How to kickstart your Equality Diversity & Inclusion journey in six simple steps

About the Book

This book aims to deal with the first question—how to get started and make an impact, fast. In terms of what more can be done, the answer is - a lot. Much more definitely needs to be done to achieve equity in the workplace for minority groups. If we look at recent global incidents, such as Covid-19 and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, we can see clearly that more needs to be done to ensure that equity, rather than equality , is the order of the day. This book looks at how you can get started on your EDI journey and identifies six areas that can get you started. There is no mystique or complicated formula and I will show you how to make that journey straightforward and uncomplicated. The old Chinese proverb ‘a journey of one thousand miles starts with a single step’ may be well used, but it is very true. I have lived the experience myself. Waiting for the perfect moment, or for the leadership team to act, does not work. If you know it has to be done, do it! Be the change agent.

About the Author

Ms. Saida Bello, MBA CMgr FCMI Director of Bello Coaching & Consulting Ltd, Bristol Saida Bello is the Director of Bello Coaching & Consulting Limited (BCCL) in Bristol. She has previously worked as Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Head of Diversity and Inclusion and EDI lead in the public sector for over five years. Saida is a consultant Housing Solicitor with over 15 years legal experience. Saida was the Equality Champion in Birmingham City Council’s legal department from 2015 to 2016. She contributed to the development of the diversity and inclusion strategy at Bristol City Council from 2017 to 2020. She was seconded to the Office for Students from 2020 to 2021 as an EDI adviser. Subsequently she worked as the Head of Diversity and Inclusion in the Government Actuary’s Department and Director of EDI at the City of London Corporation. Outside of work, Saida has gained over 11 years’ strategic leadership experience through sitting on several non-executive management boards. She chaired the EDI steering group on the board of the Golden Key partnership board in Bristol for over three years. Saida was a Non-Executive Director of Ashley Community Housing, a specialist housing association for refugees with offices in Bristol, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton from 2019 to 2022. She is currently a Trustee of Quartet Community Foundation in Bristol. She was appointed by the Judicial Appointments Commission as a Valuation Tribunal England (VTE) Judicial member in 2017. She was appointed as a Chairwoman of the tribunal in 2020. She sits voluntarily as a VTE Judge at least once a month. Her role as a Chair of the VTE involves making decisions in council tax reduction appeals, council tax banding appeals, business rates and other miscellaneous cases. Saida is a certified European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) coach and a certified MOE (Me, Others and Everyone) coach with over 13 years’ management experience. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD). Saida is a mindset and personal development coach with Proctor Gallagher Institute whose registered office is in Arizona, USA.