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What makes coworking spaces the heartbeat of modern business?

In this episode of the Inclusive Growth Show, Toby Mildon chats with Ed Hobbs, National General Manager at X-Why, about how coworking spaces are evolving into hubs of inclusivity and collaboration. With 11 locations across the UK, X-Why is leading the charge in designing accessible, sustainable, and community-driven workplaces.

Key Takeaways:

• How X-Why’s commitment to B Corp principles influences workspace innovation.
• Why hybrid working has accelerated the demand for flexible office spaces.
• Practical steps X-Why takes to ensure inclusivity, from neurodiversity-friendly designs to accessible facilities.
• The role coworking spaces play in fostering collaboration and a sense of belonging.
• Insights into the future of coworking and regional expansion beyond London and Manchester.

Whether you're a business leader or a freelancer, Ed’s insights will inspire you to rethink the potential of your workplace.

If you want to build a more inclusive workplace that you can be proud of please visit our website to learn more.

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“How can businesses better support breastfeeding parents returning to work? Toby Mildon speaks with Ros McFadden, founder of MumPod and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), about the innovative steps organisations can take to foster inclusivity for new parents.”

Episode Overview
In this episode of The Inclusive Growth Podcast, Toby Mildon interviews Ros McFadden, founder of MumPod, to discuss:

• The creation of MumPod, a private, hygienic pod designed for breastfeeding parents in the workplace
• Ros’s journey from midwife to entrepreneur and how her background in design, healthcare, and personal experience inspired MumPod
• The barriers breastfeeding parents face in typical workplace environments
• Why supporting breastfeeding parents is essential for inclusivity and staff retention
• How organisations like the NHS and Apple are already implementing MumPods

Key Takeaways

• Unique Challenges for New Parents: Many parents lack dedicated spaces for breastfeeding or pumping at work, forcing them into inappropriate settings like toilets or cars.
• Innovative Solution: The MumPod is a purpose-built, cocoon-like pod providing a comfortable, hygienic, and private space designed specifically for breastfeeding.
• Supporting Inclusivity: Inclusive work environments must accommodate breastfeeding needs as part of a comprehensive diversity strategy.
• Positive Examples: Organisations like Apple and NHS hospitals have already integrated MumPods, showing leadership in supporting returning parents.

Guest Bio
Ros McFadden is the founder of MumPod and a Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), dedicated to creating practical solutions for breastfeeding parents. With a background in midwifery, design, and healthcare innovation, she’s committed to advocating for inclusivity in workplaces across the UK and beyond.

Timestamps

• 0:00 – Introduction to the episode
• 3:10 – Ros’s journey from design to healthcare to MumPod
• 10:45 – Challenges faced by breastfeeding parents in workplaces
• 20:00 – Description of the MumPod’s design and benefits
• 30:15 – Success stories from organisations like Apple and the NHS
• 40:50 – Ros’s vision for MumPod and workplace inclusivity

Call to Action
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review to support The Inclusive Growth Podcast!

Links & Resources

• MumPod: MumPod Website
• Contact Ros McFadden: LinkedIn Profile
• Toby's Book: Inclusive Growth by Toby Mildon – Available on Amazon

Contact Info

• Toby Mildon: Website

If you're enjoying this episode and looking to boost equity, inclusion, and diversity in your organisation, my team and I are here to help. Our team specialises in crafting data-driven strategies, developing inclusive leaders, designing fair recruitment processes, and enhancing disability confidence. With a blend of professional expertise and lived experience, we're ready to support you on your journey. Reach out to us through our website.

If you want to build a more inclusive workplace that you can be proud of please visit our website to learn more.

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Teaser
“Why do we make the choices we do, and how does that impact workplace inclusivity? Toby Mildon welcomes Dr Joshua Fullard, Assistant Professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School, for a deep dive into decision-making and the biases that shape our behaviour.”

