Inclusion starts with you

10am

Chair welcome

The difference between diversity and inclusion and why it’s vital you know it

Join us as we kick off our 2021 Be Inspired Virtual Conference with a galvanising opener on the distinction between diversity and inclusion and why if you are focused on one, you absolutely must be focused on the other in equal measure.

10.08am

Keynote

Allies: how to find them and how to be one

Do you know how to support your friends and colleagues who might be the targets of prejudice? Are you getting the balance right between amplifying issues when they need shouting about and staying quiet in order to listen when you need to?

Join us as we delve into the concept of allyship. We will look at how you can engage with this work on a continuing basis, how to empower others and why it is ok to feel a bit uncomfortable along the way.

Speaker: Leng Montgomery, D&I specialist and former D&I lead at ASOS

10.25am

Panel

Taking a stand: how to speak out with confidence when you need to

Our previous workshops have helped you build your confidence and muster gravitas, but how do you harness the power of these when you need to take a stand on an issue?

It is not always easy to speak out against authority, without feeling you may jeopardise your job, but it is something many people have to do over the course of their career. Hear from leaders in retail as they candidly share how they assert themselves and offer tips on how you can too.

Speakers:
• Clodagh Moriarty, retail and digital director, Sainsbury’s
• Lucy Aylen, founder and chief executive, Neverfullydressed
• Sally-Anne Newson, chief digital officer, Reiss

10.55am

Interactive session

Privilege and unconscious bias: find out yours

Nobody likes to think of themselves as privileged and even less so that they might harbour an unconscious bias towards someone else, but the truth is that privilege and bias affect everyone.

Being aware of these things can be the first step towards creating a more equitable future. Join us as we examine these notions and look introspectively to learn more about yourself as a result.

11.18am

Panel

Beyond positive Instagram posts: how to really take care of your mental health

There is a lot of talk on social media around how to look after yourself mentally and an abundance of tips: go for walks, take a bath, read a book, no screens after 8pm, and so on. It is good to be reminded of these pillars of self-care, but when you have deadlines looming and 10 meetings to cram into one day, how do you really take care of your mental health?

Join our panel of leaders as they reveal how to juggle high-powered positions while maintaining a sense of calm.

11.45am

Fireside chat

Career defining: the people and advice that shaped me as a leader

In our final session of the morning we will chat to a retail stalwart about their career. We will hear about the moments that challenged them most, the times they felt most proud and how they built the name and reputation they have today.

2pm

Chair welcomes back

2.08pm

Keynote

What will the retail sector look like in five years’ time? How you can make a difference

A new retail sector is emerging as a result of the pandemic. Consumers are placing a greater emphasis on purpose, sustainability and responsible retailing, and spending online has increased.

How can you be ready for this transformation and ensure you are best placed to make the most of it? And how can we lift the sector up together? Find out here.

2.25pm

Panel

Inclusion is everyone’s responsibility: changing company culture from within

We all know by now that culture is not just the responsibility of HR teams. But how do you go about making a difference when your role has nothing to do with diversity and inclusion?

What can every individual do to influence this agenda? In this panel we will bring business leaders together to share their best tips on what you can do to make your workplace more inclusive and how to get leaders to buy into your ideas.

Speakers:

• Joanna Allen, chief executive, Graze
• Albert Larter, co-founder, Wakuda

2.55pm

Interactive session

TBC

3.18pm

Panel

Upskilling, reskilling and adding more strings to your bow: how to turbocharge your personal development

Our careers are ever-evolving and opportunities to develop can often be found in places you might not have thought to look. You do not necessarily have to go on 20 training courses a year in order to enhance your chances for progression.

In this session we will hear from leaders who have founded companies on how they spotted opportunities and their best tips on adding more strings to your bow.

Speakers confirmed:

• Tessa Clarke, co-founder, Olio
• Mandeep Singh, founder, Trouva
• Victoria Jenkins, founder, Unhidden Clothing, and brand ambassador for Models of Diversity

3.45pm

Fireside chat

Finding your authentic self and bringing that to your every day

Referred to by Elle magazine as a 'millennial mastermind’, Chidera Eggerue, also known as 'The Slumflower', is an award-winning blogger and author with a fast-growing audience of over 100,000 across her social media accounts. She is one speaker who is NOT afraid to tell you what she thinks.

In this exclusive fireside chat she will share how you can do the same.

We will cover:

• Identifying what makes you, you
• Asking for help where relevant
• Being OK with disappointing people
• Having difficult conversations with those around you when you need to

Chidera Eggerue, blogger and author, The Slumflower

12pm

Welcome and introduction

12.25pm

The Hack

Participants are split off into three groups to discuss and suggest solutions.

• Group one: Inclusivity often requires a change in company culture. How do you do this? This discussion will focus on successes and pitfalls you have found with influencing company culture
• Group two: What are the ways to support underrepresented communities within your workplace in an inclusive way without marginalising them further? This discussion will focus on creating networking groups, sponsors and forums – what works and what doesn’t
• Group three: What do colleagues need to see from their leaders to believe they truly stand by inclusivity? This discussion will focus on getting real buy-in from stakeholders and ensuring they are not simply paying lip service

1.40pm

Retail Week chair sums up the 'hack'. This will involve a three-point plan around:

• Culture
• Groups
• Leadership buy-in

12-1.30pm

Dealing with uncertainty and bringing your team through challenges

Since the first lockdown happened in March 2020, the world of work has changed beyond recognition. As things start resembling the normality we recognise from pre-pandemic times, how do you keep your team on board and ensure we don't just go back to 'business as usual' but take the best of both worlds into the new?

In this session, in collaboration with retailTRUST, we will look at:

• What needs to be front of mind when navigating a period of change
• How to motivate your team when uncertainty is still rife
• How to acknowledge vulnerability within your colleagues and yourself
• Ensuring an open dialogue around mental health when people might be fearful of losing their jobs

Speakers to be confirmed

2pm-4pm

Speed mentoring

This is an opportunity for our attendees to join a host of Be Inspired ambassadors and other retail leaders for 10 minutes of one-on-one mentoring. Participants will be matched up in advance and have a short period of time to video chat with our experts who will be ready to answer any burning career questions put to them.