In this episode of The Business Gay Podcast, host Calan Breckon speaks with DEI consultant, Geffrye Parsons.

in 2022, Geff retired from a 35-year front office executive career in financial services to set up his own Diversity, Equity & Inclusion consulting practice, The Inclusion Imperative.

Formerly based in the UK and now living in Canada, Geff has received multiple decorations for his work around LGBTQ+ inclusion, including a long-standing chair of the LGBTQ+ employee resource group at his former employer, in which capacity he led it both to winning the Business Equality award at the annual PinkNews Awards, and to #1 in the annual Stonewall rankings – making it officially the most LGBTQ+ friendly employer in the UK.

Individually, Geff has also won the Inspirational Leader of the Year award at the annual British LGBT Awards, and been named on both The Guardian’s ‘Pride Power List’ of the 100 most influential LGBTQ+ people in the UK, and OUTstanding’s annual list of the top 100 LGBTQ+ executives globally.

He now works with commercial organisations to help build leadership capabilities and harness the power of inclusion as a key strategy for individual wellbeing and organisational learning.

Watch on YouTube

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Links mentioned in this episode:

• TheInclusionImperative.com





• Geff on LinkedIn

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Key Takeaways for quick navigation:

• [02:31 ] LGBTQ individuals are often in DEI spaces due to familiarity with discrimination, while backlash is seen more from privileged individuals.





• [04:23 ] DEI in organizations is not just about social justice, it is essential for future business success and not pursuing it can lead to missed opportunities in the market.





• [07:23 ] Embracing DEI is crucial for future-proofing organizations, as failure to adapt can lead to being overtaken by competitors, as seen in the case of Kodak.





• [15:25 ] Companies opting out of DEI efforts face financial risks such as lawsuits, high turnover rates, unproductive staff, and lost customer base, leading to a significant opportunity cost.





• [17:37 ] US companies lose over $1 trillion per year due to lack of inclusivity, emphasizing the importance of creating psychologically safe spaces for diverse perspectives to drive innovation and problem-solving.





• [21:59 ] Strategic thinking in DEI initiatives can enhance shareholder value and brand power.





• [25:13 ] Negative impacts of DEI backlash are not as dramatic as perceived, with most CEOs prioritizing DEI initiatives.





• [27:16 ] Reframe DEI as a leadership development initiative to avoid stigma and increase effectiveness.





• [32:50 ] Align DEI initiatives with business goals, repositioning DEI as an innovation and improvement strategy in the front office.





• [35:13 ] Avoid episodic DEI efforts and focus on broader strategic changes for long-term impact.





• [39:29 ] Embracing inclusion is essential for organizations to stay relevant in a changing society and to future-proof their business.