Inclusive Leaders & CEO Impact Podcast by DIAL Global
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.
Inclusive Leaders & CEO Impact Podcast by DIAL Global
The Essence of Authentic Leadership in a Diverse World with Vivien Burnett and Thomas Huscroft
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When Vivien Burnett speaks of her climb from the bustling streets of southeast London to the pinnacle of HR at HH Global, you can't help but feel the strength of her purpose. We bring you a tale of passion, not just for people but for the diversity that makes us thrive. Alongside Vivien, Thomas Huscroft joins us to share his transformation from banking to a champion of inclusion, proving that the heart of a company lies in its embrace of every individual's uniqueness.
Our conversation journeys through the fabric of leadership, interwoven with personal growth and the courage to champion others. Vivien recounts her eye-opening gap year that expanded her world view, sowing the seeds for her dedication to creating an inclusive corporate culture. Thomas, with equal fervor, discusses the profound effect belonging has on every facet of the workplace, from engagement to mental health. Together, they are the embodiment of progress, illustrating how diversity and inclusion are not just HR buzzwords but the cornerstone of a thriving business.
We wrap up with a deep dive into the essence of connection in leadership. The stories of Vivien and Thomas highlight the indispensable role of mentors, emotional intelligence, and the genuine bonds we forge along our professional journeys. Their experiences remind us of the power of authenticity and the beauty of a workplace where everyone has a voice and feels safe to be themselves. So, let their stories be your guide, a beacon for your own path to leadership and the celebration of diversity every step of the way.
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Journeys to Leadership in Diversity
Speaker 1Hello and welcome to Diverse and Inclusive Leaders . This is a show where I speak with the most inspirational and thought-provoking leaders of today and unearth their unique stories of diversity and inclusion to help inspire , educate and motivate others to make the world a better place . We're actually recording this podcast on Valentine's Day , which is ideal because we have two brilliant leaders Vivian Bernet , or Viv as we know , her and Thomas Husscroff , both from H8 Global and both with fantastic backgrounds , equally as positive about diversity , inclusion , belonging , equity , culture in all of its different guises . And , as it's Valentine's Day , we're going to be talking about the power of connection , as well as exploring Viv's and Thomas's backgrounds and how they ended up collaborating so closely in both the global HR function and also the diversity , inclusion and engagement function . So , without further ado , I'm going to hand to you , viv , and then to you , thomas , to tell us a little bit about how you came to be where you are today .
Speaker 2Okay , thanks very much , leila . So a brief background on me . I was born in Catford , which is in southeast London , in the mid-60s . I was the youngest of three girls and we lived there in an old Victorian house on the top two floors , with my grandparents on the ground floor . I do actually still today reside in that same old Victorian house in Catford and I've got to say it always has been and will continue to be one of the loves of my life my home .
Speaker 2Everyone has a variety of curveballs , difficulties , challenges that life throws at them . Our biggest shot came to us when my father died suddenly , with my mother widowed at 32 years of age , left with three children , me being the youngest . Out of this came the even closer relationship then with both immediate family and extended family , and something that has truly had a positive impact on my life and something that still exists today . I attended a very large London comprehensive school for girls where there was no real pathway for academic further education . So at the age of 15 , when I left , I took a secretarial course at a local technical college . That in actual fact led to my first job in a typing pool . You know , one of those offices that you now see in old black and white movie films . You know where there are just rows and rows of females sitting typing reports and letters using paper and carbon to produce the required number of copies . That first job took me in that business five years to work my way up to an executive PA , to the managing director . One good thing about that is I can actually still type over 100 words a minute today , so pretty handy at times .
Speaker 2The encouragement at home during that time came from the interest of my grandfather . Each evening as I arrived home , my first stop was to see my granddad in his sitting room where he would ask me all about my day . As the time went on , this made me feel really proud of what I did in the day job . What difference it made to me when there was someone so interested in what I did . I then did something that wasn't quite so common in those days . I decided to go travelling for a year .
