Experian's Chief D,E&I Officer Wil Lewis on 'getting over the fear of messing up' when talking diversity and inclusion
Invisible disabilities, avoiding tokenism and why straight white, men have an important role to play.
Wil Lewis is Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at consumer credit reporting company Experian, a company with 20,000 employees and operations in 55 global locations.
My podcast chat with Wil was, in many ways, one of the most daunting since I started the Delete Delete Engage podcast and I really didn’t want to mess it up.
Click here to listen to the podcast with Wil
Here’s a summary of highlights from my chat with Wil:
(5:37) On the importance of financial inclusion during a cost of living crisis.
(9:03) How the D&I role has evolved over the past 10 years.
(11.34) On collaborating with other pioneering D&I leaders and businesses.
(13:25) On the businesses and industries leading the way with D&I.
(15.08) Addressing the challenge that business leaders and communicators are so terrified of saying the wrong thing that they're “paralysed into inaction”.
(18:24) Ensuring that ‘straight white middle aged men’ and people from traditionally less marginalised groups feel as though they are part of this agenda and the solution.
(20:45) On male leaders taking more accountability for D&I.
(21:30) On invisible disability and needing advocates.
(22:50) On taking different approaches for different countries, creating safe spaces and being careful not to put LGBT+ people in danger.
(25:02) On recognising and supporting neurodiversity and removing barriers to success.
(28:40) On the opportunity and risk of using humour in D&I communications.
(30:55) On authenticity, avoiding tokenism and conscious inclusion.
(33:55) On coaching leaders and managers at all levels.
(35:20) Businesses getting started with D&I - be honest, deliberate and keep it focused.
(37:18) On measuring D&I.
(38:45) Choose 3 people - the one big takeaway and action for every listener.
(39:45) On the people who have mentored and sponsored Wil in his career.
(42:27) On learning from mistakes.