Anita Goyal MBE is the Chair and trustee of The Hemraj Goyal Foundation, and the Hallmark Foundation. She is the Vice President of Barnardo's and an Ambassador of the Alzheimer's Society. In 2021, Anita was invested with an MBE in Her Majesty's New Year Honours List for services to Diversity and Female Empowerment. She is an award-winning philanthropist, community champion and author of Voices from Punjab and Voices from Gujarat. She is the vice president of Women's Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry in the UK (WICCI) and chair of the care sector fundraising ball in Championing Social Care.
What do diversity and inclusion truly mean to you?
Diversity and Inclusion for me are terms that complement each other and are mutually inclusive. More simply, Diversity is the mix of people incorporating all of the elements that make individuals unique from one another. Inclusion is the culture in which a mix of people can come to work, or socialise so that they feel comfortable, welcomed and confident to be themselves, ensuring that everyone feels valued and more importantly adds value to their communities.
As a champion of social care and a woman in a leadership role, how imperative do you think the inclusion of women in leadership positions, and what difference can they make as compared to their male counterparts?
It is an important time in history for women leaders globally. In the health and social care sector, 80% of the workforce is made up of women and many of them are leaders in these organisations. Women in leadership roles can bring many dimensions which can enrich the organisation and increase productivity and studies have shown that over time with more diverse teams, performance increases. We can further accomplish this by recruiting and nurturing inclusive women leaders who collaborate with their diverse knowledge, perspectives, and experiences. With coaching, mentoring and support along the way, women can build and create the confidence they need to tackle future challenges. It is well known that many women face different challenges than men. Research shows they still carry most of the family and household responsibilities, and this must be taken into account when developing effective women leaders so that it doesn’t compromise the quality of their life, family, relationships and well-being.
As an experienced educationist, how early on in a school or college curriculum must diversity and inclusion be taught?
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion can be taught even before a child starts school where parents, families and friends can play a vital role in positively influencing and shaping a child’s worldview. This is something that we can continue to dwell in for our entire lives to help us grow and embrace the diversity in people including racial and ethnic, socioeconomic, geographic, and academic/professional backgrounds. People with different opinions, backgrounds (degrees and social experience), religious beliefs, political beliefs, sexual orientations, disabilities, heritage, and life experiences can enhance the experience in students’ lives.
However, we are all aware that there are many issues and challenges faced by students today and this can be an overwhelming time for them. Educating students about living in a diverse world by including more diverse people in topics taught and resources used can help young people see themselves such as more authentic portrayals of diverse communities and role models.
What should be the end goal of successfully practising diversity and inclusion in day-to-day life?
To embrace differences, celebrate human beings through compassion and kindness, be inquisitive, and explore ways of learning and being in a new world. The goal of inclusion is to make everyone feel accepted and comfortable, ready to share their opinions and thoughts without hesitation and constraint. It is a great time to develop future leaders through engaging and showcasing the best industries and being innovative in education. The end goal in practising diversity and inclusion in day-to-day life is when you love people, embrace their differences with a non-judgemental approach and choose authentically to be a leader in your life.