Episode Overview
In this episode of The Inclusive Growth Podcast, Toby Mildon speaks with Dr Joshua Fullard about:

• The role of behavioural science in understanding decision-making
• Insights into implicit biases, such as the beauty premium and similarity bias
• How assumptions about appearance and identity impact workplace dynamics and hiring practices
• The importance of diversity in education and why it matters for student outcomes

Key Takeaways

• Exploring Behavioural Science: Dr Fullard shares insights into how behavioural science helps us understand biases and the factors influencing decisions.
• The Beauty Premium: People deemed more attractive often receive more positive outcomes, yet this ‘beauty premium’ has complex effects, including heightened performance expectations.
• Implicit Bias in Hiring: Biases, such as favouring candidates who mirror the decision-makers, impact hiring practices and workplace inclusion.
• Diversity in Education: Representation in teaching roles impacts students' self-belief, engagement, and career aspirations, highlighting a need for greater diversity among educators.

Guest Bio
Dr Joshua Fullard is an Assistant Professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School, specialising in decision-making processes, biases, and the psychology behind choices. With a strong background in applied labour economics, his research sheds light on how biases affect workplace and educational outcomes.

Timestamps

• 0:00 – Introduction to the episode
• 3:20 – Dr Fullard’s background and his journey into behavioural science
• 10:00 – What is the beauty premium, and why does it matter?
• 15:45 – Implicit biases in hiring: in-group and out-group effects
• 28:00 – Role models in education: why diversity in teachers matters
• 35:10 – Advice on fostering diversity and inclusion in schools and workplaces

Call to Action
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review to support The Inclusive Growth Podcast!

Links & Resources

• Warwick Business School: Warwick Business School Website
• Contact Dr Fullard: LinkedIn | Google Scholar – Explore Dr Fullard's research
• Toby's Book: Inclusive Growth by Toby Mildon – Available on Amazon

Contact Info

• Toby Mildon: Website

If you're enjoying this episode and looking to boost equity, inclusion, and diversity in your organisation, my team and I are here to help. Our team specialises in crafting data-driven strategies, developing inclusive leaders, designing fair recruitment processes, and enhancing disability confidence. With a blend of professional expertise and lived experience, we're ready to support you on your journey. Reach out to us through our website.

If you want to build a more inclusive workplace that you can be proud of please visit our website to learn more.

Send us a text

How can businesses unlock the potential of a multi-generational workforce? Join Toby Mildon and Michael O'Reilly, founder of the Age Diversity Network, as they discuss tackling ageism and leveraging the strengths of an age-diverse team.

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Inclusive Growth Podcast, Toby Mildon speaks with Michael O'Reilly, founder of the Age Diversity Network, about:

• The challenges and barriers older workers face in the job market
• How ageism impacts organisational culture and recruitment
• Practical strategies to attract, retain, and engage a multi-generational workforce

Key Takeaways

• Recognising Age Bias: Many organisations unconsciously exclude older candidates, missing out on their wealth of experience and unique skills.
• Redefining Recruitment: Small changes in the hiring process, such as valuing transferable skills and adjusting job descriptions, can open doors to older candidates.
• Inclusive Work Environments: Encouraging collaboration between younger and older employees fosters learning, innovation, and resilience across teams.
• Breaking Myths: Older workers are often ready to adapt, share knowledge, and even work under younger supervisors—shattering stereotypes about work preferences.

Guest Bio

Michael O'Reilly is the founder of the Age Diversity Network, an organisation committed to addressing ageism in the workplace. With a background in senior roles and lived experience of age-related barriers, Michael offers a unique perspective on how organisations can build inclusive, multi-generational teams.

Timestamps

• 0:00 – Introduction to the episode
• 3:10 – Michael shares his personal journey and inspiration behind the Age Diversity Network
• 10:45 – Common barriers older workers face when seeking employment
• 20:00 – How organisations can adapt recruitment practices to be more age-inclusive
• 30:15 – Success stories: Creating opportunities for older workers
• 40:50 – Key advice for organisations to foster age diversity

If you're enjoying this episode and looking to boost equity, inclusion, and diversity in your organisation, my team and I are here to help. Our team specialises in crafting data-driven strategies, developing inclusive leaders, designing fair recruitment processes, and enhancing disability confidence. With a blend of professional expertise and lived experience, we're ready to support you on your journey. Reach out to us through our website.