Speaker 2So early February in 1987 , myself , with 18 strangers , took an old London route master bus from London to Kathmandu An organised trip over 18 weeks , but a trip of a lifetime to soak up and learn such diversity , as we travelled through a mound of countries through Europe , turkey , through Iran , through Syria , pakistan , india , southeast Asia and then ending up in Australia to work for the rest of my year . Diversity culture this should be celebrated in every part of our world . I was so privileged to be able to do this and have the ability to learn so much , really , from so many people with so many backgrounds , lives , beliefs . Once , back in the UK , I was ready , ready to start a job . While still young , I'd learned so much and was hungry to draw on all of those learnings and experiences as I'd grown . My drive experiences , continued encouragement from home , well and truly set me on the next path .
Speaker 2Over the next few years , I worked for a large business where , after a few years , I've moved into HR . That was the start of my HR career . Seeing the opportunity in such a career to make a difference to people and the success of businesses through them , really so . Attending college then for two nights a week whilst my family looked after my two daughters , set me the path that I am on now , which is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personal and Development , I'm now the SVP , global Head of HR within HH Global , where we have colleagues in over 60 countries , a role where I can really influence , influence best practice , change , grow opportunities for all and really encourage and look to make diversity and inclusion the norm , and I will continue to strive to do that in everything I do . But I'm now going to . That's a bit about me , my background , my passions . I'm hoping that that comes across as well . I get so enthusiastic about it . But back to you , leila .
Speaker 1It comes across superbly and it's fascinating listening to that journey and that very modest journey as well , because you've gone on to work for global blue chip organisations BMP , paravast , hh Global , which is seemingly taking over the world at the moment , and through helping businesses do well by doing good . But you've mentioned , throughout that little but also large nutshell , a whole raft of different things . The early allyship that your grandfather showed you . You know the importance of parenthood and caring responsibilities in a bereavement is a challenging piece . You know have been through that recently with my father and it really does change you as a person , changes you as a leader . But you've shown that also incredible upward social mobility and a breadth of wanting to learn about a different smorgasbord of many cultures and clearly brought that into the role as VP for HR across the different territories in which you work .
Speaker 2No , it's a good start to my life , very lucky .
Speaker 1Thomas , coming to yourself , talk to us a little about your background and how you came to where you are .
Speaker 3Okay , thank you , leila . So my story is a little different to this , but on the same themes . So I always say that I came from probably one of the best upbringings anybody could have . A lot of people probably say that about where they came from and what they did . Before I was born , my parents had moved from Durham to Staffordshire so they followed the coal fields as people kind of did in the 50s and 60s , and my dad was a miner and my mum at that time worked in a factory . She actually wired batteries for Austin cars way back when . I'm not sure what they are these days , but I think they probably went .
Speaker 3One older sister , four years older than me , who remains as bossy then as she is now and we were brought up on a pretty sprawling housing estate which was actually owned by the National Coal Board at the time and basically where the man of the house worked at the local mine . That's how you got the house and all of the men of working age within our family worked in the mine . So my mum was one of six , some of dad was one of 13 . So we had a lot of houses on the same road and mostly next to each other . So we were all together so similar to Viv in some ways . You've got your community of family close by Ours was brought together by work and actually very straightforward working cast families . On top of that , we were a very large and practicing Catholic family and we attended church and services constantly and I was actually an altar boy at our local church until the age of 18 . And also has met the Pope but that's another story which was Pope John Paul II . The story carries on with one of my dad who took on additional jobs at the time on top of all of that to save some money and they wanted to buy a house and they wanted us to move away from the estate because it was getting a bit rough . A few years later we moved and mum and dad still had the multiple jobs to pay the mortgage because they just couldn't afford to do it tonight . But they always made sure that we were together as a family on a Sunday as many as possible after church , whether that was lunch or it was a tea , because that was really important for everybody . And the picture of the story here sets up for everything else that was about ready to happen in life for me going forward as an individual very different to now .
