Discussion: Black History Month 2023 at Equans
As part of Equans’ celebration of Black History Month, our Respecting, Inspiring and Supporting Ethnic minorities (RISE) employee network hosted a webinar for all colleagues. To honour this year’s Black History Month theme, ‘Saluting our Sisters’, the webinar highlighted the experiences of some of our black female senior managers through a panel discussion.
Colin Macpherson, Divisional CEO at Equans UK and RISE network executive sponsor, hosted the session which covered a range of topics including the panellists’ career journeys, and obstacles they have had to overcome in their lives.
Panellists:
Reflecting on the theme of Black History Month this year the panellists discussed the inspirational female figures in their life who have helped to shape them as people:
Quote from Dominique
I've had memorable mentors in the past, in particular I recall a Managing Director at a previous firm I worked at. Her own confidence and expertise was inspirational, and her positive feedback for me really built me up and helped me believe in myself… teaching me to persevere, stay true to myself, and ignore distractions.
Quote from Makeda
My mother, a black woman who raised three daughters, has been an inspiration with her strong work ethic. She started as a junior worker in a local authority and retired running the administration for a London borough. I take a lot of what I do in terms of striving from her and hopefully instilling that in my children.
On this Kareen reflected on the impact of being a role model to her child when answering the question about what Black History Month means to her:
Quote from Kareen
In recent years, I've become more interested in Black History Month, particularly because I want my ten-year-old daughter to appreciate her identity, our Jamaican heritage, and the history of black people globally. To me, Black History Month means embracing one's true self and passing down the strength of diversity to younger generations.
As the panellists reflected on obstacles experienced in their careers, Makeda discussed how she used to change herself to fit in at work – concluding that self-acceptance was essential for her success.
Quote from Makeda
I used to change myself to fit in to avoid what I thought might be potential obstacles, such as straightening my hair in my previous job in corporate hospitality. I felt that it was clear that dreadlocks wouldn’t be accepted as part of a high-end attire, so I wanted to conform with what was perceived as the norm. As I got a bit older, I started to realise that if I don’t accept myself for who I am, nobody else is going to accept it… Interestingly, my career flourished when I stopped conforming and started being comfortable with who I am... Understanding that not everyone may comprehend your culture is crucial, and it's worth noting that concepts like unconscious bias weren't as prevalent in discussions 20 years ago. Today, the increased awareness and conversation around unconscious bias are paving the way and making it easier for the younger generation.
The panel also discussed their aspirations for racial equality both in society and at Equans:
Quote from Pam
I really want to encourage people to feel comfortable and confident to talk about race within our business. It can be an emotive topic and people sometimes feel like they don’t want to say the wrong thing, but achieving this comfort level involves increased education and embracing initiatives like Black History Month as opportunities to have conversations. I'm keen to see more diversity at all levels of the business, and I'm pleased with the launch of ‘Catalyst’, our targeted development programme for ethnically diverse managers – building on the success of our Women in Leadership programme. This increased diversity benefits everyone, creating value in terms of talent, diverse perspectives, and innovative approaches to various issues.
Our Chief HR Officer, Pam, then went on to discuss what she thinks has changed in terms of racial equality in the past 20 years.
Quote from Pam
Beyond essential workplace policies and legislation, conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion have become more developed and this paves the way for individuals from a whole range of backgrounds to feel empowered and included in the broader fabric of UK society. We're witnessing improved representation and excellence in various fields, from politics and sports to education, allowing black talent to flourish and individuals to showcase their capabilities.
Lastly the panel compared who they thought was the most inspirational British black woman:
Quote from Makeda
Baroness Lawrence, the mother of Stephen Lawrence, inspires me because she transformed the tragic loss of her son into such a positive driving force in campaigning for justice for victims of racist crime, for reforms in the police, and her role in the House of Lords.
Quote from Kareen
Malorie Blackman, as an author, has been an inspiration to me, particularly through her 'Noughts and Crosses' series… her books reimagine and challenge racial inequality, which to me offered a fresh perspective and broadened my worldview.
About Equans' RISE Network
Equans’ RISE network is one of our six employee-led networks. The network aims to provide a forum to raise awareness and address issues affecting colleagues from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority backgrounds. It also highlights improvements to the employee experience working in conjunction with the Senior Management Team and encourages the personal and professional development of network members.
The networks are a crucial part of Equans’ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) strategy, called ‘Be Yourself’ which is helping to enable a culture which values difference and delivers fairness for all.
Be Yourself
Find our more about our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion strategy