At Bedford Consulting, we believe in creating an inclusive and supportive workplace where every individual feels accepted, valued, and inspired to be their authentic selves. As part of our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, we recently held a lunch and learn session during our month long Pride celebrations. The session, led by Lisa Charlwood Green, Founder and Director of The WOW Network, aimed to educate and engage our team members on LGBTQ+ experiences, allyship, and the importance of building a supportive workplace community.

As we celebrate Pride Month, we want to take this opportunity to enhance our understanding of inclusivity and diversity, promote empathy and work together to foster a safe, open, and inclusive workplace. Here are some key takeaways from the session:

Being a Member of the LGBTQ+ Community

As part of the workshop, Lisa shared her personal story. This personal narrative set the stage for understanding the challenges and triumphs that individuals within the community face.

Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

The importance of creating a staff network dedicated to LGBTQ+ employees. Lisa shared the benefits of such networks, including fostering a sense of belonging, providing support systems, and promoting understanding and inclusivity within the workplace. She encourages us to question and understand what affects our socio-economic landscape and the power this gives in the world around us.

Building the ‘WOW Network’ (Women Out Work)

We discovered the journey behind the creation of The WOW Network, a platform that empowers and supports LGBTI+ women in the workplace. Gaining valuable insights into the strategies and initiatives employed to enhance and grow.

Creating a Community Within the Workplace

We explored effective strategies for cultivating a strong sense of community in the workplace, regardless of individual identities or backgrounds. Highlighting the significance of establishing connections, fostering open dialogue, and cultivating an inclusive environment where every individual feels respected and appreciated. Lisa shared practical suggestions that are easy to implement but can produce significant positive outcomes when put into practice.

  1. Listen without prejudice
  2. Let the person approaching you lead the conversation
  3. Don’t assume
  4. Be quiet, let them speak, give them the space they need

Allyship

Understanding allyship is crucial for creating an inclusive workplace. We learned about the importance of being an effective ally to LGBTQ+ colleagues and discovered real-world approaches for supporting and advocating for them.

  1. Seek out people with different backgrounds, perspectives and views. One way to do this is to follow different voices on social media, to ensure that your feeds provide you with a broad view
  2. Neutralise your language and thinking
  3. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable, it’s ok to make mistakes

Finally, we ended with an open Q&A, allowing for a deeper exploration of the topics covered and provided an opportunity for personal growth and development.

As Pride Month comes to a close, we proudly reflect on our commitment to diversity and inclusion. The recent lunch and learn session served as a catalyst for fostering understanding and empathy within our team, we have gained valuable knowledge and tools to create a safe and inclusive environment for all. As we move forward, we are inspired to continue promoting acceptance, respect, and celebration of diverse identities within our organisation. Let us carry the spirit of Pride with us throughout the year, always striving to be better allies and champions of inclusivity.

To find out more about Bedford Consulting’s values click here or our work environment here.

Framework for identifying process gaps, manual workarounds and spreadsheet-driven risks early to reduce transformation risk and improve business process governance.
At Bedford Consulting, we believe that true success is only achieved when diversity and inclusion are at the core of our values; we strive to create an environment where every voice is heard, respected, and valued. Pride stands as a reminder of our ongoing dedication to celebrating and embracing diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives."
Customer success story highlighting how connected planning and improved forecast accuracy enabled substantial operational cost savings, enhanced sales and operations planning performance and increased confidence in strategic decision-making.
Workplace diversity and inclusion leadership highlighting the importance of creating an equitable, innovative and resilient culture where every employee can thrive and contribute to business success.