Everyone Doing It Together 2024
At GottaBe! Ethnic, we believe in the power of collaboration, no matter where you come from, who you are, or what you do.
Since 2022, we’ve been spearheading a crucial conversation around Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I), bringing together voices that not only talk the talk but also walk the walk.
This year’s Everyone Doing It Together event, held on Thursday 10th October 2024, was no exception, delivering powerful insights and fostering meaningful dialogue among leaders from across industries.
This event has always been about amplifying the true essence of ED&I – making it more than just a buzzword, but a real, actionable force in the workplace and beyond.
This year, we were joined by inspiring speakers from organizations such as Vodafone, OLIVER, DKMS, CAFOD, and World Rugby, who shared their invaluable experiences and perspectives.
On the day
Check-in, networking, challenge walls
The day kicked off with a dynamic networking session designed to get attendees moving, mingling, and engaged right from the start.
Participants were invited to share their challenges on a board, which were later addressed by the panellists during the event. This interactive element not only made networking more engaging but also ensured that the issues most pressing to the attendees were tackled head-on.
Talk #1 – The Landscape of EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) in the UK
Nick Myers, Chief Strategy Officer at OLIVER
Tomasz Dyl, Founder & Managing Director at GottaBe! Ethnic
In discussing the challenges faced by Black marketers in the industry, Nick Myers, the Chief Strategy Officer at OLIVER highlights that one in three Black marketers drop out of their careers, often due to a lack of support and inclusion. According to him, a key factor that could help retain and empower these professionals is active sponsorship from leadership.
Marketers from diverse communities may struggle to relate to conversations or activities that are common in predominantly white environments because they do not reflect their own lived experiences. By offering targeted mentorship and understanding, leadership can create a more inclusive workplace that acknowledges and addresses the unique challenges faced by minority groups, ultimately promoting greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (ED&I) within the professional field.
Talk #2 – The power of a diverse and inclusive team
Dorothy Oduguwa, Diversity & Inclusion Lead at Vodafone UK
Peter McCleave, Managing Director at DKMS
Dorothy Oduguwa from Vodafone alongside Peter McCleave from DKMS emphasises the importance of having both role models and sponsors for individuals from diverse backgrounds, while also recognising the unique limitations each person may face.
To encourage real change, Dorothy mentioned that it is crucial to understand intersectional differences and ensure consistent follow-up to measure progress. When making organisational decisions, according to Peter, it is essential that those in leadership roles are truly representative of diverse communities, allowing for decisions that reflect a broader range of perspectives. Additionally, leaders should regularly assess their company’s ED&I (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) initiatives with a clear, honest lens to identify gaps and areas for improvement. By adopting these practices, organisations can create more inclusive environments where diversity is not only acknowledged but actively supported and integrated into decision-making processes.
Talk #3 – So… where do I start?
Lucinda Devine-Kennedy, Head of Communications at CAFOD
James Swanson, Senior Marketing Manager at World Rugby
James, Senior Marketing Manager at World Rugby, and Lucinda, Head of Communications at CAFOD, shared valuable insights on where organisations should start when it comes to ED&I initiatives. James emphasised the importance of using language that resonates with senior leadership to secure buy-in, advising that ED&I initiatives be positioned in a way that drives actionable change within the business. Lucinda also highlighted the need to bring together diverse individuals and create a safe space for conversations about how ED&I can be embedded into core business principles. She also stressed the importance of actively engaging with ED&I on an individual level, continuously learning about the topic, and not treating it as a one-off social gesture but as an ongoing commitment to creating meaningful change.
Networking & End
Networking played a crucial role at the event, serving as an important opportunity for panellists and attendees to connect, share insights, and build meaningful relationships. By engaging in these conversations, participants were able to not only expand their professional networks but also deepen their understanding of how inclusivity is diverse amongst different individuals, teams, and sectors and share knowledge that can be used back at work.
Looking Ahead: The Future of ED&I
Everyone Doing It Together wasn’t just an event – it was a living example of what making change in our industry looks like: no barriers, no biases, just collective effort.
It reinforced that true inclusion happens when we all come together, irrespective of our differences.
Want to relive the experience? Check out the full event recap by clicking here.
Excited for the next one? Register your interest for the 2025 event here.