Inclusive Growth Show

Are you always putting others first at work? You might be heading for burnout — and not even realise it. In this powerful episode, Toby Mildon speaks with Pam Burrows, known as The People Booster, about her unique CARE model for wellbeing. Pam shares her own burnout experience and how leaders who constantly serve others without taking care of themselves can harm not only their health, but their teams too. We explore practical ways for HR and ED&I professionals to avoid burnout, manage ene...

Why are disabled individuals still excluded from leadership? In this episode of The Inclusive Growth Show, Toby Mildon speaks with Pravjoth Gill, a disability advocate and recent HR graduate, whose dissertation explores the misrepresentation of disabled people in leadership roles – and what inclusive HR practices can do to change this. Pravjoth shares how her lived experience and intersectional identity shaped her research, what the biggest blockers to disabled leadership are, and how interna...

Are employee-owned organisations the key to inclusive, high-performing teams? In this episode of the Inclusive Growth Show, Toby Mildon is joined by Jeremy Gadd, Partner at Telos Partners and former senior leader at the John Lewis Partnership. Together, they explore what it really means to be an employee-owned organisation and why this model is gaining traction across the UK. Jeremy draws on over a decade of experience helping businesses transition to employee ownership, offering insights int...

You deal with conflict at work every day, and rising polarisation makes this harder. This episode gives you a straightforward way to strengthen your inclusive leadership and keep your team steady when views clash. You’ll hear: How political, economic and tech pressures shape your people’s behaviour.Why psychological safety and brave spaces matter.A clear four-step method to manage difficult conversations.How to calm the room, set simple rules, model curiosity and close well.The six inclusive ...

Are you using your voice to its fullest potential in the workplace? In this episode of the Inclusive Growth Show, Toby Mildon sits down with Clinton Jordan, a vocal coach and performer who has sung with the likes of Mariah Carey and Tina Turner, and even performed at a royal wedding. Clinton now dedicates his work to helping professionals find their true voice and use it to lead with confidence and impact. Together, they explore how the voice shapes our workplace presence, the concept of soni...

Why values-led leadership creates truly inclusive growth In this inspiring conversation, Gillian Drakeford shares her journey from management trainee to leading IKEA UK & Ireland, and her deep insights from helping IKEA expand into China. She reveals how formative experiences shaped her leadership style, including a key moment when asking “why” was discouraged — an attitude she actively challenged throughout her career. Gillian discusses how cultural intelligence, values-based recruitment...

Is your organisation truly inclusive, or just ticking boxes? In this episode of the Inclusive Growth Podcast, Toby Mildon introduces new associate Dr. Christopher Owen - an expert in intersectional systemic oppression and founder of the consultancy Coliberate. Together, they explore what it really means to drive equity, diversity, and inclusion from the inside out. Christopher shares insights drawn from his lived experience and academic background, challenging traditional approaches to inclu...

Is your organisation truly accessible – or just meeting the bare minimum? In this episode of the Inclusive Growth Podcast, Toby Mildon has a compelling conversation featuring Luis Canto E Castro, a disability inclusion and accessibility consultant and new Associate at Mildon. Luis shares his journey from South Africa to the UK, the personal and professional experiences that shaped his advocacy, and the non-traditional recruitment story that brought him into Toby’s network. Key takeaways: Why ...

What happens when inclusion efforts stall at awareness? In this compelling episode, Toby Mildon sits down with experienced EDI practitioner Emma Underwood to explore why equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is facing what Emma calls a “global earthquake.” Together, they unpack the current challenges in the sector, the ethical tensions at play, and the need for a more skilled, credible EDI profession. Emma draws from her varied background in public policy, students’ unions, and consultancy...

Menopause and mental health: why silence in the workplace is no longer an option. In this compelling episode of the Inclusive Growth Show, Toby Mildon is joined by Haley from Menospace and Victoria from Minds That Work to explore the powerful intersection of menopause and mental health in the workplace. Haley shares her personal and professional journey into menopause advocacy, while Victoria reflects on her mental health work and how their collaboration emerged from a shared passion. Togethe...

Are we doing EDI right – or just going through the motions? In this powerful follow-up episode, Toby Mildon is joined by Poornima Luthra, Associate Professor at Copenhagen Business School and thought leader on inclusive leadership. They explore the growing backlash against Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), especially in light of shifting US policies, and what it means for leaders navigating this complex terrain. Poornima shares insights from her upcoming book “Can I Say That?”, outlinin...

“You can’t transform without diversity.” In this episode of the Inclusive Growth Show, Toby Mildon speaks with Aaron Barnes, former Managing Director of Parcelforce and now a consultant in operational excellence and leadership development. Aaron shares his powerful journey of confronting and transforming a lack of gender diversity at senior levels in Parcelforce. When faced with the challenge of doubling business revenue, he realised that a homogeneous leadership team posed a significant risk...