In this episode of the All Inclusive Podcast, we welcome Dr Victoria Verlezza, People and Culture Strategist. With more than 20 years of experience in leadership, workplace culture, and employee experience, Victoria has helped organisations design more inclusive and equitable environments where people can thrive.

Victoria unpacks why most leaders are getting feedback wrong—and how vague or biased feedback damages retention, employee engagement, and performance. She shares practical strategies for giving feedback that fuels growth, supporting neurodivergent employees, and building cultures rooted in psychological safety and accountability. Connect with Dr Victoria Verlezza

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-verlezza/ Email: victoria@victoriaverlezzaphd.com

🎧 Subscribe for more episodes on inclusive leadership, workplace culture, and building businesses where people belong.

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Episode Highlights 0:00 – Introduction 3:15 – Why most leaders get workplace feedback wrong 7:25 – Bias in feedback: how it shows up in performance reviews 12:40 – Feedback and retention: why vague comments drive talent away 17:55 – Neurodiversity at work: supporting employees with clear feedback 23:40 – Practical tips for managers to give better feedback 29:15 – Final advice on building inclusive workplace cultures

In this episode of the All Inclusive Podcast, we welcome back Gareth Whalley, Founder and Chief Connection Officer of Big Bang People Solutions. Gareth shares what he’s learned about leadership, workplace culture, and inclusion from working with organisations across multiple industries.

With over 20 years in corporate HR before launching his own business, Gareth has seen inside companies of all sizes — spotting the patterns, gaps, and opportunities that many leaders miss. He reveals how external pressures are changing inclusion strategies, why recognition is one of the most underused tools for building a strong culture, and what truly drives employee engagement across different workplaces.

Connect with Gareth:

🤝 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethwhalley/

🌐 Big Bang People Solutions: https://www.bigbangpeople.com/

🎧 Subscribe for more episodes on inclusive leadership, workplace culture, and building businesses where people belong.

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Episode Highlights

00:00 – Introduction

01:20 – Lessons from leaving corporate HR for a new chapter

05:05 – Surprising leadership patterns Gareth sees across companies

09:40 – Why leaders can’t do it all alone

14:15 – Key leadership lessons from working with many organisations

20:50 – How global and political shifts impact workplace culture

28:30 – The overlooked culture booster most companies ignore

37:10 – Gareth’s one piece of advice for living and working authentically

What does it really take to build a workplace culture people actually believe in? In this episode of the All Inclusive Podcast, I sit down with Adiat Baker, Global Inclusion and Social Impact Strategist at Mintel, to uncover why so many workplace culture commitments have failed—and how leaders can turn those promises into something real.

Together, we explore the common pitfalls that make culture feel like a buzzword, the power of aligning inclusion with business strategy, and the critical role of language, leadership, and consistency in creating trust. Adiat also shares how she’s helping Mintel weave inclusion into the DNA of the business, making it more than just a statement on a slide deck.

If you want to move past empty pledges and start building a workplace your people can truly believe in, this conversation is for you. 🤝 Connect with Adiat Baker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adiat-baker-69b4858/

🎧 Subscribe for more episodes on inclusive leadership, workplace culture, and building businesses where people belong.

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Episode Highlights

00:00 – Introduction 01:05 – Adiat Baker’s path to Mintel and inclusion work 04:20 – Why 2020 commitments didn’t last 08:40 – Embedding inclusion into the heart of the business 14:15 – Overcoming resistance and getting leadership buy-in 19:35 – The power of language and communication in culture 25:10 – Lessons for leaders building culture that lasts

What really happens when women return to work after maternity leave? In this episode of the All Inclusive Podcast, I sit down with Clare Radford, business psychologist and founder of &Culture Consulting, to unpack the powerful findings from her latest report: From Boardrooms to Babies and Back Again.

Together we explore the emotional, cultural and systemic challenges that returning mothers face and what real support looks like. From line manager training to flexible policies and the power of self-advocacy, this conversation offers a blueprint for organizations that want to stop losing talent and start building workplaces that actually work for women.

📥 Download Clare’s full report here: https://www.andcultureconsulting.com/insights 🤝 Connect with Clare on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clareradforduk/ 🌐 Learn more at andcultureconsulting.com

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Episode Highlights

00:00 – Introduction & Why This Conversation Matters

01:10 – What Women Told Us About Returning to Work

06:05 – The Line Manager Gap & Where Culture Fails

13:25 – The Emotional Toll, Talent Loss & What Needs to Change

In this episode of the All Inclusive Podcast, I’m joined by Hannah Awonuga, a culture transformation strategist, a multi award-winning Culture, Talent and Inclusion expert and former Global DEI Director at Barclays.

