Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace: Anti-Blackness

Diversity and inclusion in the workplace is imperative for a sustainable, competitive and innovative company and society at large. Diversity also goes beyond the outward perception of a company – it includes how the internal structures work and signal the value systems of an organization’s management or leadership team.

This series is designed by Diversify to centre Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace. We look forward to seeing you!

Join us for an important and thought-provoking discussion on the critical topic of Anti-Blackness.

In this panel discussion, we will explore the history and impact of anti-Blackness in the workplace, and the ways in which it continues to affect Black employees today. We will examine the role that implicit bias plays in perpetuating anti-Blackness, and discuss strategies for addressing and dismantling these harmful attitudes and behaviors.

Our distinguished panel of experts consist of Chisom Udeze, DEIB Strategist & Founder of Diversify and HerSpace, Ama Afrifa-Tchie, Global DEI Specialist Adviser, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Mary Waweru, Founder at Crest Impact, DEI and Social Impact Consultant and moderator Zuzana Warden. They will share their personal experiences and insights, and offer practical guidance on how to create a more inclusive workplace culture that celebrates diversity and promotes equity for all employees.

This event is for to anyone interested in learning more about this important topic, including managers, human resources professionals, and individual contributors.

This event is FREE to attend and will be held digitally.  Please register below to receive the zoom link.

Speakers:

Chisom Udeze | DEIB Strategist & Founder of Diversify and HerSpace

Chisom is an Economist, a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Strategist, and a 3 times founder of impact driven companies. She has over 14 years of experience working with organizations like the European Commission, The United Nations, ExxonMobil and The Economist Group. Chisom is analytical and a data enthusiast. She is passionate about interrogating the cross-sectoral relationship between society’s inhabitants, resources, production, technology, distribution and output. She efficiently and effectively unlocks complex systems, interprets data, forecasts socio-economic trends and conducts research.

Having lived and worked in 7 countries across 3 continents, she is highly adaptable to different circumstances and people, and thrives in uncertain environments.

As the founder of Diversify and Diversify Consult, Chisom and her team work with companies, institutions, governments and civil society to develop sustainable DEIB strategies and embed measurable diversity and inclusion initiatives in the workplace and society. In addition, in 2022, Diversify launched the Diversify Nordics Summit, the largest conference in the Nordics that gathers cross-sectoral stakeholders to amplify DEIB in the Nordics and beyond.

In 2020, she founded HerSpace, a diverse and inclusive co-creation community for all genders, with particular focus on women and non-binary people. In 2022, HerSpace launched HerTech, Women in Tech incubator, for women-led companies, with a focus on the inclusion of diverse founders. 

Chisom is a thought-leader in DEIB and a passionate advocate for mental health and wellness. She writes often on DEIB and justice related topics, some of her work is published on Forbes. 

Ama Afrifa-Tchie| Global DEI Specialist Adviser, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) | Culture & Inclusion | People Experience & Engagement Specialist, The Inclusion Agilist

Ama Afrifa-Tchie is a valiant cultural builder, who’s specialism spans across people experience, workplace culture, diversity & inclusion, mental health and wellbeing and corporate responsibility. She is experienced in leading the design, analysis, and implementation of people-centric products/services, inclusion & wellbeing initiatives.

She works with senior leadership, management teams, and employee engagement to; embed and integrate organisational culture through behaviour, processes and systems, and seeks to promote a positive, inclusive, supportive work environment and company culture by developing and evolving programmes and initiatives that support the organisation’s mission and values.

As Global DEI specialist Adviser for NRC, she is responsible for leading NRC’s work to become an even more inclusive and diverse organisation and is responsible for defining and implementing policies and measures to promote and embed an organisational culture that embraces and promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in NRC. This includes designing, creating and implementing plans to promote diversity and inclusion within the organisation and to ensure a common understanding amongst managers and employees about what diversity, equity and inclusion mean throughout NRC’s country and regional offices, representative offices and at the Head Office.

Ama has built her career and expertise (over 15 years ‘experience) within different industries such as – start-ups, tech, professional services, legal, financial services, media & entertainment. She is the founder of The Inclusion Agilist (a culture and inclusion consultancy).

Ama has an LLB in Law and a MA in Public Relations and Public Communications. She is a Fellow of The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce UK.

As well as serving on MAC-UK’s Board of Trustees as vice-chair, she is also a Governor on the Board of The Boxing Academy. Previous Board roles also include former Mentoring Chair of Women in Cable & Telecommunications (WITC UK), and Trustee Board member at Artswork.

Ama’s passions and interests include travelling, fitness, outdoors activities, theatre and movies, animation, and interior decor. She is an avid foodie and loves spending time with her family and socialising with friends.

Find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ama-afrifa-tchie-frsa-9291864/

Moderator: Sayantani Saha (She/Her)
Sayantani has diverse work experience across different fields. She has worked as a copy editor in a newspaper, a buyer and merchandiser in a retail organisation and as a social media professional in various organisations back in India. At HerSpace and Diversify, she manages community events and programs, supports the organisations’ DEIB initiatives and takes care of all things social media. Through her broad range of experience, Sayatani is skilled in project management, marketing and social media and community development. Sayantani has a Bachelors in Political Science and Masters in Fashion Management.