If you want to build a more inclusive workplace that you can be proud of please visit our website to learn more.

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This isn't my usual podcast episode, so you're in for a treat. This one is unique because it's 100% AI-generated. It's a bit cheesy, but I've been experimenting with Google's Notebook LM. One cool feature is that you can upload lots of documents and ask the AI to summarize them and answer questions. It can even create an AI-generated podcast episode that dives deep into whatever documents you upload.

For this experiment, I had Google's Notebook LM talk about my two books, Inclusive Growth and Building Inclusivity, along with some other materials I've recently published on my website. This episode is the result of that experiment. I hope you enjoy it! Remember, it's entirely AI-generated and a bit cheesy, but I love trying out new technologies.

In my books, I discuss how AI has a dark side due to inherent biases in its content. However, if used correctly, AI and machine learning can help accelerate diversity and inclusion. For example, I've been working with the University of Salford to see how AI can automatically analyze diversity data to give businesses real-time insights into their workforce's diversity.

More impressively, AI can analyze employee feedback and sentiment within seconds. It can identify key themes about how employees feel in the organization. You can use this data to inform your equity, diversity, and inclusion strategy. The prototype software I've built can do this analysis in split seconds.

Typically, analyzing a diversity and inclusion survey takes two or three days for a human to complete and report findings to a client. With AI, we can turn this around in mere seconds.

So sit back, enjoy this episode, and I look forward to hearing your feedback!

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Unlock the secrets to creating an inclusive workplace with Toby Mildon, author of "Building Inclusivity" and "Inclusive Growth." Learn how to transform your organization through comprehensive change management, as Mildon shares invaluable insights from his journey as a disabled professional. He likens the process of fostering inclusivity to implementing a massive IT system—requiring meticulous planning, universal buy-in, and relentless effort. Discover how diversity in thought, experience, and leadership style can revolutionize decision-making, and explore practical tools like the GC Index to ensure balanced and inclusive leadership.

We'll also dive into Toby's Perceptions Inclusive Leadership Behaviors Checklist, a powerful framework for evaluating and enhancing leader inclusivity. By embracing human-centered design, organizations can create employee experiences that break down barriers to inclusivity. Hear about real-world examples, including a standout case from Intuit, and the role of technology in fostering a culture of respect and continuous improvement. Celebrate the wins and use them as a catalyst for ongoing positive change. Join us for actionable strategies and inspiring stories that will help your workplace not only embrace inclusivity but truly thrive.

If you want to build a more inclusive workplace that you can be proud of please visit our website to learn more.

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Discover the secrets to successfully pivoting your career and enhancing workplace inclusivity in this episode of the Inclusive Growth Podcast. Join me, Toby Mildon, as I share my transformative journey from a technologist at the BBC to a diversity and inclusion specialist at Deloitte, before founding my own consultancy. Alongside me is Iesha Small, a dynamic career pivot consultant, who brings their rich experience of transitioning from mechanical engineering to teaching and later to coaching leaders. Together, we unravel the motivations and strategies behind our career changes, offering you practical advice on leveraging side hustles, personal projects, and the power of networking.

Iesha and I dissect the concept of career pivoting, shedding light on the challenges and rewards that come with significant professional shifts. From understanding the intricacies of coaching in educational leadership to exploring the creation of compelling professional portfolios, we share first-hand stories and actionable tips to guide you through your own career transitions. Iesha's journey from teaching to career coaching exemplifies how varied experiences can shape a unique approach to helping others. We emphasize the importance of personal branding, structured support, and aligning your career with personal values to navigate complex career landscapes.