We unpack what it really takes to move inclusion beyond HR, beyond internal comms, and beyond the brand — into the heart of business strategy.

Hannah shares her powerful “Three C’s” framework and explains why so many inclusion efforts fall flat when they’re siloed or surface-level.

This episode is essential listening for HR, DEI, and business leaders serious about building inclusive workplaces that last.

Connect with Hannah Awonuga: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahawonuga/

Check out hannahawonuga.com to explore Hannah’s consulting work on inclusive culture and leadership.

👩🏾 Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: / natasha-rainey-

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Introduction 01:34 – Hannah’s Journey: From Cashier to Culture Leader 06:00 – Why Inclusion Can’t Live Under HR Alone 11:55 – The 3 C’s of Real Culture Transformation 18:30 – From Tick-Box to True Impact: What Inclusion Requires 26:45 – Developing Leaders Who Can Build Inclusive Cultures 35:50 – Power, Privilege & Using Your Position for Change

In this episode of the All Inclusive Podcast, I sit down with Chela Gage, Talent & Inclusion Consultant and Executive Coach at Oli Strategies, to explore a bold truth: your title doesn’t define your impact.

Chela opens up about her personal journey—from growing up in foster care to leading global teams in HR and DEI—and why stepping away from a C-suite role led her to a deeper purpose, the 1 Million Foster Initiative.

This is a must-listen for anyone navigating change, questioning their role, or looking to lead with authenticity and intention.

This episode is sponsored by Paradigm. 📥 Download their latest report 'The State of Culture and Inclusion', which reveals how companies are navigating the current climate and driving real progress in 2025 → https://bit.ly/3Q2C6DB

👩🏾 Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-rainey-/

Episode Highlights

00:00 - Introduction 01:35 – Chela’s Journey from Foster Care to Corporate Leadership 06:45 – The 7 Keys to Building Resilient, Inclusive Teams 15:22 – What to Do When You Lose the Title 24:30 – Why Purpose Matters More Than Position 31:10 – The Story Behind One Million Fosters 39:55 – Final Message: How to Lead from Wherever You Are

In this episode of the All Inclusive Podcast, I sit down with Sara Gene “SG” Houtman, Chief People Officer at Truly Free, to unpack how one company is redefining what it means to support women at work—from stay-at-home moms to senior leaders. We explore what makes Truly Free’s culture so unique, the leadership practices that drive retention, and why hiring "like-hearted" people is at the core of inclusion. SG also shares her own powerful career journey from customer service to the C-suite, offering candid reflections on imposter syndrome, mentorship, and the importance of being given room to fail—and grow.

This episode is sponsored by Paradigm. 📥 Download their latest report 'The State of Culture and Inclusion', which reveals how companies are navigating the current climate and driving real progress in 2025 → https://bit.ly/3Q2C6DB

Connect with Sara Gene "SG" Houtman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-gene/

Learn more about Truly Free: https://trulyfree.com/ 👉 Subscribe to All Inclusive : https://tinyurl.com/allinclusivepodcast 👩🏾 Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-rainey-/ Episode Highlights

00:00 - Introduction

01:35 - SG’s journey from stay-at-home mom to CPO

04:48 - Overcoming imposter syndrome and building confidence

10:35 - The role of mentorship and honest feedback

15:40 - What makes Truly Free’s culture inclusive

20:32 - Supporting working moms and women into leadership

29:00 - Advice for building truly inclusive workplaces

In this episode of the All Inclusive Podcast, I sit down with Brandy, Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Canada Post, to explore what it really takes to embed inclusion across one of the country’s largest and most complex organizations.

Many DEI professionals face the challenge of engaging remote or deskless employees—but what happens when the majority of your workforce can’t be reached by email at all? Brandy shares how she’s transforming workplace culture through grassroots champions, mailed communication, and a deep commitment to storytelling, transparency, and community.

This episode is sponsored by Paradigm. 📥 Download their latest report 'The State of Culture and Inclusion', which reveals how companies are navigating the current climate and driving real progress in 2025 → https://bit.ly/3Q2C6DB

👉 Subscribe to All Inclusive : https://tinyurl.com/allinclusivepodcast

👩🏾 Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-rainey-/