When Sharlene, a seasoned recruitment professional, first walked into a boardroom, she was a teenage mother fresh out of college and the only woman of colour. Fast forward 25 years, she recounts her journey and unyielding dedication to diversity in recruitment, challenging stereotypes, and her quest to create equal opportunities. The conversation also loops in the significance of mental health in the pursuit of change, and a strong call to action - to consider what we can do to make a positive impact even if it's just for one person at a time!

About this Episodes Guest: Sharlene John
Sharlene is an award-winning Recruitment leader with over 20 years of experience in HR and Recruitment. Since joining Selfridges in 2021, Sharlene has been instrumental in making progress towards Selfridges goal of building an inclusive retail culture. She is focused on engaging and educating Selfridges leadership and management, raising awareness around DE&I, inclusive hiring and HR best practices. Her work has supported closing the gender pay gap and has increased representation at different levels across the business.
Sharlene’s passion for DE&I extends beyond the workplace. She is an active member of her community, supporting local authorities in London providing career advice to young people and mentoring women to promote empowerment and self-belief. As a woman of colour in business, Sharlene knows first-hand how critical representation is.