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Shola Kaye      

Empathy, Communication & Inclusion Specialist, Award-Winning Speaker; Author of "Big Talk, Small Talk"

Shola Kaye works with large companies to help them transform their cultures using the power of empathy, transparent communication and inclusion nudges. Kaye’s work is frequently described as both practical and inspiring. Kaye created The Empathy to Equity Blueprint, a step by step programme that guides and supports organisations on their journey towards greater diversity, equity and inclusion. She shares implementable insights that help her clients create happier and more engaged environments where belonging can flourish.

Early in Kaye’s career she worked in consulting and account management in New York and London with clients such as Goldman Sachs, Charles Schwab and British Airways. She also spent time in academic research at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Later, she performed on four continents as a professional singer and entertainer.

Kaye’s experiences as a Black woman working for global corporations led to an understanding of some of the many challenges faced by underrepresented groups and she shares these insights during her keynotes and training, helping to create greater understanding. She always provides compelling data and research alongside multiple opportunities for reflection and interaction.

Kaye’s work blends her background from both the STEM and the creative industries to deliver clear, effective frameworks that allow people to work better together. These are delivered in a warm, engaging, relatable style that draws in even the most reluctant audience members. Kaye’s clients include American Express, Deloitte, The United Nations, Google, IBM, Nestle, Henkel, HSBC and Oracle. Typical events include global company keynotes, leadership development sessions, employee network meetings, diversity summits and industry conferences.

Kaye grew up in the UK and as a child was fostered. She went on to obtain a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and a Masters in Neuropharmacology from Emory University in Atlanta. She’s a LinkedIn Learning Instructor.

Kaye believes that alongside creating awareness, keynotes should drive action, inspiring audience members to become catalysts for change. One of her favorite quotes is from author Susan Cain, ‘Everyone shines given the right lighting’.

Speech Topics

EMBRACING PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNICATION

Are you wondering why there has been so much interest in the topic of psychological safety?

During this interactive keynote, we explore the vital role of psychological safety in fostering an inclusive environment that values open, authentic communication. We’ll discuss the importance of embracing vulnerability, trust, and empathy in your daily interactions, enabling your team to unlock its full potential through collaborative ways of working.

Takeaways:

  • Understand the key elements of psychological safety and their impact on team performance
  • Explore the relationship between psychological safety and emotional intelligence
  • Discover strategies to create a culture of inclusive communication that values and supports diverse perspectives
  • Recognise the role of empathetic leadership in fostering psychological safety
  • Learn practical techniques for building trust and promoting vulnerability within teams
  • Understand that cultural factors also play a role in the creation of psychologically safe environments

INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP

Equip your leaders with the skills and knowledge to combat bias and foster belonging. After the impact of the pandemic, we know that many workplaces will never be the same again. That’s why today's leaders need an expanded repertoire of skills and know-how to ensure staff are engaged, happy and productive. In this highly impactful program, leaders are given the skill set to flourish in today’s complex work environments, managing ever more diverse and demanding teams.

Takeaways:

  • Explore the 6 key traits of an inclusive leader and their related behaviours
  • Review key data that support the value of compassionate leadership skills in today's work environments
  • Discover what it takes to create an environment of psychological safety
  • Explore inclusive communication best practices to ensure everyone feels encouraged to speak up and make a contribution
  • Discuss a number of behavioural nudges that help us bypass bias and create an atmosphere of innovation and belonging
  • Review important cultural factors that all managers must consider when they lead diverse, multigenerational, international or intercultural teams

ELEVATING EMPATHY

Creating a workplace where everyone feels that they belong is more important than ever before, but how can you build supportive, cohesive environments within your organisation? This is a high-impact, inspiring keynote that offers the tools and the inspiration to become a more compassionate and effective leader, manager, or individual contributor. It may be modified for senior leaders, management, and whole-company keynotes. We’ll look at the important themes of curiosity, courage and being a catalyst and you’ll understand the vital components of empathy, how to be compassionate while avoiding burnout, and why skills like emotional intelligence are in high demand.

Takeaways:

  • Explore the value of active listening and reasons why we may be reluctant to practice curiosity and courage
  • Understand the different types of empathy
  • Find out what impact empathy and listening have on diversity, inclusion, engagement, retention, innovation, and happiness at work
  • Discuss how we might practice empathy in the virtual workplace
  • Spend time reflecting on our own levels of empathy and potential areas for self-improvement
  • Walk away with a simple three-step framework for being empathetic in nearly every situation

DELIVERING EFFECTIVE FEEDBACK WITH EMPATHY

At work and in our personal lives, delivering effective feedback is a valuable skill. Delivered in the right way, feedback can be empowering, inspiring and can drive an individual, and their team, towards fantastic success. However, delivered in the wrong way, feedback can be divisive, demotivating, and destructive. And when we avoid giving feedback to spare someone’s feelings, the eventual outcome can be just as damaging.

So what’s your intention as a manager? Is it to break or build? To crush or to co-create? Do you restrict your feedback to the obligatory once or twice a year, or do you feedback continuously, increasing the motivation and confidence of your team members?

Takeaways:

  • Understand the importance of providing ongoing, tailored, empathetic developmental feedback
  • Explore the repercussions of poor feedback styles such as The Drive-by, The Comparison, The Public Humiliation, and The Wrecking Ball
  • Discover the four elements required to create psychological safety so that your feedback is well-received
  • Take away an effective strategy for delivering feedback as an individual contributor
  • Learn three different feedback frameworks and the pros and cons of each

EMPATHY FOR WELLNESS AND BURNOUT PREVENTION

This interactive, engaging session will delve into the power of empathy, its impact on the work environment, and how practising empathy and self-care can reduce burnout. Learn to cultivate compassion through mindfulness, increase self-appreciation, and apply practical frameworks for empathetic listening and support, even under pressure.

Takeaways:

  • Understand the importance of empathy and its impact on inclusion, work-life balance, and burnout prevention.
  • Differentiate between social and compassionate empathy and their effects on burnout.
  • Experience Metta meditation as a tool for cultivating compassion and reducing distress.
  • Apply the "Gap and Gain" exercise to enhance self-appreciation and personal growth.
  • Utilize the empathy N.E.T. and the F.E.E.L. frameworks to improve listening skills and display empathy in challenging situations.
  • Develop self-care practices and promote empathy and compassion under pressure in your work environment.

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