Ordinary Bloke, Extraordinary Mission

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Stephen Whitton to explore why inclusion work in male-dominated industries can be so hard to shift, and what it takes to change a deep-rooted culture from the inside.

Stephen reflects on his decades in the motor trade, from early dealership roles to leadership positions, and how pressure, stress, and ‘banter’ can create environments where difference is treated as a risk rather than an asset. Together they unpack microaggressions, the impact on young people entering the industry, and how psychological safety is undermined when people don’t feel able to be open about who they are.

Stephen also shares the personal turning points that led him to build MEN ABLE and the Well-being Winners accreditation, connecting men’s mental health with the wider challenges of diversity, inclusion, and recruitment. The conversation moves from survival to resilience, and from coping to ‘mental wealth’, including Stephen’s commitment to spreading joy as a practical way to model authenticity and give others permission to do the same.