Witney Business and Innovation Centre’s Post

#Culture is a hot (and frustrating topic for many of us), and it's no surprise! In my HR experience, I've seen countless buzzword values that sound great on paper but are disconnected from real-life practices. That's why we decided to take a bold step and engage our entire team in creating the Belkins Principles! We're not just slapping them up on a wall or listing them on our website; we're weaving them into every single process, big and small.   What's the outcome? Suprise-surprise, we're still in progress ;) And I don't think we'll ever stop polishing our culture.  But check out the video to see our journey unfold, with the words of our Belkiners. 

Never when we sat down for that coffee all those years ago did I think we would end up here. Very proud of all that we have achieved over the past two years, the incredible team we have and the wonderful group of clients we have built. Smartest, most genuine, hardworking bloke there is. Honour and privledge to learn and spend majority of most days with you! Could write a list as long as the Nile about what I’ve learnt from JB, here’s 5 points that first come to mind; 1. Listen, listen more, take notes, summarise in writing, engage any expert you can to upskill and better understand the problem, turn the world over to find the most powerful solution. 2. If you find yourself with a few spare minutes having finished a meeting early, driving or walking to lunch, spend this time calling your team members to check in, this will be invaluable to both you and them. 3. No matter how busy you are, always make the time to stay connected and engaged with your network, a quick text is all it takes. 4. Respect and celebrate the achievements of our peers, their success makes us better and drives us forward as an industry. The quote I love from JB most is, “there’s enough clients out there for everyone.” 5. Always remember, we aren’t saving lives. Your family and your health always come first. One of a kind JB. James Bartold

Summer Celebration Event Success: A Lesson in DEI During the company's Celebration Event, one of the activities planned was a "cake walk." An employee expressed their concern about this event to their boss, who then brought it to the DEI Manager. The DEI Manager discussed the matter with their boss and the volunteer celebration team. To address the concern, the history and origins of the origins of the "cake walk" were shared with the diverse group. Afterward, a video presentation was shown, and members were invited to share their thoughts. The DEI Officer emphasized key points: 1. Our goal is to build a strong community. 2. Dehumanizing others is unacceptable. 3. We acknowledge the history and the ongoing pain in the black community, and the "cake walk" still part of the communal narrative. 4. Are company values say we care. So, "If it hurts you, it hurts me." 5. We as humans are all continuously learning. It doesn't matter if you don't see the similarities or if not all African American's know the story and history. 6. With diversity here at the table, we can identify options that create inclusive and respectful activities. The outcome: The reimagined dessert game was well-attended, educational, and a huge success, demonstrating the impact of heartfelt DEI efforts. So, let's talk about grace, remain open-minded, and practice caring for one another. Happy Friday! #SummerCelebration #DEI #CommunityBuilding #Inclusion #Respect #LearningTogether #HeartfeltDEI #TeamSuccess #OpenMindedness #GraceAndCare #DEIWORKS https://lnkd.in/g-pEk4US

The Crayons & Marketers team had the pleasure of attending the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce's Executive Insights event, 'Visionary Leadership: A Fireside Chat with Fawn Weaver,' today at the National Museum of African American Music. Fawn is the CEO and Founder of Uncle Nearest, Inc., the fastest-growing American whiskey brand in history. Her insights this evening were inspiring, emphasizing a message of inclusion and hope. In an op-ed she penned for TIME, Fawn noted, “Women and people of color make up 70 percent of America. We are not the minority—we are the majority. And our numbers are growing. If companies don’t figure out how to fill their boardrooms and marketing sessions with this reality—with or without mandates or programs requiring and measuring it—they will be left behind. For publicly traded companies, when boycotts are threatened, consider what the future consumer looks like. If you do the hard work now, you might find that your key to success lies not in the consumer base of the past, but in the one of the future.” As inclusive marketers, we believe inclusion is not just an ethical choice but also a smart business strategy. Consumers of tomorrow are increasingly multicultural, and embracing diversity and inclusion today is key to staying relevant. #InclusiveMarketing #Multicultural #FawnWeaver #UncleNearest #Leadership #CrayonsMarketers

