Episode 102

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Published on:

24th Apr 2025

Driving Racial Equity at The Co-Op - Turning Data into Actionable Change

In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Zahoor Ahmad, who’s leading the charge at the Co-op when it comes to turning big talk about racial equity into real action. 

We’re getting into everything from unconscious bias to how data (yes, actual numbers) can help create fairer workplaces. 

Zahoor brings decades of experience, loads of honesty, and the kind of clarity that cuts through the fluff. 

This one’s essential listening if you’re serious about building truly inclusive cultures - not just performative posters in the hallway.

Highlights:

(2:10) Current Relevance of Racial Equity

(5:20) Challenges and Misconceptions in EDI

(11:34) Impact of Media and Public Perception

(18:40) Structural Inequality and Data-Driven Change

(37:43) Addressing Systemic Racism and Individual Experiences

(46:07) The Role of Compassionate Leadership

(49:31) Future Vision for EDI

(55:37) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Zahoor Ahmad is Group Head of Social Mobility, Inclusion and Belonging for the Co-op group with over two decades of experience in equality, diversity and inclusion practice garnered across and range of industries, including the public, private and charitable sectors. He currently serves as a member of the Co-op Group’s Exec Board. 

As a graduate of psychology, he fosters a behavioural approach, and has been instrumental in pioneering approaches to tackling non-inclusive behaviours and structural inequalities.

He has led D&I teams in the MoD, the finance sector, the emergency services and the charitable sector. He has worked in a wide range of multi-agency environments collaborating and leading programmes across education, health and early careers. He is a specialist inclusive coach and mentor, and frequent keynote speaker on topics ranging from socio-economic inequality to re-imagining inclusive leadership.

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Website: aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk

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About the Podcast

The Wellbeing Rebellion
Welcome to The Wellbeing Rebellion, an award-winning podcast! We are Ngozi Weller, a corporate wellbeing and productivity consultant, and Obehi Alofoje, a psychologist and behavioural change specialist.

We are the founders of Aurora, a corporate culture consultancy that specialises in creating psychologically safe workplaces that enable employees to thrive, and for us, wellbeing is personal.

The problem with employee wellbeing support, in most workplaces, is that it puts the responsibility on the person struggling to seek help. And when you are unwell, that is just too big a burden to bear.

It's not enough to say that your door is always open.

We need to get better at supporting our employees, and that is precisely what this podcast is about.

The rebellion is here, and it is long overdue. So this podcast is specifically for the HR or business leader who wants to make a difference to their employees. And the bottom line is we want to create psychologically safe workplaces where employees are empowered to bring their whole selves to work. We want to create a culture that is inclusive, supportive, and encourages everyone from the shop floor to the boardroom to play their part.

On the wellbeing rebellion podcast, we'll give you weekly up-to-date insights, strategies and tips that cover leadership capability, executive burnout, mental health, equity, diversity and inclusion and employee challenges such as retention, productivity and emotional resilience. Sometimes, it'll be just us. Other times we'll interview industry leaders and experts.

Don't hesitate - listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts, because The Wellbeing Rebellion starts now!

About your hosts

Obehi Alofoje

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Obehi is a psychologist and culture change consultant who helps senior HR and business leaders reduce employee burnout, absenteeism & talent attrition through mental wellbeing strategy, training & coaching.

Ngozi Weller

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Ngozi Weller is a culture change consultant and an ICF accredited coach who helps build resilience into your business by creating psychologically safe workplaces that enable employees to thrive.