5 minutes with… Ruth-Anne Eghan

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

I came to see the job opportunity as an Inclusion and Diversity Consultant on LinkedIn. I thought it was exactly the kind of job role I was looking for as I had explored Inclusion and Diversity in my Human Resources Management degree and my LLB degree and focused on this in my working career when the opportunity permitted itself.

I was so excited when I read about the values of Inclusive Employers and how Inclusion was at the heart of absolutely everything done.

That propelled me to apply for the opportunity and go through the process to finally being part of the Inclusive Employers Team. I was so overjoyed when I got the role because, I knew it would be the right one for me!

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

I think joining Inclusive Employers. Upon joining I was not sure what to expect having had various career experiences and moments.

However, I genuinely believe I received the best welcome from my colleagues! I’ve never once felt like I did not belong or had to assert my reasoning for why I’m at the table. That in itself has been a dream!

3) What do you love most about your role?

I love most about my role that no one day appears the same. It really is varying day by day and client by client. There are range of inclusion and diversity topics we delve into and that has been so impactful to my learning.

In addition to this, knowing that I can help even just one person be more inclusive not just work-wise, but in mind, body and spirit, is extremely fulfilling.

4) What is a typical day like for you?

I think there’s not a “typical day”, every day looks different. For the most part, it usually rotates between these three things:

I usually start designing content to deliver to members focusing on the different I&D topics we’re speaking about, members calls or delivering training.

Some days I catch up with other colleagues to have a bit of a laugh and unwind of the day and it’s great because we all stay connected!

It’s great to have that to know that “Inclusion starts with a simple hello” and check in and the fact that we’re able to practice what we preach in a professional environment is beyond trailblazing!

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

It’s hard to pick one memorable moment in my inclusion career because there are so many moments of greatness where I see the impact of our training and consultancy on various individuals.

However, I would say that my most memorable moment was probably right at the start where I believe my inclusion journey began in the workplace.

Within my previous role as an Employment Advisor, I created an initiative for Black History Month. For me, being able to do that meant that, not only learning more about myself but, I was also researching and picking outstanding black individuals, learning more about a variety of cultures but, also being able to include everyone in that.

Additionally, I have received overwhelmingly positive reviews from my colleagues at the time gave me a huge boost! That was where I decided that this is what I want to be doing: Bringing the message of inclusion and the importance of different communities coming together to everyone.

Meet more people who are driving the inclusion agenda by checking out our ‘5 minutes with…’ interview series.