Great article by Yasmin Arrigo on the deprioritisation of #DEI in #ADland - please read and share! At Brixton Finishing School we've experienced this in the last 12 months, alongside many other #changemaking organisations, a #stealth defunding of commitments to #DEI leaving us with a budget deficit last year. We took this #crisis as an opportunity to reflect, reframe and recommit to our mission - to create fair, accessible industry access for all talents and to then support them to thrive, not survive when they arrive. Thank you to all who advocated for us - we really value and appreciate your efforts! #2024 is our year of serenity and we will not deviate from our mission - we will gracefully keep, keeping on, driving change. Talent is distrubuted equally but opportunities are not. To supercharge change long term commitment to impactful change making projects is needed. It’s vital that the industry leans in and support our (and other organisations) efforts. MEFA CEO, Naren Patel, decided to launch the Media For All [MEFA] awards when a recent survey indicated that businesses were experiencing “DEI fatigue” ; they were under so much pressure that diversity and inclusion were taking a back seat. #DEI departments have been disbanded at #tech companies (Source: WordinBlack.com) And by December 2023 open calls for divestment were heard - with Elon Musk declaring on X ‘DEI must Die’. Dear Industry, your busy day job is serving your clients and their consumers - our day job is supporting multiple communities with many intersectionalities to win at the world of work. So please, reach out to third party experts who can make authentic inclusion a reality for you - it’s not going to happen if it’s not a future proofed commitment. 

Case Study: Abercrombie & Fitch – What Not to Do in Building an Inclusive Brand The recent spotlight on former #Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries reignites discussions about the brand's problematic history. A&F's past exclusionary practices, particularly against people of color, plus-size individuals, and women in hijab, serve as a stark reminder of how shady business tactics can severely damage a brand's reputation. Key Lessons; Embrace Diversity: A successful DEI strategy must include representation of all identities, including women in hijab. Representation Matters: Excluding people of color, plus-size individuals, and diverse cultural expressions alienates a vast customer base. Authentic Inclusion: True diversity goes beyond tokenism and requires genuine commitment to all communities. A&F's journey from controversy to attempted redemption highlights the importance of inclusive practices in building a sustainable, respected brand. As business leaders, we must prioritize ethical, diverse, and body-positive approaches to truly connect with all consumers.#DEI #BodyPositivity #InclusiveMarketing #RiskManagement #ReputationalRisk #LeadershipQuotes #DiversityInLeadership #SupplyChainRisk #BoardDiversity #CorporateGovernance #BoardLeadership #WOCsOnBoards #BoardEffectiveness #Chairman #BoardLeadership #CorporateLeadership #BoardOfDirectors #ExecutiveLeadership #LeadershipInBusiness #LeadershipExcellence #StrategicLeadership #ChairmanInsights #Governance #BoardroomLeadership #ChairmanRole #LeadershipStrategy #ResponsibleInvesting #ImpactInvesting #SustainableFinance #EthicalInvesting #LongTermValue #SustainabilityReporting #CorporateDisclosure #TransparentBusiness #CSRDCompliance #NonFinancialReporting #ESGInvesting #SustainableBusiness #CorporateResponsibility #SociallyResponsibleInvesting #DiversityAndInclusion #EquityInBusiness #InclusiveWorkplace #CEOs #DiversityInLeadership #InclusiveLeadership #GrowthMindset #SuccessMindset #MotivationalQuotes #Empowerment #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipTraining #LeadershipSkills #LeadershipCoach #ExecutiveCoaching #Chairmen #CSRD #ESRS #SCDDD #BelongingAtWork #Mentorship #Teambuilding #FutureLeaders

Every human is limitless in their unique way.  Their capacity to dream and set goals knows no bounds. And honestly, age is just a number, nothing more. We can observe this simple truth in the examples of: - Colonel Harland Sanders, who started franchising Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) at 65. - Sam Walton, who opened the first Walmart at 44, revolutionizing retail. - Arianna Huffington, who launched The Huffington Post at 54, becoming a media pioneer. And the list goes on… Inspirational, indeed! For these dreamers and go-getters, every year is another chapter, another chance: → To set lofty goals. → To pursue new dreams. → To redefine success. P.S. What’s your next dream? Share it below.

🥚🌼 As we celebrate Easter, we reflect on the journey of growth and evolution. Here's to embracing new beginnings, fostering innovation, and achieving milestones together. Wishing you and your team a joyful Easter filled with progress and success. 🐰🌷 #SpringIntoSuccess #BusinessPartnership #BusinessJourney #EasterGreetings #BusinessCollaboration

As we celebrate, let’s take a moment to appreciate the incredible moments we shared over the past year, the challenges we've overcome, and the connections that bring us joy. #CummingsWealthManagement #FinancialPlanning #StuartFL

Indeed powerful readings & writings Let’s take it all onboard ♥️🍀