5 minutes with… Amandeep Hothi

1. Can you tell us how you came to be in your role?

Over the span of my career, I’ve worked with many groups and communities who are, or have been marginalised and ignored. Without even realising it – I was always taking about inclusion, asking for a person or group not to be discriminated again, to be included and continuously defending the rights of others, but all too often to be told ‘there wasn’t enough time, resource or perhaps next time’.

It’s exhausting being the lone voice. So, when I saw the role advertised at Inclusive Employers, I thought I’d apply. I wasn’t really looking for a new role, and I wasn’t even sure whether I wanted to attend the interview, but I did and as they say…the rest is history (and by the way – I really enjoyed the interview too!) I remember thinking, how great it would be to work with an organisation where everyone’s mission focused on inclusion.

2. Can you share an ‘inclusion moment’ with us – a time when you have felt included either at work or in your personal life?

This is a tricky one, as I’ve always felt like an outsider (even within my own family) however, it’s the small things that really count for me, like someone asking how to pronounce my name correctly and then remembering how to say it, or when someone is generally interested in listening and learning about my lived experiences.

3. What do you love most about your role?

I get to work with a range of organisations from every sector and support them with on their Inclusion journey. The variety of work is great – where else do you get to deliver an anti-racist workshop one day and then to deliver a Leadership development programme to an international cohort, the next! What I really love, is that I get to think about inclusion all day and every day.

4. What is a typical day like for you?

I work a condensed week, so my working day starts at 8am with a strong coffee! (I’m not a morning person). Typically, my day will be a mix of responding to emails and or/members requests, preparing/updating materials and resources, or delivering a training session or webinar. No two days are the same. It’s a busy working week, but I like that.

5. What’s been you most memorable moment in your inclusion career?

Seeing the impact that those ‘ah ha’ moments have – that moment when someone really listens and gets it, seeing the injustice, inequality or situation for what it is, without the need to have to justify, defend or explain.

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