Speaker 3I was always very distant . I never really wanted to be involved with any of the kids that worked , that kind of lived around by us and I started to read books . We weren't an academic family at all , following Emmanuel to fix the car yet , but not actually thinking about what you do for reading books . So I stuck out amongst everybody that I was around because I wasn't at playing football or climbing trees or anything like that , I was reading books . I also went to a Catholic school which was really strict and that was a public school , so it wasn't private . And I was actually bullied for three things . One is I was a bit fat . Secondly , I was a bit ginger and I got my crazy hair back there . Believe it or not , but I was also called a puff all the time and that's what I had from probably the age of 11 , 32 when I left at 16 . I did really well to be able to stay away from people at school because I had no confidence around them . So I lived my school years in the library , very happy with that , by the way . I didn't kind of know anything else and as a result , I did really well in exams .
Speaker 3I went to college to talk myself off and I had a part-time job in the supermarket on the tilles . Now , whether it was the job in the supermarket or the college or a bit of both , I actually found myself in terms of who I am today when I came out as being a gay man and I absolutely discovered boys at the time . I can tell you . So from there on in , I went to uni , which was unheard of in our family , didn't get a grant because mom and dad had all these jobs and we were just over the threshold . So I funded my accommodation and my spending by having three part-time jobs myself because I'd learned .
Speaker 3That's the way that you got things done . I'd won in a bingo , won in a nightclub after bingo and won in a bank when I wasn't at lectures . I didn't have the spare cash to go out all the time . So my dang time for me was studying and I was you know , my best friend was a library again in terms of that one . But I did very well because I was the only person in our entire family who went to the top four uni and I was the first class degree and it was pretty unheard of , but it was hard work to get there . But all of that I'd have never done without my parents and that network and family that I had around me .
Speaker 3Without all of this . The story is the fact of the bullying not feeling that you could be yourself in those environments . I actually turned down a few graduate jobs because I quite liked working at the bank , where I stayed for seven years Famous story in the early days , the branch manager at the time and I won't name the bank told me I was too gay to serve customers . I wasn't allowed to do it . I didn't think anything of it . To me it was just the way it is and you are tolerant to it . And you carried on and I actually moved into HR at the bank by accident and it was called personnel back then which bit of laughs about we've talked about a few times .
Journey to Leadership and Inclusion
Speaker 3When I had the opportunity to move into different parts of HR and indeed move from the bank seven years later , I did . I then chose to specialise outside of the standard HR things , and the reason that I did that is because I was all about improving yourself for what you wanted to do and to be the best version of what you can . And as the years have gone on , I focus very much on employee experience , but also diversity , equity and inclusion as well , and the reason that I did that was I never wanted anybody to feel like I did it at school or how I felt at work and being what was then blatant discrimination but it was never recognised as such and because I didn't want to do that , that's why I've worked over several years to lead diversity and inclusion work , which indeed I do at HH Global , as well as engagement and talent .
Speaker 3So that's where I've come from in terms of the background and what brought me into the leader and the role that I truly believe in today , which has all been a personal experience .
Speaker 1Thomas , thank you so much for sharing and it is fascinating listening to both of your stories , because you are real models we talk a lot about real models , sometimes even over role models at Dial , because you are people that have walked the walk and talk the talk and also walk the walk rather my dyslexia there but some of the parts that really resonate is that it seems very much so that you have broken through a number of the glass ceilings over the years and the work that you now do is it's sending the lift back down to other future generations of leaders , which I think is hugely impactful .
Speaker 1You both talked about what is brilliant examples of upward social mobility , but also how being different and even though it didn't feel it at the time , that difference has really supercharged some of the tenacity and the resilience to help you get to where you are today . It resonates a huge amount with myself , and I also was wasn't an alter boy , but I was an alter girl and it again spent much of my time in books and not feeling like I belonged . And you know , this concept of belonging that you've both spoken about so articulately is something I don't think we speak about really enough , because it goes to the very heart of our being .
