Priya Bates is President and owner of Inner Strength Communication and co-founder of A Leader Like Me podcast. Based in Toronto, Canada, she is an Accredited Business Communicator and a Certified Strategic Communication Management Professionals. Advita Patel is the Director of CommsRebel, co-host of award-winning podcast, CalmEdgedRebels and A Leader Like Me. Based in Manchester, UK, she is a Chartered PR practitioner and a Fellow of CIPR. In 2022 she was named one of the top 100 Northern Asian British entrepreneurs.
"This new book is a must-read for anyone working in internal
communications. It highlights the need for effective communication
around DEI efforts in order to make them stick and yield results.
In particular, the authors argue that DEI initiatives will fail
without good communication, as employees won't know how to get
involved or what behaviour is expected of them in order to be
inclusive. This book is packed full of practical advice and
guidance to help communicators enable, engage and empower
colleagues to deliver on DEI programmes. Particularly useful are
the questions dotted throughout the book to help you reflect on
your work and your organisation, to help you plan how to take
action. This book includes a comprehensive and fascinating history
of internal communication, and lays bare a compelling argument for
why DEI is essential for organisational survival. I highly
recommend this book to anyone working in internal comms - it's the
kind of book you'll underline, scribble in the margins and come
back to for reference time and time again."
*Joanna Parsons, Director of Colleague Experience, Bentley
Systems*
"A lot has been done in the last couple of years to raise awareness
regarding DEI. What I really like about this book is that it takes
it beyond awareness, towards a concrete roadmap for practical
change within businesses. One can feel the passion of the authors.
Their principle "progress not perfect" encourages to keep going
step by step towards a future where DEI is no longer a concept or
goal but an everyday normality."
*Dr Karen Lange, Member of the Board for Human Resources, Bentley
Motors*
"Building a Culture of Inclusivity has been an excellent companion
to me whilst I have travelled for work. It has been a journey of
learning, self-reflection and conscience pricking but, most
importantly, a spur to continue to act in the many ways I can, as a
leader, to create a more inclusive organisation. The true test for
me has been how many times I have already referred to something I
have read in the book as well as thinking about the people I will
buy it for as a gift to help to encourage them as leaders,
communicators and colleagues. I love the structure of the book. The
clear lines of thoughtful opportunities to learn something
new/embed some things I already know (and perhaps have forgotten!),
supported by some pretty impressive references. The handy
checklists have also helped me reflect on how I personally perform
(progress not perfect!) and in the organisation I support. A must
read for anyone interested in building inclusive cultures."
*Tricia Williams, Chief Operating Officer, Northern Trains
Limited.*
"This is not your next-door book on inclusion. It's a power-packed
playbook that is insightful, practical, enlightening and easy to
read! Advita and Priya offer practical applications of DEI
strategies with effective frameworks to address key challenges that
continue in organisations: psychological safety, leadership
capability to impact cultural change, growth mindset and perceived
lack of empathy and trust. Supported by robust data, insights and
case studies, the readers are reminded about how 'real work in DEI
forces us to look in the mirror and come to terms with
uncomfortable truths about ourselves'. If you're passionate about
change, this should be the first stop on your journey."
*Shalini Gupta, Senior Internal Communications Manager, Arup*
"Building a Culture of Inclusivity is a brilliant book for anyone
looking to develop a diverse organisation, foster collaboration and
promote creativity. Not only does it pose important questions for
leaders and management teams, it also provides a roadmap to ensure
good intentions convert into genuine, positive and lasting change.
Patel and Bates have moved beyond the theory and created an
essential guide which will change businesses for the better."
*Anna Russell, Internal Communications Director, FTSE 100
business*
"What I really appreciate about Building a Culture of Inclusivity
is that authors, Priya Bates and Advita Patel, have written a
comprehensive and well-researched book on DEI that provides context
and explains why DEI is so critical to an organization's strategic
operations. It further details the important role of internal
communications and provides best practices and a roadmap for
successfully embedding DEI in organizations. Building A Culture of
Inclusivity should be a required resource for those pursuing
careers in communications and anyone seeking greater understanding
of DEI."
*John G. Clemons, College Professor, University of North Carolina
Charlotte and Loyola University New Orleans*
"I cannot recommend Building a Culture of Inclusivity enough. This
book is a must-read for not only internal communication
professionals, but for any leader, HR professional, or individual
who wants to understand how to effectively build and communicate a
strategy on diversity, equity, and inclusion within their
organization. Priya Bates and Advita Patel bring a lifetime of
experience and expertise to the table, providing invaluable
insights into what DE&I truly means and why it is crucial for
the survival of any organization in our world today. As a
communication leader, this book challenged my personal biases and
emphasized the importance of constantly questioning my own thinking
in a world where accurate and truthful information can be difficult
to access. The authors provide a practical and easy-to-follow set
of tips and techniques to help readers build a more equitable
workplace, develop a solid DE&I strategy, and effectively lead
and manage the change required to achieve your DE&I goals.
