Do you have privilege? Joanne Conway joins me to discuss this fascinating and emotive topic of privilege, the subject of her doctoral studies. "We need to be able to discuss privilege and why it is important without it devolving into misunderstanding, defensiveness, or worse. It can be a constructive conversation. Why is it important to talk about privilege at all? Because it can raise awareness about advantages and disadvantages, it challenges norms that might work against underrepresented groups" I've borrowed this quote from a 2021 Harvard Business Review article which explains why it's important to have constructive conversations about privilege. In this live chat, Joanne and I unpack what privilege is and how to have those conversations. #Inclusion

Rising up from a poor neighborhood. How can you build resilience and the mentality to "Play the cards you're dealt" and not let your circumstances be a barrier to your potential future? In the episode of the podcast our CEO Lewis Maleh is joined by Joanne Conway, Head of Inclusion & Culture at DLA Piper. Lewis and Joanne dive deep into the complexities of societal expectations and the unique challenges faced by people from low socio-economic backgrounds. They discuss how being from a poor neighborhood can negatively impact access to education and employment and we explore potential solutions to uplift this demographic. They also provide an overview of affirmative action plans and the importance of diverse recruitment strategies and their contribution towards a more inclusive and equitable workplace. Hope you enjoy the conversation! ----- Show Notes | Connect with Joanne Conway Joanne Conway's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanneconwaydlap ----- Follow us: Bentley Lewis Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2F0bq2i Bentley Lewis Website: http://www.bentleylewis.com Bentley Lewis Socials: https://linktr.ee/BentleyLewis **Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/BL_YOUTUBE

Have you ever wondered how a person's humble beginnings can shape their journey to becoming an influential leader and advocate for diversity and inclusion? Join us as we sit down with a phenomenal woman, Joanne Conway, who turns her challenging childhood into a powerful narrative of resilience and success. Joanne, the Head of Inclusion and Culture, International at DLA Piper, shares her story of growing up in disadvantaged areas and offers practical tips on how to navigate uncertainty and build strong networks. As we delve deeper into the conversation, we explore a topic that often stirs up discomfort – privilege. We share our personal journey of grappling with this concept and discuss how leaders can reflect on and address their privilege to foster inclusivity. We even provide a sneak peek into our ongoing research on creating a framework for leaders to make systemic changes in their organizations. The discussion doesn't stop there. We dive into the intricacies of diversity and inclusion in organizations, sharing our perspectives and experiences. We emphasize the need for patience, a strong foundation, and the crucial role of leaders in implementing diversity initiatives. So, tune in to enrich your understanding of diversity, inclusion, belonging, and equity in the workplace.

Building on our inaugural social mobility webinar from last year, we are delighted to bring you the next event in our ED&I series, 'Social mobility in the workforce – what questions should we ask?' in collaboration with EY UK and the Timpson Group & Foundation. Panel: Joanne Conway, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusiveness at EY UK Darren Burns, Director of Diversity & Inclusion at the Timpson Group & Head of the Timpson Foundation Eoin Canty, BIE's ED&I Lead Discussion/Chapters: 0:00 Introductions 05:56 Setting the scene 11:00 Why hire people from prison? 18:13 Intersectionality of protected ED&I characteristics for social mobility 25:10 Advantages of a diverse workforce 31:16 Translating your studies back into your work at your organisation 35:23 Hiring from a broader socio-economic point of view 41:15 Impact of the Pandemic & Cost of Living Crisis 45:46 Appetite for change 49:31 Data Collection 52:05 Building social mobility pipeline 56:46 Closing advice

Our final webinar of 2023 discusses what we have seen in the equality, diversity and inclusion sphere; were all the EDI company commitments made just part of a smoke and mirrors campaign?, reflect on why there has been a halt in EDI progress and learn valuable tips to help make actionable progress with your EDI journey and start 2024 on the right track. CEO & Founder of The Equal Group Mac Alonge and Senior EDI Consultant Simon Marshal-Wilson were joined by EDI Consultant and Founder & Director of Reboot Global Ltd Sheryl Miller and Head of Inclusion & Culture, International at DLA Piper Joanne Conway. The Equal Group’s expert EDI Consultants regularly advise forward-thinking organisations on how they can improve their EDI performance. Request a free consultation with our team to learn more.