I truly value the informal, relaxed, and stimulating environment we've cultivated here at Celfocus. It's refreshing to feel the freedom to connect and learn from anyone, regardless of their position in the company. This openness fosters creativity and encourages us to engage in initiatives that push our boundaries.

I also see room for growth. I imagine us being bolder, speaking our minds openly without being held back by office politics. If we use more energy encouraging – and acting - on different ideas, and if we make decisions more promptly, we can achieve better outcomes and a workplace that’s even more inspiring and creative where people feel like themselves.

I focus on making small meaningful steps by building connections with like-minded people.  Over the past few years, I've been fortunate to connect and collaborate with people across the company simply by reaching out. They have played a crucial role in broadening my perspectives and gaining allies in driving small-scale initiatives, whether it's sharing knowledge and insights or mentoring people in the global community.  As one of our colleagues put it, it's about 'taking the wind in our wings'.

Currently, we are encouraging people to work together while mentoring young girls to develop creative projects using technology, contributing to a more diverse STEM talent pool. At the end of the day, pardon the cliché, but it is really about changing ourselves first and influencing those around us - if we’re lucky. To overcome obstacles, I try to surround myself with people who are good at things I am not. That’s probably the smartest thing I’ve done in my life – and the toughest.

Early on, I had the opportunity to work in Mozambique on several projects that required collaborating with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. What initially seemed like a chance assignment turned out to be a transformative experience, serendipity! I gained a deeper appreciation for the value of diversity in the workplace. Engaging with people from different cultures not only broadened my perspectives but also taught me valuable lessons in empathy, communication, and cultural sensitivity.

Good intentions are often the starting point for positive actions. And can be devilish too. We can inadvertently fall into accidental exclusion, biased decisions, or micro-aggressions.

Everyone can fall prey to habits, unconscious biases or lack of awareness – even when we have a good intention. Leaning down to speak to someone in a wheelchair or speaking louder to a blind person are examples where despite our good intentions, we may inadvertently demonstrate unawareness.

One thing that truly bothers me is the everyday, subtle - often unintentional — interactions or behaviours that communicate some sort of bias toward historically marginalized groups - racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination you see in the world. Sometimes it's an “innocent joke” or an off-hand comment - “your culture is different,” (assuming that someone with a different skin tone is from a different culture); “women are __” (fill in the space with any caring or emotion-related topics); “oh that’s so gay”; are some examples, known as micro-aggressions.

We're all human beings who are prone to mistakes. It's essential to take a moment to step back and reflect on our purpose and outcomes. As humans, we naturally gravitate towards those who are similar or share viewpoints, often overlooking the diverse perspectives necessary for objective decision-making. If we find ourselves in a predominantly homogenous group, whether in terms of gender, academic and professional background, or socio-economic context, we are more prone to making biased decisions. Discuss with your team how you can intentionally encourage and value difference!

We need to consider who may be missing from the conversation, who is impacted by our actions, and who needs to be consulted to ensure all voices are heard, especially those that may conflict with our own. There is no single right answer or way to do it. Navigating this dynamic requires ongoing adaptation and a willingness to learn from others. When in doubt, just ask! Seek input and perspectives from those affected by your actions. If you want to become more aware of how biases shape our interactions, check our Preventing Unconscious Bias & Building an Inclusive Workplace training sessions here.

It doesn’t. I look for opportunities and allies elsewhere. There are a lot of people eager to change something. And we are all resistant to change at some point.

Many aspects of our community would have been considered utopias a couple of hundred years back. Meanwhile, we have established women’s rights to vote and admission to universities; homosexuality as a legal right; defined measures to protect the employment of people with special needs; made employment discrimination due to race, colour, sex, religion, or national origin, illegal; established payment of paternity leaves; elected a first female prime minister and a first homosexual politician; allowed citizens to legally change their sex; abolished the colour bar that meant African and Asian people were forced to eat and drink in separate rooms; began to learn how we can collaborate and learn in multi-generational workplaces. Can you believe these were all things that took place less than 200 years ago?

My vision is simple by design: the universal acknowledgement of every individual’s freedom – a world where people are empowered to express themselves freely and feel respected and included. At Celfocus, we are committed to building a more inclusive environment. We recognize that as our stakeholders - including the talent we seek to attract and retain, as well as the clients we collaborate with - increasingly prioritize diversity and inclusivity, creating a stimulating and respectful workplace for all becomes imperative. We are dedicated to this path of awareness and action, understanding that a diverse and inclusive environment not only enriches our company culture but also enhances our ability to innovate and serve our clients effectively.