Perhaps most importantly, Building a Culture of Inclusivity
emphasizes the critical role of effective internal communication in
achieving DE&I goals. The authors make a compelling case for
why and how we need to lead DE&I through communication, and
provide actionable advice for achieving excellence in this area.
Overall, I have no doubt that this book will become your go-to
guide for DE&I excellence. If you're looking to build a more
inclusive and equitable organization, Building a Culture of
Inclusivity is the book for you."
*Adrian Cropley OAM, Communication Strategist, Founder Centre for
Strategic Communication Excellence*
"We know from our research that internal communication is one of
the most critical elements of an effective DEI effort. I applaud
Priya and Advita for writing Building a Culture of Inclusivity that
so aptly guides those involved with communication and DEI on a
great number of how-to tips and informative context. This book is a
significant contribution to the literature and I highly recommend
reading it."
*Julie O’Mara, Past Director of Marketing Communications, Whirlpool
Corporation*
"Building a Culture of Inclusivity delivers on so many crucial
levels with the right balance of rightly researched facts, useful
frameworks and seamlessly integrated storytelling. Priya Bates and
Advita Patel do a fine job of providing the building blocks for
moving an organization towards a more inclusive environment. If you
are a newly hired Human Resources or DE&I professional, an
internal communicator or just a C-Suite executive who's been tasked
with moving the DE&I needle, please consider adding this
resource to your library."
*Derrick Larane, Chief Operating Officer, pocstock Inc.*
"Priya Bates and Advita Patel have crafted the definitive roadmap
for shaping organizational culture to embrace inclusivity. While
DEI is under assault in some quarters, Bates and Patel eschew
politics and focus squarely on what matters to any company's
stakeholders: the business case. Thoroughly documented with
meaningful data and case studies, Building a Culture of Inclusivity
is as well-researched as any work I have seen on this vitally
important topic. What sets it apart, though, is the authors'
evidence-supported argument that trust - a core driver of culture -
is the foundation for any effective DEI effort. While it is geared
toward internal communicators, any business leader would do well to
absorb and act upon the lessons in this important work."
*Shel Holtz, SCMP, Webcor*
"There are a number of excellent workplace guides to DEI on the
marketplace, however, Building a Culture of Inclusivity stands out
for several reasons. The first is that it includes both
fundamentals, the why and the how of creating a truly inclusive and
strategic DEI approach. Advita Patel and Priya Bates teach us about
the importance of respect, trust, and dignity and that true change
starts with believing in the why, however, the takeaways and
reflective questions in each chapter serve as a guiding hand on the
next steps to take. The book shares necessary truths, but never
preaches. Divided into two parts - the foundations that need to be
built and the frameworks and models required to ensure a meaningful
approach is taken - Patel and Bates continually stress their
'progress not perfect' approach which can still lead to performance
over performative action. Building a Culture of Inclusivity is also
a must have for internal communications professionals, as the book
includes a substantial section on the role of communications
professionals in truly representing their audiences by guiding a
safe space, building leadership capability and connecting the dots
between DEI strategy and employee delivery. I came away from
reading with a much clearer and truer understanding of how to
create an inclusive DEI engagement plan."
*Naomi Jones, Corporate Affairs Director, Mars Wrigley UK*
"Often the biggest barrier to change is fear. Where feelings run
deep, such as with diversity, equity and inclusion, brands
sometimes choose inaction. This feels safer than trying something
and getting it wrong, with all the repercussions that can follow.
In Building a Culture of Inclusivity, Bates and Patel recognise
this vulnerability within organisations and step forward with
practical insight and advice to help leaders better understand
their options, build an environment of trust and embed best
practice. Want to be and do better on inclusion? Start here. Your
knowledge and practice will improve immeasurably and
immediately."
*Sarah Waddington CBE, Director, Wadds Inc.*
"How we communicate plays a critical role in building a culture of
inclusion in our organizations. Advita and Priya's combined
expertise as strategic business communicators have resulted in the
creation of practical DEI frameworks and models to help leaders be
more intentionally inclusive. This brilliant book is a must-read
resource for every leader seeking to understand how they can bring
positive, meaningful and long-lasting change to their working
environment."
*Ruchika Tulshyan, author, Inclusion on Purpose*
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