Speaker 1I'm sure we can all remember those times , be it at school , be it in a ward room , where we've walked into a room and you know the hairs prickle on your arms and you get that sense of oh my goodness , I don't belong here . And you know it translates into the world of HR , people , engagement , diverse inclusion , belonging , equity , culture , which means different things to different people , in the sense that you know the amount of time that people spend I think it's about 30% , probably even more than that actually was a statistic I heard is that the amount of time that people spend worrying about how they fit in or worrying about that , and if you think about how people would go into engagement and then productivity and profitability , it's absolutely huge , absolutely huge .
Speaker 3It's really interesting what you said there later about the fitting in piece , because I think , as you in my story with a lot of other people it'll be . You coped with what was there and you managed to do it . And you know we've all got a different face that we can put on for different things . But some people it affects that tremendously by doing that , and I think we can see that more these days where people are saying you know it's causing mental health problems because of some of these things that happen and people with the networks that are out there , people have more support to be able to come and get some help and to voice these things .
Speaker 3And I often think back to think , well , would that have made a difference to me back then ? And absolutely would . But it's a weird one because whilst it wasn't very nice at the time , I always think I wouldn't have really changed it any other way , because that's how you got to where you want to be . And one of the things that you mentioned is you know we've kind of moved on and we've done this social mobility piece . Mine was never intended at all , it was just that I ended up being a bit clever for some reason and I went through that route . It was them , and life experiences and the people we met They've been one of them that catalysts you into certain places of being , which is that power of connection that people get together .
Speaker 2I agree with you there , thomas , because there's so many things now that open up to give individuals a lot more confidence so that you know it really is pushed with more and more networks there that you're not on your own and it's hard enough . You know there's hundreds thousands of adults out there that still feel that way .
The Power of Connection in Leadership
Speaker 2But even without those life experiences to be young and feeling that way , you know the more and more networks and more we talk about it , it's giving people those opportunities to understand no , you are not alone , there are others you can talk to . You can talk to people You're , you know you're normal , it's not just you , you know you're part of the whole community and come and talk . So to really have those interventions and those channels where people you know can go to when they're feeling alone makes so much difference .
Speaker 3It does and you know the role of business and the role of HR and leaders like ourselves and other leaders that are probably listening to this . We've come a long way in the profession to support that and I always say that you know diversity , equity , inclusion , belonging culture is not a HR thing , it's a business thing and HR enable that to happen . But it took it took something somewhere in the early 90s for that to be enabled , for HR to be able to do that , and it's a blessing that that's actually happened now , because that's brought us together on this call , but actually it's bringing people together to be the best versions of themselves they possibly can be at work .
Speaker 1It's . It's fascinating that in both stories it's been champions , be it family , be it other senior executives . That's helped propel you forward and give you that confidence . On the one hand , as you'd said , thomas , would you change it ? You know what had happened in the past ? No , because it's allowed you to become the person that you are today .
Speaker 1But , equally , the feel , very similar , you know , was that other than my own wonderful parents , who you know as adopted , so both are white British , you know didn't see anyone who was , you know , looked similar , sounded similar , any of those different things . And so you draw from the power of connection and senior executive sponsors that you look to .
Speaker 1If me it was looking at other role models , real models in business that I had facets of resonance with , that I started to look to started to almost shape and give me the confidence which sounds like you know it has with both of you and in turn you then give that confidence , that executive support , that sponsorship , that allyship that transcends throughout the roots and the leaves of the organization . Another piece to add is is also , I think , the power of emotional intelligence and vulnerability , which is is , you know , for both of you . Telling and sharing a story may not seem a big deal You're both wonderfully modest with where you've got to but equally the power that that has for others who really care about whether they can get to those lofty positions of leadership and hearing others have that element of vulnerability and humility about their journey that hasn't necessarily always been easy , that they have also felt that they didn't , you know , fit in or belong . So I think that's the , that's the presumption , isn't it , that we presume those who are in senior positions they just landed there .
Speaker 1Actually it's you know it's been hard work , it's been tenacity , and it's that you know the stories and the past and connections that you travel that have actually given you the you know the strength , the character and the skills to do what you do every day .
Speaker 3Yeah , great .
Speaker 2No , it's good .
