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Episode 9

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Published on:

20th Oct 2024

S4 E9 Breaking Barriers and Championing Diversity: Edwina Kulego’s Global Fashion Journey

In this episode of the Diversity Matters podcast, Edwina Kulego shares her inspiring journey from a small town in Sweden to becoming a leading figure in the fashion industry. She discusses her early influences, the challenges of diversity and inclusion in fashion, and her current initiatives at Informa. Edwina also highlights her beauty brand, Essentials by Edwina, which aims to fill the gap in the market for beauty products catering to women of color. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the importance of mentorship, authenticity, and sustainability in the fashion industry.

Edwina also highlights the issues with inclusion in the industry which is driven by powerful leaders with influence who still maintain the old ways of doing business in the industry which often leads to exclusion, manipulation and unfair treatment.

Key Takeaways

  • Edwina's journey from Sweden to New York shaped her perspective on diversity.
  • Fashion can significantly impact a person's mood and confidence.
  • Internships are crucial for gaining experience in the fashion industry.
  • The fashion trade show landscape is evolving post-pandemic.
  • Diversity and inclusion remain significant challenges in fashion.
  • Celebrating cultural milestones can foster community and connection.
  • Essentials by Edwina addresses the lack of beauty products for women of color.
  • Authenticity and curiosity are key for young professionals in fashion.
  • Balancing personal and professional life is a continuous challenge.
  • The future of fashion lies in sustainability and inclusivity.
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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.