In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo sits down with Claire Collins, a coach and Henley Business School Professor of Leadership, to discuss the impact of toxic work environments. Claire shares her journey from a biomedical career to becoming a law firm chief executive and, following a highly successful academic career, finding her purpose in coaching professionals who are dealing with workplace bullying. This conversation delves into identifying toxic behaviours, understanding the effects of gaslighting, and building resilience. Claire provides invaluable insights into navigating such environments, regaining confidence, and fostering better organisational cultures for all.

In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo speaks with Tarek Kamil, a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Cerkl. Tarek shares his fascinating journey, from leaving a stable career in software engineering to launching multiple tech ventures aimed at making the world a better place. They dive deep into how AI is transforming workplace communication, the importance of personalised experiences for employees, and the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech. Tarek also emphasises the value of taking risks, minimising regret, and embracing discomfort to drive personal and professional growth.

IIn this episode of Why Care? host Nadia Nagamootoo speaks with Sarah Mulindwa, who has uniquely combined her background in nursing with her passion for fashion, to become an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Sarah shares her journey from the healthcare sector to the fashion industry, highlighting the challenges and rewards of such a significant career transition. She also discusses her work in sexual health education and the importance of representation and diversity in both fashion and healthcare. This episode is a must-listen for leaders wanting to find out what more they can do to make sexual health more widely spoken about, and how to make menopause part of normal conversation.

In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo welcomes Rosie Nixon, former Editor-in-Chief of HELLO! Magazine and author of three novels - The Stylist, Amber Green Takes Manhattan and Just Between Friends - plus the Be Kind book, all about showing different types of kindness. 

Rosie shares her journey from the glamorous world of magazines to facing burnout and ultimately finding a new path focused on empowering midlife women. They discuss her innovative Reinvention Retreats, the importance of taking a pause, and how to redefine success in midlife. Rosie also opens up about the pressures of maintaining a public persona and the pivotal moment that led her to prioritise her wellbeing and personal fulfilment.

In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo welcomes Denise Hamilton, a leading DEI practitioner and author of Indivisible: How to Forge Our Differences Into a Stronger Future. Denise shares her journey from corporate America to becoming a sought-after DEI consultant, emphasising the importance of practical application and the human side of diversity, equity, and inclusion work. They discuss her innovative approach to DEI, the necessity of evolving language and practices, and how to navigate the discomfort that comes with challenging long-held beliefs. Denise also delves into her impactful charity initiative, Good Givers, which redefines how we think about giving and supporting communities in need.

In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo welcomes Dr. Sandra Upton, an esteemed DEI expert and author of Make It Last. They dive deep into Sandra's journey, from academia to consulting, and explore her eight-step DEI Propel framework designed to create sustainable and impactful DEI strategies within organisations. Sandra shares her insights on overcoming resistance, building effective DEI governance, and ensuring long-term success through practical application and continuous learning.

Welcome to the Season 5 premiere of the Why Care? podcast! In this episode, host Nadia Nagamootoo sits down with the incredibly talented Tegan Summer, a distinguished writer, producer, and lyricist whose work has graced Broadway and the West End. Get ready for an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation about the transformative power of theatre and the importance of diversity and representation in the arts.

This is a unique Why Care? episode - a live fireside chat where I am the one being interviewed! The interviewer is my dear friend, Darin de Klerk, as we discuss all things Beyond Discomfort at my Book Launch event, which took place on 21st March 2024. During our intimate conversation, we tackle the challenges of leadership development and the significance of valuing diverse perspectives. I share some insights into the soul of my new book, my personal journey growing up as a minority in the UK, navigating power dynamics, cross-cultural partnerships, and experiences with identity. We also cover more about leading with the heart, the concept of trauma and privilege, navigating discomfort, activism, allyship, and the power of empathy.

