Breaking Barriers Podcast

How are organisations evolving EDI to remain impactful and defensible in the current climate?
As organisations navigate a rapidly shifting landscape, EDI strategies are being tested like never before. Regulatory pressures, budget constraints, and shifting stakeholder expectations are forcing business leaders to make difficult choices.
This raises the question: how do we sustain meaningful progress on EDI and navigate these challenges with confidence?

Rising costs of living, bill increases, high childcare costs and limited support means it’s increasingly challenging to be a working parent or carer. It can feel that the barriers facing those with caring responsibilities are too tough to break through. There are organisations, such as Working Families, that are championing working families and working to remove the barriers that people with caring responsibilities face in the workplace.Working Families CEO, Jane van Zyl, joined us to explore developments in UK policy and what they might mean for working families.

As external pressures and political shifts continue to challenge corporate EDI strategies, many organisations are finding themselves at a crossroads. Do they stay the course, or do they quietly roll-back their efforts to protect key business contracts?For multinational companies, the complexity grows — balancing the expectations of UK and European markets with the constraints facing their US operations.Shape Talent is excited for this upcoming thought-provoking podcast aimed to help decision makers and EDI leaders navigate the complex world of EDI today.

With Mark Zuckerberg sparking a debate on the need to embrace masculinity in the workplace, we disucss its impact on workplace gender equity with guest speaker, Dr Matt Jacobs, organisational development and EDI consultant to explore what masculinity has to do with gender equity in the workplace.
 

Released in time for International Women’s Day 2025, this episode tackles the urgent and ongoing challenge of achieving gender equality that works for ALL. Despite progress, the gap remains, and closing it requires action.
In this insightful conversation, we sit down with Sharon Peake, Shape Talent’s CEO, and Mary Ann Sieghart, author of The Authority Gap, to explore:
The persistent gender equality gap through an intersectional lens
Actionable strategies to ensure progress is inclusive for ALL women and girls
What organisations must prioritise this International Women’s Day, and beyond
Designed for CPOs, EDI leaders, and HR professionals, this episode is packed with practical takeaways to help you drive measurable, meaningful change in your workplace.
Listen now and be part of the movement toward true gender equity.

Beyond representation: Designing workplace systems through the lens of intersectionality.
With special guests: Arlene Rahn, Joulie Gindi (MSc), Simon Houghton and Shape Talent's Ailish Breen.Why is intersectionality so crucial?Women’s experiences in the workplace are shaped by a tapestry of intersecting identities – including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, life stage and more. These dimensions of identity create unique challenges and opportunities, and understanding them is essential for creating inclusive and equitable workplaces.For leaders, the stakes are high. Without an intersectional lens, we risk overlooking the most underrepresented women – and missing out on their invaluable talents and perspectives. By embracing this framework, organisations can build solutions that work for all women, driving innovation, inclusion, and progress.

As a forward-thinking leader, you know that true organisational success hinges on diverse, equitable, and inclusive leadership. But how do you ensure your C-suite succession pipeline reflects these values?
Shape Talent's Founder and CEO, Sharon Peake, CPsychol, will be joined by Eleri Dodsworth from executive search and leadership consultants, Stanton Chase London, alongside our host Rachel Schofield moderating this insight-packed discussion.
 

Rachel Schofield is joined by Anne Hayes, Director of Sectors and Standards Development, BSI, Lyn Bartholomew, Head of Talent Management, Ericsson, and Sharon Peake, CEO and Founder of Shape Talent.

Rachel Schofield is joined by Shape Talent's CEO and Founder, Sharon Peake, and Director of Research and Product Innovation, Dr Priscila Pereira, who share five practical, high-impact tips that you can start implementing today.

Rachel Schofield is joined by Jenn Barnett from Grant Thornton UK, to discuss building a culture that enables the attraction and attention of women.