The Journey to Inclusion and Intersectionality with Dr Arun Verma

Leading in a Mosaic World

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 Dr. Arun Verma, a trailblazer in the fields of inclusion, intersectionality, and equity. As the Head of Equality and Inclusion at the University of London, he has dedicated his career to advancing diversity and inclusion in higher education and beyond. Dr.Verma is also a published author and a respected voice in anti-racism and systems thinking.

In this episode, Dr. Verma discusses his personal journey, from navigating cultural identity and belonging to overcoming mental health challenges. He shares how these experiences shaped his passion for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). The conversation explores the stigmatisation of EDI initiatives, the transformative role of universities, and the importance of collaboration in achieving race equality. Dr. Verma also discusses systems thinking and intersectionality as tools for addressing inequalities and emphasises the proactive power of anti-racism.

The episode concludes with reflections on legacy and a vision for a more inclusive future.

You can Connect with Dr. Arun Verma via his website, LinkedIn, and newsletter - Intersectionality, Unfiltered.

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: Leadership, Intersectionality, Diversity, Inclusion, Cultural identity, Belonging, Higher education, Social change, Anti-racism, Systems thinking, Mosaic World, Human Value Optimisation