June Sarpong OBE leads EM Diversity, Equality, Equity and Inclusion Masterclass

More than 200 colleagues from across the UK joined an ExxonMobil masterclass led by campaigner, broadcaster and writer June Sarpong OBE, who shared her experience of diversity, inclusion and equity.  The open forum was the latest initiative hosted by our EMBRACE and WIN networks to increase inclusion at ExxonMobil. 

June, who is a co‐founder of the WIE Network (Women: Inspiration & Enterprise) and a former Director of Creative Diversity at the BBC, has worked for 20 years in the media, and has been recognised for her services to broadcasting and charity.   She has also written a number of books.

Some key learnings from the event were:

• Diversity is about putting an emphasis on people with unconventional or different backgrounds. Equality seeks to provide all employees with access to the same resources. Equity recognises that those with less access may need more support to take advantage of opportunities.
• We all have biases and should challenge them as people from different backgrounds have different experiences. Employees who are exposed to new or different viewpoints learn to challenge their subconscious biases, whilst critical thinking allows people to investigate new ideas.
• Inclusion doesn’t mean everyone has to think the same way. It means that those who think or look differently feel valued when they share their thoughts and needs. Their diverse perspectives are considered, and they are trusted when decisions are made.
• One in five people in the UK has a disability, but 80% of them weren’t born that way. Companies should challenge themselves more in identifying how to utilise the unique skills that disabled people have.
• It is very important that Diversity, Equality, Equity and Inclusion work is not the burden of minority colleagues. To make a transformation, we need to raise awareness and create that critical mass for change within organisations.  

Following the event, Megha Shelat, Turnaround Contracts Manager at Fawley and one of the organisers said: “It was important to have someone of June’s calibre speak with us about these topics.  As an organisation, we need to take deliberate steps towards inclusion as it creates a feeling of belonging, enhances engagement and empowerment.     

“Diversity is relatively easy to attain as we just need to recruit those folks into the organisation. However, without having equity and inclusion, we will not succeed in driving a culture where everyone feels able to contribute fully to reach their full potential.”

Megha added: “We were delighted to have the support of the entire Fawley Senior Leadership team on the day. So many departments helped make this happen, from IT to Law to P&GA and more, across our UK sites.  

“What I personally took away from the event was a simple solution to a tricky problem EMBRACE has grappled with since its conception. It is always those who believe in diversity that attend these events and support ERGs, so how do we initiate the unconverted, the people on the fence?  June provided a simple solution.  If we all brought someone who wasn't convinced along to these forums, we will have more support in the future!