Lastly, we delve into the entrepreneurial mindset and how viewing your career as a business can revolutionise your professional journey. Learn how to build confidence, especially if you're in your 40s or 50s, and how to utilise personal branding to open new opportunities. We also discuss the challenges of networking in today's world and offer solutions to stay connected. By the end of this episode, you'll be equipped with a treasure trove of strategies and insights to help you pivot your career and foster inclusivity in your workplace. Connect with Iesha on LinkedIn for further guidance and resources.

If you're enjoying this episode and looking to boost equity, inclusion, and diversity in your organisation, my team and I are here to help. Our team specialises in crafting data-driven strategies, developing inclusive leaders, designing fair recruitment processes, and enhancing disability confidence. With a blend of professional expertise and lived experience, we're ready to support you on your journey. Reach out to us through our website.

If you want to build a more inclusive workplace that you can be proud of please visit our website to learn more.

Send us a text

Unlock the transformative power of inclusive communication with our special guest, Ettie Bailey-King, an expert in inclusive and accessible communications. Join us as we explore how harmful practices in communication can perpetuate discrimination and how you can counteract this with specificity, accuracy, and respect. Ettie shares practical examples and key principles that underline the importance of mindful communication within organisations and with external stakeholders. Understand how words shape actions, perceptions, and behaviours, and learn to foster an inclusive environment through thoughtful language choices.

Ever wondered how a simple change in wording can alter your memory of an event? Discover intriguing research on language's profound impact on our judgments and societal biases. Ettie and I discuss the importance of mindfulness in word choice, particularly when it comes to marginalised groups, and the inevitable mistakes we all make in communication. From public speaking tips to insights on gendered language, we delve into the art of using language to reflect true values and encourage self-compassion and corrective actions when errors occur.

Expand your understanding of accessibility with a nuanced perspective that goes beyond specific conditions. Toby shares his experiences from the BBC, introducing the concept of permanent, temporary, and situational disabilities. We discuss practical strategies for creating inclusive communications, such as using simple language and making content available in multiple formats. Learn how to integrate these practices into your daily work and challenge narrow definitions of professionalism. For more insights, be sure to follow Ettie on LinkedIn and subscribe to her newsletter. Join us as we champion inclusive growth through better communication.

If you're enjoying this episode and looking to boost equity, inclusion, and diversity in your organisation, my team and I are here to help. Our team specialises in crafting data-driven strategies, developing inclusive leaders, designing fair recruitment processes, and enhancing disability confidence. With a blend of professional expertise and lived experience, we're ready to support you on your journey. Reach out to us through our website.

If you want to build a more inclusive workplace that you can be proud of please visit our website to learn more.

Send us a text

What if fostering a sense of belonging could be the key to overcoming resistance to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in your organisation? Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Cordell Carter, the founding director of the Aspen Institute on Belonging, as he shares his invaluable insights and personal journey. From his unique upbringing as a preacher's kid to his extensive experience at IBM and the Gates Foundation, Cordell offers a compelling narrative on how creating environments where employees feel seen, heard, and valued can drive both personal fulfilment and organisational success.

In this episode, Cordell emphasises the crucial link between organisational culture and inclusive growth, offering practical steps to cultivate an inclusive environment. Learn how simple yet impactful actions, such as a monthly book club, can build trust and understanding across all levels of your organisation. We also discuss the pyramid model of equity, equality, inclusion, and diversity, and the importance of executives understanding the 'why' behind belonging, inspired by Simon Sinek's principles. Tune in to discover how you can implement these strategies to motivate and retain talent while creating a culture of opportunity and belonging for all.

If you're enjoying this episode and looking to boost equity, inclusion, and diversity in your organisation, my team and I are here to help. Our team specialises in crafting data-driven strategies, developing inclusive leaders, designing fair recruitment processes, and enhancing disability confidence. With a blend of professional expertise and lived experience, we're ready to support you on your journey. Reach out to us through our website.

If you want to build a more inclusive workplace that you can be proud of please visit our website to learn more.