35

Pauline Miller Leila is joined by Pauline Miller - Head of Talent Development, Diversity and Inclusion at Lloyd's of London. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT · How Pauline went from becoming pregnant in school to initially working in IT, before transitioning into her childhood dream career within HR, specialising in D&I in more recent times · How Pauline used a ‘four quadrants’ approa...