The Lens – UK Responsible Business Podcast

In this episode our host Oli Barrett MBE gets an understanding of how transparency and connectivity play a key role in diversity and inclusion.

And of course, our host asks both Mairead and Sheree who they’d most like to meet for coff­ee and which books they’ll be adding to the famous Lens Reading List.

Mairead is Director of Openreach in Northern Ireland. With over 12 years of experience working in the leading communications company, Mairead is responsible for over 800 members of staff including large engineering teams and she also engages with major customers and stakeholders. Proud to invest in its people, Openreach has an impressive training programme where its key aim is to keep staff motivated and happy. It also has a popular apprenticeship programme, helping to engineer the future workforce with quality training and real career prospects. Prior to this position, Mairead has held senior management roles across Planning, Operations and Field engineering within BT and has taken a leading role in the completion of large scale fibre broadband delivery projects throughout Northern Ireland.

Sheree is Global Ambassador at Women Who Code and former Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Monzo Bank. Listed as one of the UK's most influential women in technology, she is an international multi-award winning Diversity and Inclusion leader who is a global change maker in pushing for equality in industry. Monzo’s mission is to make money work for everyone by treating people fairly and being totally transparent. The challenger bank promotes an inclusive and empowering working environment to support every team member. Sheree has developed a wide range of training and resources at Monzo. Prior to this, she has held various roles on inclusion; including developing and implementing the Deloitte Inclusion Strategy.

The Lens Reading List

Mairead chose Trevor Noah's Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood. A compelling, inspiring, (often comic) coming-of-age story of Trevor Noah, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed.

Sheree chose Better Allies by Karen Caitlin, a book about everyday actions that can help create inclusive, engaging workplaces; that helps you to learn to spot situations where you can create a more inclusive culture, along with straightforward steps to take.

Powered by Fujitsu, supported by McCann and in partnership with One Young World, The Lens represents the breadth, diversity and priorities of the responsible business agenda. From gender equality to zero hours contracts, learning on the factory floor to activist businesses, The Lens covers a range of topics from a host of varying perspectives. 

Each episode brings together a business and future leader to foster disruptive conversations and fresh connections. Innovators and CEOs join Oli Barrett in the studio for a unique conversation covering their journeys, lessons learned, advice, insight and of course, the inspirational person they’d most like to meet for coffee. 

Business in the Community is The Prince's Responsible Business Network. We convene a unique network of purposeful leaders to share insight, expertise and create innovative programmes that deliver impact. Together our ambition is to make the UK the world leader at responsible business. 

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