Speaker 1I was going off and around all the hours , but I'm very excited about the conversation . So , since it is Valentine's Day , we're talking about the power of connection . Obviously , this podcast will be released in the near future and not on Valentine's Day . Let's talk about how you guys met , because it seems to me that you've you've found commonality in actually what is you know , what is difference .
Speaker 2Yeah , do you know that there's so many sayings , isn't there , whether opposites attract or stronger together , or you know that connectivity ? But Tomas and I probably first met oh , I'm going back probably 20 , 20 plus years or something like that . Another reason to sort of , like you know , give examples of our age here we were both attending a development course run by SHL and I remember going into the room and sitting on this desk and looking around and this guy who was sitting next to me , who was Tomas , and I would honestly say probably within the first two hours we have really kind of realized that power of connection . So , whilst you've heard here to various backgrounds that we had , there was still so much that we kind of had in common and I think , if I were to put a few of those commonalities out , it was passion , our drive to succeed for ourselves , but also what became really apparent in both of us was our drive to see others succeed , based on our backgrounds and what we'd , you know , learn through our experiences , whether it was at work or home life or family work , so you know , to see people succeeding from whatever background they were .
Speaker 2We were also both very passionate about future workforces , future talent , and you know it was really good as we started chatting , we were actually on that course for a full week , but we knew that connection was there for , you know , but hopefully every day .
Speaker 2But I would then say that resulted , within two months of that first meeting , was our first ever time that came about of working together for the same business , that we really worked well together . So , you know , using the words strong guard together , I truly believe , without sounding hopefully , without sounding arrogant , and remain humble that the two of us as a team enabled a much more cohesive and substantial drive towards doing what we felt the business needed and doing the best by everybody within the business that we worked in , you know , like minded people , you know , whilst at the same time always challenging each other as the best practice and what to do next to deepen , you know , anything with engagement , diversity , inclusion , because that passion we just fed off of each other , like we still do today , really , and that's how it sort of came about , thomas and I relationship .
Speaker 3Yeah , and I think Viv puts that really well . I've got a different way of describing that story .
Speaker 2Oh , good heavens .
Speaker 3So , so so , so they've done it really professionally . I do remember us sitting sitting together next to each other , and Viv turned around to me when I'm absolutely dreading this week because it's going to be really hard work , and we've got it . It was . It was all about psychometrics and the days where you had to learn all of the norm to edit and all the statistical stuff .
Speaker 3And I went oh God , I said but there's a free bar every night showing yellow and that free bar really helped that week , I have to say , in terms of what we did . And when Viv introduced me to the organization that we both worked in first time round , it was full of them it's for very clever actress and people like that and I remember going to me a lady called Mary . He was helping Viv with a lot of the OD work there and Mary turned around and said do you know what they're not like me and Viv in this business ? I'm not sure about that and they weren't . They were very different , but that difference was really important because we brought in a different personality in a different way of being around there and we had a load of fun doing it . Believe you may , so many stories , both good and probably wouldn't share on a podcast in terms of the fun that was done and the coming together of people to do something good for a business .
Speaker 2So that was quite rightly what you say there , thomas the difference that I think again without Santa arrogant that we were able to bring to that business . It was a startup business that I'd been part of two years before meeting Thomas and that was grown . We grew that business up to just over 600 people and the amount of friendships and relationships through people working together that we witnessed through through those years and many of those are amongst some of my best friends now and it was a passionate , really driven business to make it a successful business . But as part of that is because there was so much opportunity that we made available to so many people that that opportunity was grasped and really driven forward , as I say , to make the business successful as well Through . You know , it wasn't just Thomas and I , it was everybody involved but helping set that scene , helping that drive , helping that culture to move forward .
Speaker 3Yeah , and we worked across the way from my pub as well , so that was always handy .
Speaker 1And I can't even talk about culture , because it's like it's living , it's breathing , it's sleeping , it's eating .
