I consider myself pretty well versed on the myriad of DE&I topics. That being said, a lot of topics I have only really read into, without having the opportunity to discuss or question those very people of which the topics are about.

It was an enlightening experience hearing things first hand.

I've personally found the experience very valuable and would recommend the training to anyone.

Adam - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

As a leader, I always aim to make people feel included, but I now know that I have my own biases and blindspots that may work against that. I took away so many lessons that I can bring back to my team and that has been immensely helpful.

Having focused time like this, with speakers that personally identify with each topic, allowed me to engage my self-awareness. Thank you for bringing us such thoughtful and enlightening content and speakers.

Ray - 2023 Diversity Ambasssador

I have to say that I think it has been a massively enlightening course and that I’ve really enjoyed the sessions. What has been the most valuable for me is to have learnt from people with lived experience of the issues they are discussing. LGBTQ+ and Gender Identity were particularly engaging in my opinion, but all the speakers have been excellent.

Richard - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

This has been one of the most impactful courses I have ever taken. I have always tried to be as unbiased and educated as I can on a range of EDI subjects but this course has given me something that I have not had before; the true and deep confidence to call myself an EDI ambassador.

Jess - 2023 Ambassador

I wanted to take this opportunity to extend my thanks for offering such an insightful and engaging group of workshops - I've really learnt so much that I will be taking forward in both my personal and professional life. I'm super grateful for the opportunity to take part and have been really impressed with the programme. Each session has been a really safe space to think through sometimes challenging and difficult topics, so thank you for that too!

Sarah - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

I have thoroughly enjoyed the training. I have learned so much from the conversations and presentations. My three main takeaways or ah-ha moments from the series were: ‘Professionalism’ can be at odds with people’s needs for no good reason (changing positions or lying down during long zoom calls). Solutions and accommodations for neurodiversity can be so simple and diverse (e.g. digital over ticking clocks!). How career expectations and trajectories often have ageist pressures (these pressures are present for both older and younger people). Thank you again. It’s been such an incredible series.

Eh-den - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

Thank you so much for offering an inclusive and respectful online space and I have really enjoyed learning about diversity in all its different forms.

Jake - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

It was particularly interesting to understand where biases can come from and how they take place in the recruitment process. Here, it was helpful to define what privilege is and how certain privileges may inherently favour some people over others -the statistics covered in this session to demonstrate racial differences in the workplace were eye-opening! I also was not previously familiar with the term, ‘race descriptors’, so it was interesting to learn that these are the terms that are associated with different races.

Miko - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

One of my main takeaways was how diversity drives innovation - and this comes from a place where people feel safe to bring their true self (inclusive of all aspects of their identity) to a workplace environment. As a leader I now truly understand how a sense of belonging is crucial for wellbeing, and a company/institutional culture that is inclusive will enable people to feel safe and confident that they can be themselves without fear of discrimination. I get it now in a way that I just didn’t before.

Lorenzo - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

As a cis heterosexual white woman, I have had a lot of privilege which means that I haven’t been touched by many of the issues that have been covered on this course. However, since doing this course, I have developed a real passion to do as much as I can to make institutions, activities, events (etc.), as well as life more broadly, accessible, inclusive and enjoyable. Before this course I didn’t really know how to go about doing that, but having taken this course I now have the awareness, understanding and the tools to be able to make this happen now and as I move on to the next stage in my career.

Sadie - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

I would like to thank Powered By Diversity and all of the speakers for taking the time, with openness and compassion, to teach me – I only hope that I can help to make a difference!

Yinka - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

There were a few themes that were woven throughout each of the sessions, and really stuck with me: Inclusive practices service and benefit individuals with other needs - this was something that Suraiya mentioned in her talk on Religious Inclusion, but it definitely came up in other sessions as well. I think it's really important to acknowledge that everyone benefits from a more inclusive workplace, whether that's on a practical level (like having designated, multi-use spaces, or flexible working practices) as well as in terms of having policies and procedures in place to protect people, or clear protocols to follow if something goes wrong.

