Let's Celebrate Inclusion on the International Women's Day

Yesterday, we celebrated International Women's Day – a day to reflect on the progress we've made and the work that still lies ahead to create a more diverse workforce that is practising inclusion in order to achieve a more equitable workplace.

In today's world, DEI isn't just about gender, ethnicity, age, and other attributes we might want to give people. It's about viewing our world in all its nuanced glory – a colourful tapestry that sparks creativity and enriches life.

For me, inclusion is the magic ingredient that brings this colourful tapestry to life. It's woven with threads of respect, openness, transparency, compassion, and self-awareness.

Two behaviours that I believe are essential for fostering inclusion are:

• Curiosity - the ability to listen deeply to what others want to share, and to support them in expressing their thoughts and making themselves understood.
• Courage - the heart to share one's own thoughts, wishes, ideas, and opinions, so that others can understand what we have in mind.

When we practice these behaviours, we create an environment fertile for collaboration, synergy and kindness. Inclusion is the foundation for creativity and innovation; and when we embrace it, we not only unlock our full potential, we also nurture a strong sense of belonging.