Kelly Phillips - Inclusive Employers

Kelly joined Inclusive Employers in August 2021. Her background is in the International Development sector, where she previously worked as a Learning and Development Coordinator and Programme Assistant for an international charity. In this role, Kelly supported with planning, designing and delivering programmes for various overseas sites with programme participants from a range of backgrounds: youth, women, women returners and entrepreneurs.

She has a long-term passion for Inclusion and Diversity and has always sought to work in a capacity that supports people facing multiple barriers. Kelly works in our impact department, looking to understand, measure, assess and promote the impact of our work; what we can be doing better and what we can expand upon to generate the most positive impact possible through what we deliver to clients and their organisations.

What do you enjoy about your role at Inclusive Employers?

Firstly, I just love working with the team every day. Everyone is so kind, helpful, inspiring, and determined. It really is such a wonderful place to work.

Secondly, my role largely relates to project development, management and planning, and these just happen to be some of my favourite activities! They require me to be creative, innovative and to stretch myself, which gives me a real sense of purpose.

Looking at the bigger picture, I think it’s just important for me to work somewhere that does meaningful work. This motivates me every day to do the best job that I can.

What has been your biggest achievement to date?

I’ve worked on a few specific projects supporting people and communities which I am proud to have been a part of, but the biggest achievement has been being able to work in the social sector with likeminded people every day and putting something helpful out into the world.

Working in organisations that align with my own values and with people who also aim to do social good is the only meaningful career goal that I really aspire to. Over the years, this has been an education, I’ve grown up with it, it has shaped me into the person I am and allowed me to expand my understanding of others. This is what has had the biggest and most positive tangible impact on my work and life every day.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Well, apart from ‘dance like no one is watching’ which is a staple I live by, I think the best advice I’ve been given is just to be patient and kind to myself.

Growth, evolution, unlearning and relearning; they aren’t linear and don’t have an end point, so just trust in the process and allow yourself the space – AKA – give yourself a break!

Tell us something about you that we might not know

This is a hard question, as I’m quite the open book, but something that you might not know is that I really enjoy being away from the city, somewhere remote and peaceful. Especially, in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, where for miles around all you can see are tall, rocky mountains, or long, sandy beaches, without a person in sight and only a couple of highland cows for company!

Kelly smiling at the camera

Inclusion Impact Officer