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Episode 10

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Published on:

28th Oct 2024

S4 E10v Barbadian Roots, British Dreams: A Windrush Tale

Summary

In this conversation, Charles Sealy reflects on his life journey from growing up in Barbados to moving to England as part of the Windrush generation. He shares his experiences in education, his career in nursing, and the challenges of racism and identity faced by the black community. He discusses his voluntary work, the impact of the Windrush scandal, and the importance of recognizing black history and achievements. He also delves into his passion for poetry and how it has become a significant part of his life, ultimately expressing pride in his family and community.

Takeaways

Growing up in Barbados shaped his early experiences.

Education was a challenge due to financial constraints.

The journey to England was both exciting and daunting.

Working as a bus conductor provided valuable life lessons.

Transitioning to nursing opened new opportunities for him.

Mental health nursing was a challenging yet rewarding field.

Racism and identity issues were prevalent during his upbringing.

Voluntary work has been fulfilling and impactful.

The Windrush scandal highlighted systemic injustices.

Poetry has been a means of personal expression and sanity.

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About the Podcast

Diversity Matters
The show where every voice is welcome, and every story is celebrated.
In this podcast series, Mike moves away from the traditional DE&I rhetoric, to get a better understanding of what diversity, equity and inclusion actually means for us as individuals. Are we seeing real change? Do you feel a greater sense of belonging in your workplace and community? Each week Mike and his guest open an honest dialogue on a specific DE&I topic, some discussions will be inspirational, others might be a little uncomfortable but hopefully all will be interesting and thought provoking.

About your host

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Mike Sealy

Mike is currently the Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director with a world leading exhibition and event organiser, he leads, coordinates, and champions the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging efforts across the business to ensure the long-term sustainability of the D&I strategy in relation to the company’s colleagues, customers, content and communities.
Through his own lived experiences, he is deeply passionate about fairness, equity, and inclusion for all. He is a dedicated coach, mentor, motivator, and podcaster who regularly speaks at events and on discussion panels both to corporate colleagues and students in education. He speaks candidly on his work and social experiences to create awareness of the issues and opportunities within diversity and inclusion as well as to help build confidence, freedom, and motivation in others.
Mike is British with Afro-Caribbean heritage. He is thought leader with a strong client centric and customer experience mindset and has demonstrable experience of leading teams across complex international matrixed organizations possessing a strong track record of delivering results. He has held senior leadership positions at Hewlett Packard, Microsoft and the BBC, leading and setting up businesses and organizations and has won awards for management and execution excellence in the process.