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Welcome to Inclusion Bites, your sanctuary for bold conversations that spark change. I'm Joanne Lockwood, your guide on this journey of exploration into the heart of inclusion, belonging and societal transformation. Ever wondered what it truly takes to create a world? Remember, everyone not only belongs, but thrives. You're not alone. Join me as we uncover the unseen, challenge the status quo and share stories that resonate deep within. Ready to dive in? Whether you're sipping your morning coffee or winding down after a long day, let's connect, reflect and inspire action together. Don't forget, you can be part of the conversation too. Reach out to jo.lockwood@seechangehappen.co.uk to share your insights or to join me on the show.

So adjust your earbuds and settle in. It's time to ignite the spark of inclusion with Inclusion Bites. And today is episode 183 with the total authenticity over assimilation. And I have the absolute honour and privilege to welcome Jenny Chen. Jenny is a former top ranking finance professional turned DEI consultant who is on a mission to dismantle performative inclusion and rebuild cultures where authenticity thrives. That's easy for you to say. And when I asked Jenny to describe her superpower, she said that is her relentless curiosity that drives transformative conversations and systemic change. Hello Jenny, welcome to the show.

Thanks so much Jo for having me.

Absolute pleasure. We've had a good natural ready in the green room and we were in danger of losing all the material on the cutting room floor so I had to quickly get on here and press record. So you were telling me you're from Canada, is that right?

Yep, I'm from Ottawa, Canada. Welcome to we are the capital of our great nation and we actually just finished with our Canadian federal elections a couple weeks ago. And so we are all a little politics doubt right now.

Mark Carney, I mean the UK know Mark Carney well as our former bank of England governor. I guess secretly we were all probably egging him on as a honorary Brit for a few years.

You know what, it's so, it's so crazy right now because you know, as you know in the world there's so much political unrest, right. Even in countries. I have never, I'm, I'm almost 40 and Joe, I have never really paid attention to nor really cared about Canadian politics before because even our biggest problems used to be just cute, cute compared to other global issues happening. And this was the first time where our normally conservative family were really challenged with the decision on who we wanted representing us. And this time we actually voted with Our moral values versus the political party that it was. So, yes, we actually voted for Mark Carney. We egged him on too, because we, you know, Prime Minister is what, in the UK too? They last what, four, eight years maybe. But the values that we want shaping our country today lasts for generations.

Right. So, yeah, interesting times.

I've seen that in the UK as well, where there's this real blurred line between the traditional colours, the reds, the blues, the oranges, the greens, and people are starting to work out that you can't get everything from one person or you can't get everything from anybody. You got to try and pick and choose and sometimes you end up picking and choosing the least worst option. One party says has something you really, really strongly disagree with, but they do. Lots you do agree with. You've got to be careful here that you don't end up absorbing stuff that you don't want to get what you do want. And you've got to try and balance that in your own sort of psyche as to which is best for the long term future of the country. And sometimes we're allowing people in with really, really dangerous views because they do some things we like.