Diverse Minds UK Ltd.’s CEO and founder is Leyla Okhai. She is a third generation South Asian who was born in the United States but moved to the United Kingdom when she was nine years old. Racism and marginalization have molded her life experience, which has led her to run her own business. She speaks on panels about mental health and workplace wellbeing, and she offers mental health training programs and seminars to all sectors. Leyla has also created and conducted customized leadership programs that have enhanced talent retention and money production by 33%. She is a Lay Member of the University of Leeds Council.
Below are highlights of the interview:
Can you please provide a brief overview of your professional background and experience in the industry?
I was the Head of the Centre for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at Imperial College London from July 2012 to June 2017. There, I was in charge of strategy and managing a team of staff working on various projects and initiatives. One of the projects I led on was shortlisted for the Race for Opportunity 2014 award in the Race Equality: Transparency, Monitoring, and Action category.
Prior to joining Imperial College, I worked at the University of Oxford for over six years, first in student recruitment, specializing in increasing applications from underrepresented Global Majority (People of Colour) young people. I went on to set-up race and religious belief equality initiatives at Oxford’s Equality and Diversity Unit from 2008–2012. I was the university’s first specific advisor for race and religion.
Tell us about Diverse Minds and its mission. What inspired you to start this company?
Diverse Minds UK Ltd. creates equal, happy, and mentally healthy workplaces through training, coaching, consulting, and speaking. The aim is to create a world where all workplaces are equitable, fair, and free from all types of negative behavior. So, every staff member, no matter their position, can thrive and reach their potential in a person-centered work environment.
I never expected to be a business owner! Prior to being an entrepreneur, I was the Head of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Center at Imperial College London for 5 years. I was always committed to working in higher education (HE). However, the lack of Black and Asian staff in senior leadership roles in HE made me realize that I could work as hard as possible, but promotion was elusive due to being a South Asian woman.
One of the main reasons for setting-up my business was as a result of racist bullying that has happened throughout my life. These daily racism and battles eroded my confidence and self-esteem. This drove me to develop programs of work to empower staff like me and managers to be better. I wanted to use my negative personal experiences of workplace bullying and racism positively, to challenge destructive (and unprofitable) workplace cultures.
What strategies do you employ to ensure that Diverse Minds remains competitive in the market?
I am the host of the award-winning Diverse Minds Podcast, one of the world’s longest weekly podcasts in the category of inclusion and mental health. Currently on episode #209, it has been live for four years. When the podcast was launched, the aim was to provide a platform for fellow global minority/Black/Diaspora entrepreneurs and health and wellbeing specialists. The idea was always to go beyond marketing the business and ensure diverse voices could reach a wider audience.
On October 1, 2022, I delivered a TEDx talk about the connection between race, culture, and mental health at work, where I spoke candidly about my negative experiences. Highlighting the steps workplaces can take to address racism that negatively impacts mental health. As a result of this talk, I have received numerous emails and messages of support from people who have faced similar challenges. They now feel able to take the next steps towards their own empowerment.
How do you foster a culture of innovation and adaptability within your organization, considering the rapidly changing landscape of the business industry?
As a solopreneur, it’s easier to adapt to the changing landscape. I do this by speaking to clients regularly as well as business colleagues to ensure I can plan my work programs accordingly.
What steps do you take to attract and retain top talent in the industry, and how do you encourage professional growth and development within your organization?
It’s just me!
How do you address the increasing importance of digitalization and technology in the sector, and how does it influence the company’s operations and customer experience?
Again, as a solopreneur, this can be easier to do. I can make the most of the free trials to find out which solutions work best for me. An example is that during lockdown in spring 2020, I developed a low-cost online course entitled Mentally Healthy Leading Professional. It is aimed at women with caring responsibilities to support them with career and life aspirations and their wellbeing. This has heightened consciousness for anyone who wants to progress in their career and look after themselves. Often overlooked due to societal pressure for women to be all things to everyone, but themselves!
As CEO and Director of Diverse Minds, what is your overall vision for the company’s future, and how do you plan to achieve it?
My overall vision for the company’s future is to be able to say that we have achieved positively productive workplaces and that the resources I have created are sufficient. It’s a utopian ideal, but it’s my vision. The way I, and similar businesses like mine can do this is to keep going, innovate, and bring people with us.
What advice would you give to aspiring leaders or individuals looking to join the industry?
I think that often people think diversity and inclusion are things that you can just “do”. In reality, you do need experience in the area, whether that’s as a staff network or employee resource group member, an executive sponsor, or gaining a qualification. It’s important to be open to learning, especially as this area of work is always evolving and changing. You also have to be open to collaboration and willing to adapt.
Please Visit: https://diverseminds.co.uk/