Speaker 1It's often how we talk about diversity , is it ? You know ? It is constantly , constantly evolving and , as I'm listening to you both talk , it's like this you know , regardless of the differences and the differences of what I've set you apart , but equally , you know , you've really kind of helped support each other , driven that culture , because there are more commonalities than there are differences in some sense . And that is how do we drive and engage people and utilize , you know , the power of HR engagement , diversity as a commercial lever to drive greater business innovation and opportunity , ultimately more for future generations .
Speaker 1And you know , it always strikes me as a funny thing to say when people say not yourselves , when people say you know diversity , what is ? You know where's the , you know the commercial benefit and things like this of it and it you know it makes me think of you know how you've explained this is . We wouldn't explain why innovation or resilience and some of these critical pieces in your stories are anything else than a direct lever to business success and prosperity . Why would diversity be any different ? That's an interesting reflection listening to you both .
Speaker 2Yeah , no , it's good .
Speaker 1So , before we wrap , I've got a couple of lightning round questions and , equally , I'd love to know what ? Because diversity means different things , different people , doesn't it ? You know ? You both expressed that through the stories . You know , for me it's , you know , being adopted , being dyslexic . There's visible diversity , there's invisible diversity , different things to different people . All very much important . What does diversity mean to each of you personally ?
Speaker 2For me , I think it's really actually appreciating , respecting , enjoying everybody's differences , and that's not just about success in the workplace , it's not just about success for the individual , but it's actually the celebration of differences , you know , when you can . Really . I think it builds so much culture . There's still so much to learn and , you know , I still say a lot of that came from travelling . So young as well , I'm really opening my eyes to that . So that's what I would say it's a celebration of differences to lots of ends and lots of way of enjoying life .
Speaker 3And I think what you say there is absolutely right .
Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Leadership
Speaker 3Building on that , I always think that the more diversity you've got in an organisation because diversity is what we have , it's around everywhere and I always then think inclusion is kind of what we do to make that come alive and to give the opportunities to people and the more we can do that , the more that people can be authentic and true . And when people are like that , they're the best version of anything they could ever be . And we've got a gift that helps us to be able to do that . And you know , thankfully , the world's changed in 20 , 30 years and the attitudes have changed and organisations like Dial are helping to push that and to make some of those changes come through . And it will be different another five , 10 years time , but literally it is about bringing the best of people together and the more diverse you are , the better idea you've got and the more fun it is .
Speaker 1I totally agree . You've got to have fun when you're working , because what is the point of why ? It's the engagement that it creates , the community that it creates and some of these brilliant superpowers that you both have in mobilising , telling and bringing that together across lots of different businesses as well . So another question this is a little bit of a hard one actually what's your secret to success ? Or is there one ? Viva , I'm going to come to you first on there .
Speaker 2Okay , that's fine . I think for me there's possibly two . There's two elements to success . I think an attitude towards everyone is equal and everyone has a voice and as a result of that , I can learn from all of those voices there . And I think my other part , my secret for success is , you know , I've spoken a lot about it today is support of my direct and extended friends and family , not just in my early career , but you know , as it stands today , all around me .
Speaker 3Thanks for that , I think for me is what I just mentioned . It's about the authenticity and just be yourself . In all of the years , I've never tried to be anything else . I've just been me and I kept true to that , actually , and it's not done me any harm . To be fair , the other thing I'd say about being successful and they've stole this , setting off me years ago is always try and do your best , but never let perfect get in the way of good , Otherwise you won't get anything done .
Speaker 1I love that , and it is progress , not perfection is essentially what you guys are saying and also creating those safe spaces to be yourself , because , you know , not all organisations are as embrace of different people in different cultures , and I think that's something clearly you're proudly talking about the differences and the importance that that has , which also in itself , with you guys as being leaders , transcends a safe space for others to feel . They , in turn , can be themselves and be proud of who they are when they come to work , which is really what we all want , isn't it ? How can we ?
Speaker 1come to work , feel that we belong , do a great job and have a good time with our peers . Finally , if you are giving any advice to your younger self , this is a really interesting one . Or could be someone that is starting out on their journey , listening in , thinking oh my goodness , what is next for me ? What would you say to younger you or someone in a similar position ?
