In today’s enlightening episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue welcomes Davina Majeethia, the EDI Lead at Nesta, an innovation foundation and charity, providing a captivating insight into her journey and experiences in the realm of EDI work. As a second-generation immigrant with a South Asian background and neurodiversity, Davina's personal experiences have driven her passion for this critical field. She discusses her transition from consulting to an in-house role, emphasising the importance of understanding the internal dynamics and challenges faced by organisations in implementing EDI strategies. Davina delves into the essential skills required for success in this field, highlighting prioritisation and compartmentalization. She also offers valuable advice to aspiring DEI professionals, emphasising the importance of humility and finding your genuine passion within the diverse landscape of EDI. This episode serves as a powerful resource for anyone interested in the intricate world of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

“ My understanding is that most EDI practitioners come into this because of a sense of their own lived experience. I also think for a lot of people, it's actually a way of channelling trauma in quite an effective way. So you're never going to have good deep understanding and experience, as in you're unlikely to in every single aspect of EDI. So know what you can know about, but also know what you don't know about and be humble about that.”

Episode Highlights: 

•Transitioning from Consulting to In-House

•Advice for aspiring DEI professionals

•Skills needed to develop in internal role prioritisation, prioritising and compartmentalising

About Davina Majeethia:

Davina is the Senior Lead for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI).

She has a passion for underpinning EDI thinking with intersectionality and is keen to foster an environment of open and honest dialogue. She believes education to be the most powerful tool in moving forward the EDI agenda. Prior to Nesta, Davina worked at Accenture where she specialised in Talent & Organisation strategies. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies and NGO clients to formulate bespoke solutions to culture, talent and EDI issues.

While at Nesta, Davina is focused on delivering our EDI Strategy, ensuring it is continuously evolving so it remains relevant and effective for all.

If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com

If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com 

If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email:

operations@goodsoilleaders.com 

Stay Connected with Ashanti: 

LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue