My D&I Journey with:
David Carrigan,
Group Director: Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing,
Sky
My D&I Journey with:1. What was your journey into diversity and inclusion?
Unlike many, I didn’t stumble into Diversity & Inclusion (D&I); I pursued it passionately from the onset. Starting 25 years ago at the Commission for Racial Equality, before D&I roles were common, I saw first-hand the impact of poor culture, low trust, and the thing we rarely talk about…..discrimination. Ever since, I’ve channeled that knowledge to drive intentional cultural change by drawing on the knowledge and expertise of some incredible colleagues and exposure to new perspectives. My career has been enriched by roles in government departments and global businesses, offering valuable insights into D&I’s global dynamics. Currently at Sky, I have the privilege and responsibility of guiding our £30m commitment towards being a powerful force for positive change.
2. How would you describe a typical day in your role?
My day kicks off around 7am, using those early hours for invaluable ‘thinking space’ to connect the dots. Then, I speak with my team to keep abreast of our D&I internal work streams and exciting external partnerships. As a leader, my job is to inspire creativity and alignment. I regularly meet with senior leaders to negotiate partnerships, oversee progress, and streamline operations for efficient delivery. At Sky I can be working across content, tech & product, traditional People functions and partners like Mission 44, the Black Equity Organisation to drive systemic change! I’ve got an incredible team so my days are always enjoyable even when they are tough.
3. What is the best part of your job?
In my role, I get to see the impact of our work. Seeing continual improvements in data is immensely satisfying, but nothing beats hearing from the groups and individuals whose lives you have influenced. We’re fortunate to receive lots of positive feedback which helps us see that the hard yards are working. On a more personal level, I love being around my team. They’re a brilliant group of diverse people, who are immensely creative and recognise that we achieve nothing alone.
4. What advice would you give to someone looking to move into D&I?
I would say a focus on technical and professional skills is important and helps you get into the weeds of ideation and developing solutions. To be effective it is not enough to keep telling people what the “challenges are”. That is the easy part. You need to help your colleagues and organisation solve them. Sometimes things work, sometimes they work less well, but being practical gives you traction and credibility.
5. What are the main challenges faced by D&I professionals at the moment?
The anti-woke wave has spooked a lot of organisations – proving that we have had a succession of “moments” and not “movements”. History shows us that sustainable progress is made by persuasion and not dogma and fear. I think that in society we have lost the ability to speak with those who we disagree with and that is spilling into organisations. The majority of people operate in the middle ground between extremes and I think that D&I needs to reclaim that position and build bridges. It is hard as it seems that sometimes the world is on fire.
6. Name three skills that support you to succeed in D&I
1. Be fiercely objective: It is easy to let our own biases and lived experience shape our approach. Most people agree on the destination – it is the journey that creates the division.
2. Speak to those who you disagree with: I believe that you learn as much from people you disagree with than those who share your views. At some point your work has to come out of the echo chamber so better to do that from the outset.
3. Low ego: Be a sponge and learn from those around you. The more I learn the less I know. Working in a variety of different roles, sectors and markets really helps you adapt and develop your problem-solving skills. Those attributes help your career longevity…and it’s fun!
View more My D&I Journey profiles!
- Looking for a career in DE&I? View our Jobs Board.
- Training – Learn the The Foundations to Being an Effective D&I Leader in our popular CPD accredited training.
- What exactly does a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leader do? View our template job specification.
Share Your D&I Journey
If you are a senior in-house diversity and inclusion leader, we would love you to share your career journey and highlights with our community.
Click here to complete our short questionnaire
The Foundations to Being an Effective D&I Leader
Online Training Workshops
600+ DE&I and HR professionals have now attended our ‘The Foundations to Being an Effective D&I Leader’ CPD Accredited online training series.
- Level 1 is for professionals looking to move into a D&I role, or those who have been in a D&I leader role for less than 12 months.
- Level 2 is for professionals who have been in a D&I role for between 1 to 3 years, and are looking to enhance their knowledge and skills.
- Level 3 is for professionals who have been in a D&I role for 3+ years, and are looking to enhance their capabilities and embed a whole organisation approach to D&I.
Each CPD Accredited level offers a unique opportunity to learn from three experienced D&I practitioners:
Gamiel Yafai; Fiona Daniel and Toby Mildon.
Tickets at each online workshop cost £499+VAT per person (£399+VAT for non-profit orgs). Spaces limited to 24 attendees to enable the day to be as interactive as possible. Workshops take place live on Zoom.