))
Building Inclusive Communities with Jess Willis
Manage episode 480806630 series 3444407
Content provided by Susan Popoola. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Susan Popoola or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
The "Leading in a Mosaic World" podcast, hosted by Susan Popoola, explores the complexities of our modern, interconnected world with a rich diversity of guests. Today’s guest is Jessica Willis.
Jess Willis is the Executive Director of Create Communities, where she leads the Data Science Festival, Data Idols, Two Beer Ideas and Founders500. With over a decade of experience in event and community building, she has helped start-ups grow, provided creative direction, and built global communities through events. Organising over 100 events annually for a diverse community of 50,000 members, Jess is committed to increasing the representation of girls and women in STEM and fostering London's most diverse tech community.
In this episode, Jessica shares her journey from growing up in Hong Kong and Canada to her current role in building diverse communities through events like the Data Science Festival in the UK. She discusses her experiences and perspectives on identity, belonging, and the importance of creating inclusive spaces for underrepresented groups in tech. J
Jess emphasises the significance of consistency in community building and also the importance of community and opportunities, particularly for women and underrepresented groups. Jess also introduces Founders 500, a new initiative aimed at supporting aspiring founders with practical tools and networking opportunities. The discussion also touches on the ongoing relevance of diversity and inclusion efforts, and the challenges posed by recent rollbacks in EDI initiatives. The impact of parenthood on professional life is explored, highlighting the need for flexibility in the workplace.
You can connect with Jessica Willis via her LinkedIn, and check out what Create Communities are about via their website
You can also connect with the host, Susan Popoola, the CEO of Mosaic Fusions, a specialist in human value optimisation, via LinkedIn. Learn more about her work on her Mosaic Fusions website. And publications on Mosaic Gold Ltd.
This series of the podcast is produced by Rafiat Akinwande.
Keywords - Jess Willis, Create Communities, Data Science Festival, Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging, Community building, Women's rights, STEM careers, Founders 500, diversity, Tech, Parenting, Networking, Mosaic World, Human Value Optimisation
16 episodes
Share
