Page 69 - Powerlist 2019 - Digital Edition

After a few years you moved to as a whole because that is what the being taken very, very seriously. I’ve
NatWest and then you were head- UK statistics are telling us. We also set been here for three years now, but part
hunted by Shell which is where you a target for women of 50/50 gender of the problem I’ve had, is to try and
moved into HR... balance by 2020. I put an LGBT target convince black and Asian people who
I think I learnt more in that Shell role in in for the first time of 8 per cent and work here, that this new strategy is for Media, Publishing & Entertainment
my first three months than, I had done in I put a target in for disability of 8 per them. If they don’t believe in it, it’s never
all my career. cent as well and then replicated that going to happen for them.
for on screen. So when you’re watching
In what way? television, you should be seeing at least How do you know you’re getting
It just opened up the world of how 8 per cent right across the board. At things right?
people get to the top. Individuals that least 8 per cent disabled people, 8 per Our programmes are winning record
you see at the very top all have mentors, cent LGBT, 15 per cent black and Asians numbers of awards. Fatima Salaria
they all have coaches. But you find a lot and half women. We have met some of was one of the people on our assistant
of black people don’t have mentors and those of targets. commissioners programme, and she
you often hear people say, I don’t need commissioned Muslims Like Us that
a mentor what I need is an opportunity. won a Bafta. Adeel Akhtar won the
Yes, you do need an opportunity as well, Best Actor BAFTA for Murdered By My
but you need these individuals. Father, which is a fantastic drama. If we
didn’t have diversity he wouldn’t have
So you think a mentor is a key thing? won it. You’re actually seeing it to a level
Absolutely. And having a coach is that’s not tokenism or anything, they are
also key. You need a sponsor as well, Networking is actually winning awards.
someone in the room to actually say I
know so and so, I’ve worked with them still key, just Do you feel strongly in your heart that
and can vouch for them, someone who doing a great job you are actually making a change?
will put their reputation on the line for I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. I am totally
you. You need that individual in the isn’t enough delivery focused. Tony Hall, the Director
room to be able to do that for you. But General, is very serious about it. I think
you also need to be a great networker. he wants this to be his legacy. When
you apply for a role, you can apply for
What are the keys to being a great it knowing that you won’t meet barriers
networker? Which ones? and if you do get into the organisation,
For an extrovert it’s very easy, for We’ve met the ones on disability and that you will actually feel welcome.
someone like me who’s an introvert, it’s LGBT, we are very close to meeting You can actually bring your all to work.
more difficult. You have to reach out to the BAME target for workforce. People There are a lot of women, black women,
people and ask for that coffee to get to didn’t think we’d able to do it, we’re who I’ve worked with and speak to here,
know the individual. And most senior getting close to it. I think we reported who believe they can’t come to work
leaders are happy to do that. 14.8 per cent. The biggest challenges with their hair natural or in braids.
for us remain leadership. We’ve put
So you’ve got to let people know that in place a number of interventions to Really? In this day and age?
you’re open for business? help us change the dial. For example A lot of them have told me they still
Yes, and when you have those we have the assistant commissioners believe they have to straighten their hair
opportunities, you don’t go in and then programme where we bring in black because they feel that they will not able
whinge. And you have to be prepared and Asian commissioners – the people to progress their careers.
– as the saying goes: Fail to prepare, that get the programmes on TV. I
prepare to fail. Networking is still key, wouldn’t say we’re getting close from What do you say to them?
doing a great job is not enough. You the leadership point of view but there is That I don’t agree with them but they
might feel you’re going to be noticed more that needs to be done there. say you’re not a woman, Tunde, so you
when you’re doing a good job – and I don’t know. It’s what they feel and I have
speak to so many people who say as But there’s still a problem with to be very respectful of it.
long as I’m doing a good job and I’m leadership numbers?
delivering then I should be rewarded We don’t have the numbers, so we’ve Sir Lenny Henry suggested ring-fencing
accordingly. Yeah, you might be, come up with 20 recommendations. budgets for BAME programmes. What
but your career’s not going to go up You won’t find any organisation in do you think?
because people don’t know who you the UK that’s come up with those The corporation doesn’t want to
are and that is basically what it is. recommendations. The first one is that go down that route. Not because it
we want – by the end of 2020 – two wouldn’t work, it may, but we feel
How did you set about having an impact black or Asian people on the executive there’s another way to do it.
when you moved to the BBC? committee.
I put in new inclusion targets. When I You’re less than 18 months away from
joined the last BAME target was around How many do you have now? 2020, and a lot has to happen. How do
12 per cent or 14 per cent (on and off None. We need to get the numbers up you feel about that?
screen), so I put a target of 15 per cent so that at least you can change the dial It’s not long, but we’re moving in the
for both leaders and for the workforce at the very top. It is something that’s right direction.

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