Equality is not just a ‘nice to have’, it is a must

Joanne Lockwood is joined by leadership and sales specialist Niels Brabandt to challenge the idea that equality, diversity and inclusion is a “nice to have” in organisations. They discuss how EDI is frequently underfunded and treated as a compliance exercise, and why low-budget, click-through e-learning on unconscious bias rarely creates meaningful change.

Together they explore what leaders are accountable for: investing properly in development, creating safe spaces for honest questions, and recognising the business and human impacts of exclusion. They unpack how hiring and promotion practices often rely on networks and perceived “meritocracy”, reinforcing who gets access to opportunity and who is kept out.

The conversation also touches on cultural competence, reputation risk when senior leaders dismiss bias or use harmful language, and why social legitimacy matters more than titles in modern leadership. They close by arguing for practical, ongoing training and leadership decisions that shift systems, not just statements.