The Inclusion Journey - by Allegra Chapman & Mousumi Kanjilal Williams

About the Book

Design and implement a clear action plan to achieve real inclusion in your organization.

Book Synopsis

Building a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization is not only the right thing to do for society, it's the right thing to do for the business. Productivity, engagement and profitability all improve with a more inclusive workplace.

Written for all HR professionals, talent managers and leaders concerned with inclusion in their organization, The Inclusion Journey explains how to identify the actions that will make real impact, implement meaningful change, track and report on progress and build diversity and inclusion strategies that result in long-term growth.

This practical book allows readers to assess their company's current situation when it comes to diversity and inclusion and define their objectives for the future. It also shows how to produce a prioritized action plan that will enable the business to work towards its goals and track the progress along the way. It covers everything from the business benefits of inclusion and the current inclusion gaps in the organization, through to assembling the right people and resources needed to close these gaps. There is also guidance on how to get stakeholder buy-in for EDI activity and advice on how to link diversity and inclusion goals to overall business objectives.

Packed full of real world examples, interviews, exercises and checklists throughout, there are also downloadable worksheets to provide practitioners with everything they need to see the business benefits of inclusion in practice and have the tools they need to achieve these in their own organization.

Review Quotes

"The Inclusion Journey brilliantly emphasizes the importance of securing buy-in from all stakeholders to foster a truly inclusive business environment. It is enlightening in highlighting how everyone, from leadership to frontline employees, plays a crucial role in creating a culture where every individual feels valued and empowered to thrive. Their comprehensive advice will equip anyone committed to make real change with actionable strategies to ensure that inclusion is not just a policy, but a deeply ingrained practice that enhances workplace culture and drives overall success."-- "Andi Fletcher, Director of People & Culture, The Athenaeum Hotel"

"The Inclusion Journey gives an invaluable clear approach as to what you should be looking at and the impact the analysis shows. And, vitally, how you can act. More and more companies are turning to a deeper level of transparency and, by taking the advice in this book, can help be prepared for what's to come. Expectations have changed in our workforce; the skill is to listen and act to protect the longevity of the business - and quite frankly - it's the right thing to do for society."-- "Hanna Smith, Chief People Officer"

"The Inclusion Journey is an intelligent and incisive guide to achieving meaningful diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Mousumi and Allegra create a vital road map for change with clarity and rigour. This highly engaging and brilliantly written book will prepare you for the journey towards real transformation, guiding you along the way with comprehensive data, actionable steps and proven strategies for overcoming the inevitable obstacles and setbacks. Quite simply, this is an essential book to bring about the change that we need for a fairer society."-- "Sheela Banerjee, Award-winning Author, Academic and Journalist"

"As a disabled disrupter, the journey from exclusion to inclusion has been long. This book makes me bounce. It sets out the same route map for business, provides the why and delivers on how it can be done and at speed."-- "Mike Adams, CEO, Purple"

"EDI must be taken seriously, by people, policy and processes. So it's good to see the team at Watch This Sp_ce taking the initiative and writing a comprehensive guide which will make a difference in the working space. This is about showing up, speaking out and knowing, as they say, that diversity is not a black-or-white issue but impacts us all. I would recommend that companies take a read and reference their actions - lets create the change together."-- "Sonya Barlow, Diversity Coach, Author of Unprepared to Entrepreneur"

"I hoped this would be a game-changing book to help us on our diversity and inclusion journeys. It exceeded my expectations. It is a brilliantly conceived, evidence-based, challenging, practical and an expertly written guide. It inspires action. The factual and experiential style and format are refreshing and opposite to the "ticking boxes" approach. Inclusion is not enough - everyone belonging is the aim. It's a must-read for every leader and leadership group. The business benefits from taking the actions described are proven and well worth the challenges and costs."-- "Tony Robinson OBE, Co-Founder of The Micro Business Alliance, Chair of Yorkshire in Business and Director of the Organisation for Responsible Businesses"

"Inclusion is not an element of work to be considered as a side project or nice-to-have. This is essential work for the future of equity and inclusion in workplaces. The Inclusion Journey is an essential guide for leaders who want to embed inclusion in their workplaces. The book takes you through the steps to follow in a clear and concise way. The actions you need to take are detailed, as well as the things to watch out for along the way. I recommend this to all leaders who want to drive change."-- "Dr Sam Collins, CEO, Aspire For Equality"

"Inclusion is not just a moral imperative but a strategic one. The Inclusion Journey offers a masterclass in transforming inclusion from an abstract ideal into actionable, quantifiable progress. Written by global experts in the field, by reading the book and leveraging data to define clear goals and communicate effectively, organizations can cultivate a culture of inclusivity that mirrors the best practices seen in successful businesses worldwide. It's essential reading for leaders who are serious about making real change."-- "Dan Södergren, Keynote Speaker on the future of work, technology, and AI"

"The authors have done an incredible job breaking down the steps into practical actions to help any organization implement an inclusive culture. Their writing style is easy to read, and you feel like they are advising you directly. It's a must-read for leaders who care about their colleagues and those who are ready to be intentional and take effective action so they can create a space where everyone can thrive."-- "Advita Patel, Internal Comms & Workplace Culture strategist, co-author of Building a Culture of Inclusivity"

"There are so many informative and educational moments in the text that do not preach, but allow space for exploration and reflection, empowering you to take a beat, to challenge yourself to improve a little more. Even when you feel you might have cracked it, this book reminds you that the journey is not complete. The desire is to reach the destination, but the journey is always more important as this is where in this book, you will learn so much more about yourself and your relationship with inclusion."-- "Paul Mortimer, Workplace Inclusion Practitioner, ex-footballer, Broadcaster, Coach and Motivational Speaker"

"This is a brilliant book for anyone wanting to create a culture of inclusivity in their organization. It's absolutely jam packed with practical tools and advice to help managers communicate and implement inclusivity strategies. It should be required reading for every human who works with other humans."-- "Nadia Finer, Founder of Shy & Mighty, author"

"To be included and to feel we belong is one of our most basic human needs. This book outlines in great detail a map of how we can offer this to all employees from all backgrounds. A must for anyone who believes this subject is important but needs help building momentum. I love how practical and easy to read this book is."-- "Matt Phelan, Co-Founder, The Happiness Index"

About the Author

Allegra Chapman is the co-founder of Watch this Sp-_ce, a multi award winning diversity and inclusion consultancy and has over 10 years' experience in helping organizations to define their values and purpose. Based in West Sussex, UK, she was named as one of the UK's most inspirational female entrepreneurs of 2023.

Mousumi Kanjilal Williams is the co-founder of Watch this Sp_ce. She has spent more than 20 years helping national and international corporations to drive innovation and growth through inclusive teams. Based in Brighton, UK, she is also a writer, campaigner, conference speaker and mentor for The Girls' Network.