EDI PODCAST LIBRARY
Listen to the cutting edge insight across the equality, diversity and inclusivity space and explore some the content discussed at the 2022 events.
The Diversity Forum
To kick of Leaders Week London we celebrated and reflected upon how far the industry has come and introduced the forum as the ‘Turning Point‘, consisting of three themes, The Past, The Present and The Future. The afternoon consisted of looking at existing frameworks, progress being felt and a showcasing to what the future should hold and the necessary actionable steps to get there.
Hosted at Google’s Offices, the three panels featured:
The Past – Leon Mann MBE, Founder of BCOMS, Football Black List & Refresh Sports, Jatin Patel, RFU, Eni Aluko, Ex-footballer, Football Investor & Broadcaster
The Present – Dr. Kara C Allen, San Antonio Spurs, Azeem Rafiq, Ex-professional Cricketer, Thomas Harwell, Google
The Future – Eugene Amo-Dadzie, Team GB Athlete & Accountant, Kenny Annan-Jonathan, The Mailroom, Alexandra Adey, Spotify
International Women’s Day
To kick off the year we celebrated #EmbraceEquity, bringing together the community to engage and develop the understanding of how embracing equality encourages a mindset and the practical actions necessary to create an affirming, inclusive and equitable sports industry for all.
Hosted at Meta’s Brock Street, London office, panels featured, Ugo Monye, Former professional Rugby Player and TV presenter, Kike Oniwinde Agoro, BYP, Lenah Ueltzen-Gabell, Wasserman, Victoria Rush, Director of No Women No Try, Kevin Yusuf Coleman, BBC Studios and Abi Paterson, The Athletic.
4se Diversity Breakfast – New York Edition
The Diversity Series Breakfast Club was a private community members session, facilitating connections, and best practice within the EDI space. The Breakfast Club session featured a panel discussion with Nike’s Paul Beckles and Shana Stephenson of the NY Liberty. Themed on, ‘how to create a culture of advocacy?’, the conversation shared insight on how we can start cultivating a culture of advocacy within the workplace, and what questions are we now putting to those who are leading a diverse employee base, and why advocacy requires both personal and professional effort.
Themes uncovered throughout the breakfast were, What should be the desired outcome from advocacy initiatives, Social actions – what can you practically do to make a real and substantive difference for
underrepresented communities and lastly, the role of today’s leaders, and willingness to have uncomfortable and yet meaningful conversations.
Pride Month
The Leaders Meet: Diversity Pop Up Event celebrated Pride Month at Amazon’s London HQ. The theme of ‘Looking back in order to purposely move forward’, bringing to discussion the wins, as well as the unique and disproportionate challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in navigating both the lack of representation and actionable support from the sports industry and wider society today.
Opening proceedings included a panel discussion featuring, James Swanson, Arsenal FC; Daniel Burton-Peet, Glamazon and Simone Pound, PFA. The second half of the day transitioned into the newly introduced ‘Solution Sessions,’ allowing community members to take a deep dive into exploring the tangible actions required to move the industry forward.
Pop-Up – Co-hosted with the adidas Breaking Barriers Project
Delivered in partnership with the adidas Breaking Barriers Project, the day focused on how adidas is breaking barriers for women in sports and implementing its brand purpose through the project and communities they work with across Europe. Featuring a panel with Kimberlee Robertson, adidas, Leanne Bates, Goals4Girls and Preeti Shetty, Brentford FC where they explored, closing the gender gap in sports, developing leadership skills and opportunities for women in sports and amplifying the voices of women and girls in sports.
The afternoon was then wrapped up with a dynamic brainstorming activity, focusing on the actions we can take within out roles or organisations to instill a sense of self assurance and body conference in girls participating in sports.
Broadcasting & Sports Media Edition
To end the year we brought the conversation of diversity and inclusion to the space of sports broadcasting & media. Looking at in front of the lens vs behind the lens vs business/corporate: an exploration of representation, on and behind the camera and the professional spaces for underrepresented communities in sports media & broadcasting.
Hosted at Amazon’s London Offices the panel featured, Patrice Eva, Investor & Entrepreneur, Louise Goya-Perez, Senior Production Executive, Sport, Amazon Prime Video and Jay Harris, Writer & Reporter, The Athletic.
A diverse range of speakers who joined us this year
Last updated 24th May 2023
Nike
Paul Beckles
Director of North America Athlete Marketing
BYP
Kike Oniwinde Agoro
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Wasserman
Lenah Ueltzen-Gabelll
Group Managing Director
Ugo Monye
Former Professional Rugby Player and TV Presenter
Brentford FC
Preeti Shetty
Non-Executive Director
Arsenal F.C
James Swanson
Supporter Experience & Brand Marketing Manager
Victoria Rush
Director of No Woman No Try
Amazon
Dan Burton-Peet
Senior Operations Manager & UK Board Member, Glamazon
PFA
Simone Pound
Director of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
BBC Studios
Kevin Yusuf Coleman
Head of Diversity and Inclusion
adidas
Kimberlee Robertson
Apparel Product Marketing
Goals4Girls
Leanne Bates
School Programs Lead, Football Beyond Borders, Sessional Coach
The Athletic
Abi Paterson
Podcast Producer
NY Liberty
Shana Stephenson
Chief Brand Officer
Event Gallery
Listen to the cutting edge insight across the equality, diversity and inclusivity space and explore some the content discussed at the 2022 events.