Speaker 2I think challenge the norm sooner rather than later . You know , just push a little bit harder if you don't understand something , if you aren't quite sure about something . Easier said than done , because we all grow in confidence as we get older . So it's just push a little harder . No one's going to do it for you , but you know there are support groups around you . A few years ago I was a school governor and the motto of the school was if it has to be , it starts with me . And I think I love that motto and it's really yeah , I can make a difference , I can take this forward . I wish I'd known that a little bit more on my earlier years , but I've learnt it now , so that's good . Never too late .
Speaker 1Clearly not stop to .
Speaker 3Excuse me , and I do think that hindsight is a wonderful thing . We all know that , and I always go back and think . My favourite film in the world to put it into context is the Wizard of Oz , and I always think about the lion and the Wizard of Oz , who is always after the courage , and I think courage is a gift to people and people have got different strengths within courage . If I'd have had the courage when I was younger to kind of stand up a little bit more , I probably would have been able to take on the early years a bit better than I actually did , to be fair . And of course I always feel that it's maybe stronger in the years after .
Speaker 3So if anybody came to me saying what should I do , how would you do it ? Have the courage to do the best you can , because that's all you can do . Just have the courage to do it . You might not always get it right . You might get hurt in the process that happens to everybody but there are networks and there are support groups around that you can go to and I do think that back in my younger days they were there , I just didn't know .
Speaker 1Thomas Viv , thank you so much . You've both been tremendous and I am trying to think where I start when it comes to summarising this conversation , but I will say this is that both of you have demonstrated the supreme power of connection and the fact that you know life . Being a little philosophical for a moment is sometimes . It's like a book , isn't it ?
Speaker 1You go through different chapters , you meet people and it's not you know , even until later on down that book that you sometimes realise the profound impact that people have had on you past or present , and leaders that you've looked up to who may not even have known actually that you've had . They've had that incredible impact not only on consonants but being able to aspire to be the best versions of themselves and continually improve , and some of the things that you said as well around resilience and the blockers as well as you've gone through the career really resonate and I think they will do with many people that are listening .
Speaker 1In being listening and reading a lot around stoicism of late and makes me think of one of my favourite authors , ryan Holliday , who talks about the obstacle being the way and actually how you come through and navigated these changes you know in your personal lives , often being maybe first , the second , even the third is actually paving that way for others and future generations of leaders to be able to thrive and to be able to flourish .
Speaker 1And equally , through that power of difference , that fun , that connectivity , you really used your superpowers in HR and engagement and diversity to transcend driving further engagement throughout the organisations that you've worked with . And finally , I really liked some of the pieces that you talked about when it comes to progress over perfection . You've talked about this being an evolution and the journey being an evolution , but equally HR , people , leadership , diversity , inclusion , belonging , equity , culture . It is living , it's breathing , it's sleeping and so ensuring that we stay abreast of the curve and we really utilise that as not only a commercial leave of economic growth and prosperity , but we equally utilise that to continue forging connections and driving engagement within our organisation . Thanks so much and also happy Valentine's Day to both . It's been tremendous . You're waiting for my card , thomas .
Speaker 3It's in the post .
Speaker 1What about mine , Thomas ?
Speaker 3It's in the post .
Speaker 1He said he doesn't want .
Speaker 3Where's mine ?
Speaker 1It's in the post .
Speaker 2It's in the post .
Speaker 1My name is Layla Mackenzie D'Arstranget and CEO of Dart Global . You've been listening to the Diverse , inclusive Leaders podcast show with the fantastic Viv Burnett , fc IPD Global HR Director for HH Global , and Thomas Huscross , senior employee , experienced leader and diversity and inclusion advocate . Please do make sure you listen , subscribe , pass the podcast on to anyone that you feel would be positively impacted by some of the words of our brilliant leaders . Today you can find us on Apple Spotify or you can visit us on your favourite podcast app or directly at dialglobalorg forward slash podcast . Look forward to seeing you again very soon .