In the second special celebrity episode of Why Care? I am joined by the multi-talented, Double Olympic Champion, Dame Kelly Holmes. We dive deeper into her journey of self-discovery, personal experiences, and traumas, which she explores in her powerful memoir Unique. Kelly shares her emotional backstory in which she concealed her true identity and sexuality from the public and lived in fear for most of her life. We discuss the discriminatory military laws and systemic mistreatment of LGBTQ+ individuals in the British army, as well as the mental health impact. As a world-class athlete, Kelly opens up about the pressure to hide her sexuality, and how she overcame her fears and revealed her authentic self publicly.

In this special celebrity edition episode of Why Care? I am joined by the truly inspiring Dr Ranj to delve deeper into what drives him, his passion for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and his perspective on how to break society’s confines of masculinity. Dr. Ranj shares some personal life experiences and insightful observations, as we probe more into his upbringing, mindset, sexuality, and journey to being authentically 100% who he is. We also explore his adventurous career, his advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, and promotion of diverse and inclusive education, and one of his many books aimed at boys, How to Grow Up Amazing! The No Worries Guide for Boys.

In Episode 40 of Why Care? I am joined by the brilliant and highly entertaining David McQueen to delve deeper into his brand-new book, The Brave Leader. David shares some life experiences, powerful insights and we touch on subjects such as the importance of followership, his BRAVE framework for good leadership, and how to take a systems approach to inclusive leadership.

In Episode 39 of Why Care?, I am joined by Amber Cabral to delve into her second book, Say More About That. We cover topics including how to use the best language to stand up for change, and how organisations can nurture a positive feedback culture and ensure accountability.

In Episode 38 of Why Care?, I am joined by Jenny Garrett, Founder of Jenny Garrett Global to discuss her book, Equality Vs Equity. We discuss colourism, racial discrimination and power, and how we can assimilate our differences and create a society where we are all benefitting.

In Episode 37 of Why Care?, I speak to Jenny Vazquez-Newsum, Founder and CEO of Untapped Leadership. We discuss her book, Untapped Leadership, and we explore the concepts of contextual agility, stealth-clean up and the zone of untapped leadership. We also touch on topics such as the race penalty, imposter syndrome, and how we can redefine and redesign leadership so it is representative and inclusive of all.

In Episode 36, Sheree Atcheson, Global DEI Senior Executive at Valtech, joins me to speak about her book, Demanding More. We explore the concept of white saviourism and white feminism, and how we can all benefit from DEI. We touch on topics such as privilege, intersectional allyship, strategy and processes, inclusive technology, and growth opportunities.

In Episode 35, I speak to Catherine Garrod, Founder of Compelling Culture, to discuss the underlying concepts in her book, Conscious Inclusion, the difference between positive action and positive discrimination, why organisations struggle to take a stand against exclusionary behaviour, and the data-led, systematic approach she takes to developing a DEI strategy.

In Episode 34, I am joined by two guests: Chris Altizer, a leader and partner of Altizer Performance Partners, and, Gloria Johnson-Cusack, founder and owner of Gloria Johnson-Cusack Consulting. We discuss their book, Growing the Elephant, and how they shift the linguistic focus from ‘privilege’ to ‘earned and unearned advantage’. They offer a really helpful way to break down dimensions of power and provide tips on how we can create an advantage for all.

In Episode 33, I am joined by Amri Johnson, CEO and Founder of Inclusion Wins, to discuss the dangers of being led only by emotion and not reason, the dangers of being led by passion and not skill, and what DEI practitioners and organisations need to do to sustain DEI efforts.

In Episode 32, I am joined by Sue Unerman, Chief Transformation Officer and Global head of Relevance at EssenceMediacomX (EMX), to discuss the consequences of diversity fatigue, the significance in cultivating belonging, and the value of cognitive and demographic diversity.

In Episode 31, I am joined by Jennifer Brown, Founder and CEO of Jennifer Brown Consulting (JBC), to discuss the challenges of being an inclusive leader, how to overcome these challenges, and what inclusive leadership means.