Ben - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

I learned that language is important - and it's OK to ask questions if you're not sure or afraid of appearing ignorant or insensitive. Be aware of your privilege and unconscious bias and work to challenge yourself on these.

Equity - this was probably the newest concept I learnt about in the workshops - I think a couple of speakers referenced equity > equality in terms of equitable access and equitable adjustments (as opposed to reasonable adjustments). This was something I hadn't really considered before, but makes so much sense.

Juan - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

I think that the concept of 'Acceptance without Understanding' is really important. This is a key message that I've already begun sharing with people in my life. I think so often people are apt to make snap judgements based on whether or not they can understand something (often negative if they don't, or feel that they can't) that your re-framing of acceptance and understanding is useful - understanding can come from acceptance, but we shouldn't need to understand someone else's life or perspective in order to accept them. This is something that I've always believed, but it was really useful to have it articulated in this way.

Sabrina - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

As a man I took away a lot especially relating to gender differences (e.g. treatment in the workplace) and awareness about the different types of biases and discrimination...it has really opened my eyes. Exploring the day to day challenges that women can face has made me realise how the urgent need is for more work to be done - and whose responsibility that is - which was something I needed to hear.

Jeremy - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

I have had extremely valuable take-aways from each of the sessions: understanding the prevalence of sexism; which language should and shouldn’t be used and frankly just understanding what all the different terminology (from person-first language, to each of the letters in LGBTQIA+, to the difference between ‘Neurodiversity’ and ‘Neurodivergent’) means; learning where to start to become an ally or to change the world for the better in a small way; and having the confidence to ask questions, to be curious and to find out more to help the world be more accessible and inclusive. Everything has been so eye-opening!

Sky-Lindsay - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

I have thoroughly enjoyed the diverse range of sessions I have attended. It has been particularly useful and very interesting to hear from speakers who have lived experience and sound knowledge of the topics they have shared with us. The sessions have all provided a supportive and encouraging environment in which I have felt comfortable to ask questions and contribute in discussion with other attendees.

Debbie - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

It has been great to hear from so many different speakers in these sessions as they have not only provided engaging and clear discussions relating to their respective subjects but have been kind enough to candidly share with us their own individual experiences. Although I had some (basic) knowledge of the various topics presented in the sessions, my awareness and understanding of these topics has developed immensely and the sessions have not only really inspired me to continue learning more but have given me the knowledge and confidence in how to become a better ally for people.

Karage - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

The two main takeaways I have had across the board are the importance of considering intersectionality; and the importance of relating to people as individuals and asking them about what language they would prefer used to describe them and their experiences, what challenges they face, what solutions they propose and so on, but doing that in an informed way, taking responsibility for our own education and awareness. I now have the confidence to go forward and do this, thanks to this course.

Victor - 2023 Diversity Ambassador

Thank you for the work you have done to curate this course and bring this fantastic team of experts together.

Loretta - 2023 Ambassador

I’ve learnt so much from each session, and it was nice to be able to give some of my lived experiences too.

In the duration of this course, I’ve been offered another role within EDI so I’ll be taking all this learning into that role – thank you so much.

Abdi - 2023 Ambassador

I really loved this experience. It made me realise how restricted my view was in certain aspects and the limited diversity of my immediate circle of influence. The course put me in contact with people from different backgrounds I don’t have access to. This led to uncomfortable moments with myself, as I realised my own biases and conditioning.

I has definitely changed the way I look at my own biases and I challenge my thoughts.

Thank you.

Ellen - 2023 Ambassador

I thoroughly enjoyed the course. In particular, it was refreshing to see a diverse pool of presenters who were speaking from the communities each topic was covering. I'm sometimes a bit cautious of courses like this, as they often end up being HR checkbox exercises, covering the bare minimums for compliance but this was certainly not that.

Andy - 2023 Diversity Ambassador