Inclusive Employers 5 minutes with… Raquel Silvestre
'5 minutes with...' is our interview series that allows you to learn more about the Inclusive Employers team and other I&D professionals working to make inclusion an every day reality.
Here we learn more about Raquel Silvestre, Senior I&D Consultant at Inclusive Employers.
1. Can you tell us how you came to be in your role
Looking back, as a young youth growing up in the north of Portugal, I was already an agent of change joining in and then organising initiatives to make the world a better place from beach clean ups to being part of an impactful social intervention Baha’i inspired dance and theatre group. In this spirit of service, I had the opportunity to coordinate projects in Brazil, Cape Verde and Mozambique.
My passion for equity and social justice was further ignited by my evolving awareness of the intersectionality that has influenced my lived experience: as a woman, of multiple ethnic background (95% Afro-pean with a sprinkle of Asia), a mother of three, a Baha’i, and a migrant in the UK. As a Baha’i I benefitted from an education that taught me that diversity is a strength rooted in the deep belief in the oneness of humankind, a foundation principle to achieve unity in diversity. Nevertheless, when facing the world, who I am, often means that I find myself as part of a minority in a variety of contexts and spaces, managing power dynamics to assert my voice and that of many others, who I also support and stand by as an ally, mentor or coach.
Standing for and with others has been a common thread through my personal and professional life that led me to where I am today with a combination of academic, professional, lived and learnt experience enabling me to better serve and empower others to join forces in building inclusive communities and workplaces. It feels both, powerful and peaceful to find my deepest values and aspirations aligned with the ethos of Inclusive Employers, so I am very happy to be here!
2. Can you share an ‘inclusion moment’ with us – a time when you have felt included either at work or in your personal life?
On reflection, I personally feel naturally more included when I am not the odd one out, when for example delivering training I hear different accents. An inclusion moment I clearly remember was colleagues reaching out to hear more about the Baha’i fasting period and then New Year (21March) after I shared a blog about it. As religion sometimes can feel like a tabu in the workspace, their interest and curiosity made me feel seen, respected, and valued as a Baha’i. I also feel understood when inclusive line-managers have supported me with reasonable adjustments during the 19-day Fast, like an earlier start and earlier finish and reducing hours of training delivery.
3. What do you love most about your role?
As a senior consultant I’m enjoying the variety of organisations across the different sectors and industries that I get to work with – this interaction infuses conversations and insights with new meaning as I tailor my support to their needs. Another element I love is to facilitate learning and to take people through reflective and sometimes challenging or uncomfortable conversations that lead to light-bulb moments or transformation. In that process I personally learn so much about myself, others, and the world. Inspiring behavioural change, being part of individual and collective transformation, and witnessing the impact of inclusive behaviour on individuals feeling like they belong, perhaps for the first time ever, is very fulfilling.
4. What is a typical day like for you?
Busy! Very dynamic, I may be developing or delivering training face to face or virtually, having meetings with colleagues or clients, developing new toolkits, writing blogs or proposals, or even holding ‘headspace’ for thought leadership and creativity.
5. What’s been your most memorable moment in your inclusion career?
There’s been so many small yet impactful memorable moments over the years, most in the form of enlightenment or positive strides towards inclusion that it all blends into the feeling of ‘connection’, building bridges and growing continuously.
There’s the heart-warming moment of seeing inclusive leadership being role modelled, of striving with individuals to have their rights secured, or building trusted spaces for peer support and hearing people say they felt heard, validated for the first time, not alone, safe, and sharing ‘finally I know what belonging feels like’.
Seeing the impact of challenging exclusionary behaviour whilst building bridges to greater understanding and positive action. Specific moments linger in my mind i.e., stepping into the discomfort of a courageous conversation to nudge a senior colleague on their potential bias when dealing with a bullying and harassment investigation, nudging another one when having a ‘favourite candidate’ or even nudging colleagues to apply the most common principle of ‘raise your hand to speak’ to enable everyone (including myself) to participate equally.