Picture this: You’re at the airport, waiting to board, when you hear the familiar announcement—except this time, something’s different. Instead of “Ladies and gentlemen,” the gate agent says, “Hello, everyone.” It’s a small shift, but one that speaks volumes. Delta Air Lines, under the leadership of Keyra Lynn Johnson, has made the decision to update its gate announcements to be more inclusive. And just like that, a simple phrase becomes a statement about belonging.

Inclusive leadership is a proven driver of productivity and innovation. My recent white paper, Inclusive Leadership Trends for 2025, dives deep into the data, showing exactly how inclusive leadership transforms organizations. Spoiler alert: it’s not fluff; it’s science-backed, actionable, and packed with opportunities for leaders to level up.

What if the secret to leading isn’t speaking up—but stepping back? When leaders shift the spotlight from themselves, they create trust, boost collaboration, and establish a foundation for innovation. Creating space for others to shine might is the ultimate power move.

Walk into any workplace and ask if fairness, respect, and equal opportunity are good things. Most people will nod along. Ask if they believe in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and you might get eye rolls, skepticism, or outright hostility. The disconnect? DEI isn’t some radical concept—it’s just common sense. But somewhere along the way, we forgot to explain it that way.

When we talk about innovation in the automotive industry, we usually think of cutting-edge tech, sleek designs, and powerful engines. But what if the biggest innovation wasn’t under the hood? Rolls-Royce is proving that real innovation is about inclusivity. With their “Being Like Me” series, employees are sharing personal stories to build understanding and psychological safety. And with managers trained in inclusive leadership, they’re ensuring no one feels the need to hide who they are at work-as I teach my leadership students, "we need to see the spectrum of the human experience".

Teaching is as much an art as it is a science. When 95 of my master’s students reflected on the course I taught on "Ethics, Sustainability, and Society," their words painted a vivid picture of a teaching style that’s inclusive, impactful, and inspiring. But what exactly stood out to them?

Oslo’s snow removal system quietly upholds inequality. The city prioritizes clearing roads for cars, leaving sidewalks, bike lanes, and bus stops buried under snow and ice. On paper, it might seem logical—cars and emergency vehicles are considered vital for mobility. But the reality? This system disproportionately benefits car drivers, who are overwhelmingly white men, while disadvantaging women, immigrants, elderly people, children, and individuals with disabilities. These groups are far more likely to rely on walking or public transport. It’s not just inconvenient; it’s inequitable and dangerous.

Collaboration fuels every successful organization, and the secret sauce is inclusive leadership. When leaders build trust, foster communication, and embrace diversity, the results are nothing short of extraordinary. This is the premise of the first chapter in my white paper, where 10 groundbreaking studies prove how inclusive leadership transforms teamwork into a competitive advantage.

What if your leadership decisions today could shape a more innovative and inclusive tomorrow? My new white paper, "Inclusive Leadership Trends for 2025," dives into the powerful trends that will define the next era of leadership.

Inclusive leadership isn’t a trend; it’s the future. In the race to adapt, grow, and innovate, some leaders are quietly equipping themselves with a playbook to stay ahead—and they’re not sharing. But here’s the good news: that playbook is almost in your hands.

When a student asked me why I didn’t include Kant in the Ethics, Sustainability, and Society course I teach at Kristiania University College, my answer was straightforward: It’s not relevant to their work as technology and business developers. Sacrilege? Maybe. Unnecessary? Absolutely.

Inclusive leadership is more than a trend—it’s the key for bringing together innovative teams, creative solutions, and workplaces where everyone feels they belong. But let’s face it, becoming a truly inclusive leader can sometimes feel like trying to assemble IKEA furniture without the instructions. Enter: INCLUDE.

Inclusive leadership isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the secret ingredient for thriving teams, innovative solutions, and a culture where everyone feels valued. But let’s be honest, achieving true inclusivity can feel like trying to find your way without a map. That’s about to change.

Donald Trump’s leadership style stands in stark contrast to inclusive values. With a heavy focus on loyalty, rigid hierarchy, and an “us vs. them” mindset, his approach directly conflicts with the openness, collaboration, and diverse input that inclusive leadership requires. The “top-down” control he champions often shuts down dissent and discourages diverse perspectives, creating environments where innovation and inclusivity are stifled rather than supported.

Join me and the SHE Community for an amazing event hosted with the Norwegian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (NCCC) and XPENG, to explore the ESG challenges and opportunities in Norwegian-Chinese partnerships. We’ll do a deep dive into the environmental and social dimensions of sustainability, with a focus on bridging the regulatory and cultural gaps that can make or break these cross-border collaborations. The journey to a sustainable future is never linear, and that’s why it’s critical for businesses, policymakers, and organizations to come together and tackle these complexities head-on.

2025 is bringing an opportunity I can't wait for—I'm hitting the road for a six-week speaker tour across Europe! With 15 dates already booked across seven cities in Germany, Austria, Norway, and Belgium, I’ll be sharing stories, strategies, and steps to make inclusion practical, profitable, and possible in your organization. The response has been incredible, so I’m adding more dates in February, March, and April. Want me to visit your city? Tell me where, and I'll do my best to make it!

The energy at the KosICT Tech Festival was electric. I had the privilege of delivering a keynote on Entrepreneurial Leadership: How Inclusion Can Drive Innovation at one of the most impactful tech conferences in the Balkans. Being surrounded by amazing folks, including Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Mayor of Prishtina Perparim Rama, as well as the absolutely awesome Aldo Baxhaku, Ermal Sadiku, and the ever-inspiring Sabine Singer, MBA inger, was beyond motivating. My message was clear: innovation thrives when inclusion is embedded into leadership, especially in our work as entrepreneurs.

Folks often think that inclusion and sustainability as two different things, but they are more deeply connected than we could possibly realize. Just like inclusion strives to empower marginalized voices, sustainability aims to protect our planet for future generations. These principles both advocate for equity—whether environmental or social—and ensure that the most disadvantaged groups of people are prioritized in decisionmaking. Today, I want to spotlight a few inspiring leaders who are proving that the future of business lies at this intersection.

As October rolls around, many organizations in the UK and beyond mark Black History Month with a series of events, social media campaigns, and corporate gestures. But once October ends, are these efforts truly meaningful, or just performative? Tokenism - the superficial inclusion of underrepresented groups to appear diverse without meaningful action - can turn what should be a powerful moment of recognition into a shallow marketing strategy.

I’m thrilled to finally announce the launch of the 2025 Inclusive Leadership Tour! After months of planning, and thanks in large part to the amazing promotional support of Miguel Heinonen, MBA and Whitefriar , the marketing advice of Oksana Koriakova at Impero , , the phenomenal training on running a speaker business of Michael Arnot and Marty Wilson CSP at MainStage Speaker Business Academy and the support from the amazing team at Inclusive Creation , Anne Igeltjørn , Regont Arnori , Sumita Kunashakaran and Bridget Price, I'm gearing up to hit the road and bring dynamic, hands-on keynotes and workshops to cities across Europe. This tour is all about transforming inclusion promises into real, actionable practices—and I so excited to share it.