S2 Ep 02: Allyship with Lyndsey Oliver

Your Permission to Pause

Lyndsey Oliver is an expert in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I), and my very dear friend. She joined me to talk about the intricate and essential concept of allyship. Whether you're navigating the complexities of maternity transitions, grappling with societal biases, or seeking to amplify marginalised voices in your workplace, this episode is full of wisdom to help you lead with purpose and compassion. Don't miss this powerful conversation that redefines what it means to be an ally in today's diverse world.

Here are the Highlights:

02:05 How marriage, motherhood and work cultures led Lyndsey to start a business.

07:53 Learning: Examine personal, societal, and organisational beliefs.

14:19 Championing allyship for diverse workplace adjustments.

21:44 Educate yourself, ask questions, and start discussions.

32:13 Privilege influences conversations in organisational hierarchies.

38:30 Authentic representation requires inclusive, not tokenistic, hiring.

44:19 Take ownership: Learn, unlearn, understand, and grow.

47:24 Admiration: David Attenborough's insights on biodiversity.

Meet your host Jo Cowlin

Jo Cowlin keeps it real.

Some people might like to call her ‘a motivational people development expert’ but Jo would rather you didn’t.

Jo is a no-nonsense, straight-talking northerner

She is also a transformational coach, facilitator and game changer. She has a passion for results and is dedicated to helping leaders realise their aspirations without compromising their wellbeing.

She dares individuals to be different by eliminating corporate BS, life coaching, and hand-holding, and instead encourages breaking through barriers to gain clarity and step into personal power for a life without limits.

Passionate about learning and growth, she is dedicated to delivering results, drawing from her own experiences of overcoming corporate burnout, overwhelm, and a lack of direction. She turned this all around, and created a way forward that brought the balance that she needed to thrive no matter what life threw at her. Resilience and a proactive approach to mental wellbeing is at the core of all of her work which is predominantly aimed at helping leaders and their teams refocus, regroup and rapidly adjust to change. With a background in pharmaceutical leadership and expertise across various sectors, she offers coaching and leadership programs tailored to individual and organisational needs.

When Jo isn’t transforming company cultures, you’ll find her managing her 3 teenage girls’ busy social calendars. She’s a dab hand in the kitchen and true to form, loves to keep her food real. And if she isn’t doing either of those you will find her out in nature walking her dog or lifting a barbell in the gym.

Find out more about Jo here: https://jocowlin.com/

Connect with Jo:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocowlin/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-cowlin/

About Lyndsey Oliver

Lyndsey is driven by a purpose: to develop and transform organisations, workplaces, and leaders toward a more consciously inclusive future. Currently serving as Head of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) at BaxterStorey, she leads the charge in defining and executing an ED&I strategy, ambition and delivering the 1-, 3-, and 5-year action plans. The ambition? To set the standard and be recognised for having the most inclusive culture in hospitality.

Throughout her career, Lyndsey has made a significant impact across various industries and businesses, working as an ED&I consultant (well, Chief MsChief Maker to be precise), program director, coach, and facilitator. She began her journey in IT at Diageo, where she spent 14 formative years. Her career path reflects the unique value of a “squiggly” career, proving that non-linear journeys can lead to the most enriching and impactful experiences.

Connect with Lyndsey:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndsey-oliver/

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk