Expanding the Spark of Inclusion Across Companies and Leaders

Last week marked the continuation of a powerful conversation on inclusion, hosted by Rio Tinto HQ and facilitated by Oxford Leadership Partner Michal Oshman. This gathering brought together senior leaders and change-makers from across sectors, united by a shared mission: to explore the evolving landscape of DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) and how to move from conversation to real, systemic impact.

This session follows the first in this series, which took place in March 2024, also hosted by Rio Tinto in London. What began as a meaningful exchange has now grown into a cross-industry initiative—where leaders come together to reflect, challenge, and support one another in shaping more inclusive organisations from the inside out.

Themes That Emerged

Throughout the latest gathering, a few key themes came to the surface—each reflecting the current state of inclusion work in large organisations:

• A shift toward systemic design: Many leaders expressed a need to move beyond isolated initiatives toward deeper integration of inclusion through processes, policies, and organisational structures.
• The role of AI in inclusive leadership: As AI becomes more embedded in decision-making, understanding how to lead inclusively in a tech-driven world is essential. One participant noted the growing need to stay ahead in this space to lead with knowledge and awareness.
• Bridging generational influence gaps: While younger employees are enthusiastic and purpose-driven, there’s a clear need to support them in learning how to influence leadership effectively and navigate complex organisational dynamics.
• A changing DEI landscape: A notable insight was the rise in employee relations (ER) roles and a sharp drop in DEI roles, raising questions about how organisations are resourcing and responding to internal culture and inclusion challenges.

“Thank you for allowing myself and Oxford Leadership to be the connector of all your brilliant ideas, suggestions, and hard work.”
— Michal Oshman, Partner at Oxford Leadership

Why This Matters

As the demands on leaders continue to evolve, creating space for cross-sector dialogue is more important than ever. These sessions are not simply networking moments—they are sparks of collective intelligence. They bring to light the patterns, tensions, and emerging opportunities that will define the next chapter of leadership and inclusion.

At Oxford Leadership, we are proud to partner with organisations like Rio Tinto and leaders like Michal Oshman to host and facilitate these transformative conversations. We believe that leadership for good must be collaborative, courageous, and rooted in shared purpose.

This is how real change begins: with conversation, connection, and courageous leadership.

Let’s Continue the Conversation

If your organisation is navigating similar challenges in DEI, systemic change, or leadership development, reach out.
We’d be honoured to explore how we can support your journey.

📩 Contact us
🔗 Learn more about Michal Oshman
🔗 Leadership for Good at Oxford Leadership

Company Leadership & Advisors / Global Operations

Jonathan Yukawa

Experienced Managing Director with a demonstrated history of working in the management consulting industry. Skilled in Digital Strategy, Branding, Communication, Business Planning, Marketing Strategy, and Creative Development. Strong business and leadership professional with a Master’s Degree in Strategic Marketing and Luxury Brand Management.