Creating Spaces for Inclusive Leadership: My Journey with EMpower’s SLT Advisory Group

Embracing Change and Diversity at EMpower

In recent years, EMpower has embarked on a transformative journey toward embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in every facet of our work. This journey began in earnest after the tragic murder of George Floyd in 2020, which sparked a global movement and a critical examination of systemic inequalities. For EMpower, it was a moment of profound reflection, leading to the formation of the IDEA Task Force—a volunteer group dedicated to promoting Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility within our organisation.

One key insight from the IDEA Task Force was the recognition that our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) predominantly comprises individuals from the Global North, while our staff is 50-50 split between the Global North and Global South. This realisation underscored the need for more diverse perspectives at the highest levels of our organization, prompting the creation of the Senior Leadership Team Advisory Group (SLT AG) in 2021. 

The Birth and Evolution of the SLT Advisory Group

For two years, the SLT AG and the IDEA Task Force worked in parallel, striving towards a common goal before eventually merging into a single, cohesive cohort—our current team. This unification marked a significant step in embedding DEI values deeply within EMpower’s framework.

Our Role and Mission

As a member of the SLT Advisory Group, I have the privilege of working alongside a team committed to ensuring that diverse perspectives and an inclusive lens are consistently applied to crucial areas such as staff wellbeing, talent management, workload, morale, and communications. Our mission is to identify potential blind spots and bring them to the SLT's attention, ensuring that our leadership decisions reflect our global staff's varied experiences and needs.

One key initiative we’ve been focusing on is Open-Door Sessions. These sessions create a direct line of communication between staff and leadership, providing a safe space for staff to voice their concerns, share ideas, and engage in meaningful dialogue with senior leaders. We hope to build a more transparent and responsive organizational culture by fostering open communication.

Another critical area of our work involves reviewing existing policies through an IDEA lens. It’s about making sure that our practices and procedures do not inadvertently exclude or disadvantage any group of staff members. By doing so, we aim to create an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

Challenges & Learnings

Being part of the SLT Advisory Group has been a rewarding yet challenging experience as we continue to foster an inclusive and equitable organisational culture. One of the key challenges we face is ensuring that all voices are heard and considered when making decisions that impact the organisation as a whole. Balancing individual staff needs with the overarching goals of EMpower requires a delicate approach that considers each team member's unique perspectives and experiences. 

One of the key learnings from our last year working together is the importance of finding unique ways to incorporate staff connections & safe spaces for open dialogue. An important factor when incorporating staff voices in decision-making is to ensure that spaces exist where team members feel secure in expressing their opinions & feedback. For some, large staff meetings might not be the platform where they feel most comfortable speaking up. In contrast, for others, they might prefer smaller group discussions or even communicating their thoughts in writing as opposed to saying them out loud. 

This is one example of how the SLT AG aims to make EMpower a more accessible workplace. Our ongoing mission is to find equitable solutions that address immediate concerns and foster a supportive and inclusive environment where every staff member feels valued. We are committed to navigating these complexities and driving positive change within our organisation through initiatives like Open Door Sessions and policy reviews.

Looking Ahead

As we look to the future, we are committed to further embedding IDEA principles into the daily fabric of our organization. This includes integrating EMpower values into our strategic planning, decision-making processes, and everyday interactions. By continuously advocating for and implementing equitable practices, I believe we can create a workplace that embraces diversity and leverages it to drive innovation and success.

Our journey is ongoing, and it requires the collective effort of all EMpower staff. The SLT AG is here to champion this cause, ensuring that our organisation remains committed to its core values of building trusted connections with one another. We can build a stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive EMpower.

The current SLT AG cohort includes Debbie (Argentina), Ricky (Hong Kong), Shaala (London), and myself, Lindsay (Spain). This group follows in the footsteps of the inaugural team—Mireille, Deborah, and Tanvi—who laid the foundation for the SLT AG's mission and operations and helped develop the EMpower values.