Thales - Impactful Initiatives During Black Inclusion Week and Learning at Work Week

As the Chair of the REACH Network, I had the privilege of working alongside our dedicated committee members to organise a series of impactful initiatives during the just concluded Black Inclusion Week and Learning at Work Week (LaWW) campaigns at Thales.

 

 

I’m incredibly proud of the engagement and commitment demonstrated on all levels and would like to share a few highlights:

Our REACH D&I Mentorship & Reverse Mentorship Programme

We took this opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of mentorship in fostering diversity and inclusion. Our programme differs from traditional mentorship, as it offers leaders a chance to engage in reverse mentorship from a D&I lense. This unique approach has allowed leaders to gain valuable insights of diverse ethnic, religious & cultural backgrounds. It not only helps them understand the benefits of diversity for our business but also sheds light on biases, professional development barriers, and glass ceilings that hinder talent attraction, career progression, and attrition rates. Simultaneously, our junior employees benefit from guidance and mentorship from senior leaders who share their religious, cultural, or ethnic backgrounds; receiving invaluable advice and strategies to overcome barriers and thrive at Thales.

 

 

To shed more light on this programme and its benefits, we promoted a reverse mentorship discussion segment within a LaWW Live Panel Event, expertly run and hosted by the Talent, Learning & Culture Team Mike Davies Kirsten Booth. As pannelists, our committee member Kundai Dangare, alongside our CEO and network executive sponsor Alex Cresswell, discussed their current journey on the scheme and how it has broadened their respective perspectives and contributed to a thriving and diverse workplace culture.

Another highlight was promoting the REACH ‘Religious & Ethnic ‘RE-Identify’ Survey, which emphasises the importance of knowing and accepting our people. The survey provides valuable insights into the diverse tapestry of cultures within our high-performing teams at Thales. It heightens our awareness of the religious & ethnic backgrounds that shape the daily experiences and career outlooks of our colleagues. By demystifying, recognising, and accepting their humanity, we create an environment where everyone can thrive.

We also explored the concept of allyship through a thought-provoking blog post shared by our committee member Offiong Bassey. It reminded us that allyship is not just about passive support and acceptance, but an active commitment to advocating for marginalised or underrepresented groups. It encourages us to use our privilege and position to amplify the voices of those who may not have the same opportunities.

Thank you, team! Together, we have all taken significant steps towards building a more inclusive and equitable workplace.

By Ifeoma Noelin Okolie, Product Safety Manager and EDI Network Development Lead

 

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