Diversity & Inclusion Statement.

If you had of asked me this time last year what I believed racism was, I would have said something along the lines of an interaction between two people or groups of people, where one is treated less than due to their skin colour. I knew that racism affected people of colour from all corners of the earth - however, I did not truly UNDERSTAND it.

Along with this simplistic view, I had also always considered myself not a racist. I did not speak disrespectfully about people of colour, to people of colour and I definitely did not treat those in my company any less then. However, and I say this with compassion for myself because I was doing the best with what I knew at that point in time, I was ignorant and I was silent. And I have come to learn, silence in the face of oppression is choosing the side of the oppressor.

In 2023, I was part of the first ever The POWER Collective program, facilitated by the incredible Kemi Nekvapil. My relationship with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) truly begun here. I was exposed for the first time ever to genuine education when it came to DEI - and I could no longer sit in silence. I could no longer sit in my ignorance.

I started to begin to ask questions. No matter the level of discomfort it bought. I navigated the world with new awareness for not just black, indigenous and people of colour, but for all marginalised groups. I could see as a white, cisgender, heterosexual, married, able-bodied woman, that I carried a lot of privilege. And that privilege gave me access, ease, and opportunities that many others don’t have. Recognising this wasn’t about guilt or shame - it was about responsibility. It was about realising that the comfort of ignorance was no longer an option if I wanted to live a life aligned with my values. Privilege doesn’t make me a bad person, but denying it would. And so, I made the decision to lean in, even when it felt uncomfortable or confronting. Because discomfort is a small price to pay for growth, for understanding, and for showing up in the world in a way that reflects the equity I want to see.

I took my awareness into action and in 2024, completed REPRESENTED, a 10-week program led by Annie Gichuru, Racial Equity Coach and DEI Trainer for the Beautiful You Coaching Academy. My first question in REPRESENTED, that took all my courage to ask was “is it ok for me as a white woman, to use the term black?” Annie, being the incredible space holder, teacher and coach that she is, asked me why I would think it isn’t ok. I took a moment to consider this, and replied that I could recall from my earliest years on this earth, being told that we shouldn’t say “black”, being hushed if you did, and being told it was impolite or offensive. It was ingrained in me that acknowledging someone’s race in that way was somehow wrong, as if saying "black" was a taboo word. I carried that belief into adulthood without ever questioning it.

Annie gently pointed out that this discomfort around saying “black” isn’t about the word itself but about the fear and avoidance so many white people feel when it comes to talking about race. It’s a reflection of a society that has taught us to look away, to avoid these conversations rather than lean into them. That moment stayed with me. It was a powerful reminder that unlearning takes curiosity, vulnerability, and the willingness to confront the stories we’ve been told - and the ones we tell ourselves. Since that moment, I had an experience, an opportunity, to change my children’s relationship with race one night around my dinner table. Shortly after this conversation with Annie, my son in conversation used the description “the brown girl” to my daughter - trying to confirm the girl in which my daughter was talking about when she was recapping her day. My initial response was to intervene and “correct” him. And by correct him, I mean to hush him, to steer him away from using race as a descriptor, just as I’d been taught growing up. But I paused. I caught myself in that moment, realising that what I was about to do was rooted in my own discomfort, not in what was actually right or helpful for him. I knew that his use of race as a descriptor wasn’t wrong or offensive - it was neutral, even natural. It wasn’t loaded with judgment, bias, or negativity. That was something we, as adults, project onto these conversations. Had I not been doing this work actively within REPRESENTED, I have no doubt that I would have passed on my insecurities and fear around discussing race to him. I’m learning alongside my kids, and I’m committed to helping them build a relationship with race that is rooted in curiosity, respect, and equity - not the discomfort and avoidance I grew up with.

This journey has been messy, humbling, and at times overwhelming. I’ve had to confront my own biases, listen deeply to lived experiences different from my own, and take accountability. But it’s also been transformational, opening my heart and mind to the ways I can use my voice and actions to contribute to a more just and equitable world.

I don’t have all the answers, and I’m still learning every day. My DEI commitment isn’t about perfection - it’s about persistence. It’s about showing up, even when I’m afraid I’ll get it wrong, because staying silent or passive is no longer an option.

As a human being and in my work, I am committed to creating a space that is inclusive, equitable, and safe for everyone, regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, or any other aspect of identity. I’m committed to continuing my own education, and holding myself accountable.

This is an ongoing journey, and I invite you to walk alongside me - because the work of dismantling oppression and creating equity isn’t just mine to do; it’s all of ours.