Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Roots Inspire ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://rootsinspire.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [The Muddy Middle S2E7: Erlene Graanoogst](https://rootsinspire.com/the-muddy-middle-s2e7-erlene-graanoogst/) - Leadership podcast with Erlene Graanoogst on leadership development and strengthening clarity, resilience and career direction. - [Negotiating Senior Roles Is Not What You Think](https://rootsinspire.com/negotiating-senior-roles-is-not-what-you-think/) - Sponsorship is often described as advocacy behind closed doors. What is less examined is how those advocacy decisions are made. - ["Access to senior mentors who have faced similar challenges matters"](https://rootsinspire.com/klaas-de-vries-de-brauw-blackstone-westbroek-access-to-senior-mentors/) - Klaas de Vries, Managing Partner at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, on why external senior mentors matter for ethnocultural talent development. - ["Representation matters, because it shapes who feels able to contribute, grow, and lead"](https://rootsinspire.com/christina-van-zanten-rabobank-representation-in-leadership/) - Christina van Zanten, CHRO Europe, Africa & Asia at Rabobank, on why representation shapes who feels able to contribute, grow, and lead. - ["By investing in diversity, we enhance our collective expertise"](https://rootsinspire.com/jeroen-kroes-van-lanschot-kempen-investing-in-diversity/) - Jeroen Kroes, CFO at Van Lanschot Kempen, on what investing in diversity and partnering with Roots Inspire looks like from the inside. - ["This partnership is about creating opportunities where they don't naturally exist"](https://rootsinspire.com/choy-van-der-hooft-cheong-abn-amro-creating-opportunities/) - Choy van der Hooft Cheong, Executive Board Member & CCO Wealth Management at ABN AMRO, on building a diverse leadership pipeline for ethnic talent. - [Why are we so confused about racism?](https://rootsinspire.com/why-are-we-so-confused-about-racism/) - I don't particularly like talking about racism. It hardly ever leads to a desired outcome. A strong word like racism triggers so many emotions. It opens up scars of people like myself who have experienced racism and brings up defensive barriers in others to prove (to themselves) that they are not racist. All these emotions - [The odds of wasted talent](https://rootsinspire.com/the-odds-of-wasted-talent/) - Born in Suriname to a Curacaoan mother and an Indian-Surinamese father. I moved to the Netherlands at a young age, where I was raised by a single mom on a secretary salary. The odds were not in favor of an international banking career. “Too much talent is wasted if we cannot find the connection with - [Black History Month 2023: The Role of Allyship in Supporting Black Female Leadership](https://rootsinspire.com/black-history-month-2023-the-role-of-allyship-in-supporting-black-female-leadership/) - An insightful conversation with our Co-founders, Sergio Panday and Melvin Spalburg, who share their perspectives on Black women's empowerment and emphasises the importance of allyship. Their discussion serves as a reminder that advocating for the rights and well-being of Black women is everyone’s responsibility. - [Black History Month 2023: The Power of Sisterhood Among Black Women](https://rootsinspire.com/black-history-month-2023-the-power-of-sisterhood-among-black-women/) - In an interview, Akima Paul Lambert and Charissa Veldman shared their wisdom for ambitious black women navigating the corporate landscape. They emphasised that it's time to shape a new narrative in the corporate world, one that combines both strength and vulnerability. 🖤  - [Black History Month 2023: Celebrating Sisterhood Among Black Women](https://rootsinspire.com/black-history-month-2023-celebrating-sisterhood-among-black-women/) - In an interview, Pamela Wright and Remi Iyun delve into their transformative journey with Roots Inspire's Leadership Programme, emphasising the strength and solidarity of sisterhood among Black women. They shed light on the advantages of tailored mentoring and share the crucial lessons they learned from each other throughout the programme.  - [Communicating with Purpose - the Power of Conviction](https://rootsinspire.com/communicating-with-purpose-the-power-of-conviction/) - Insights from Vincent Heilbron on purposeful communication and how conviction, clarity and presence strengthen leadership effectiveness in complex environments. - [Building Credibility and Trust at the workplace](https://rootsinspire.com/building-credibility-and-trust-at-the-workplace-2/) - When I think about credibility, I think about trust as the two go hand-in-hand and it’s something that I’ve always held in high regard in my personal and professional life. When the team at Roots Inspire asked me to talk about building credibility in the workplace, I readily agreed as I believe this is one - [There can be Only One - the Power of Authenticity](https://rootsinspire.com/there-can-be-only-one-the-power-of-authenticity-2/) - Authenticity can be defined as your actions, behaviors being in line with your value system, instead of being influenced by society and conforming to norms to the extent that you fundamentally deviate from who you are as a person. But how do you maintain that authenticity while operating in a corporate workplace? “You ask yourself: - [That’s Okay, and Here’s Why - the Power of Perseverance](https://rootsinspire.com/thats-okay-and-heres-why-the-power-of-perseverance-2/) - The startup you were interviewing with was just bought out by a larger corporation and the job listing has been removed. You wasted 2 months of your life, and invested your hopes and dreams, for nothing…but that’s okay. Your career is not off to the start you expected. You sell your first car, not because - [Mirror, Mirror on the Wall— the Power of Reflection](https://rootsinspire.com/mirror-mirror-on-the-wall-the-power-of-reflection-2/) - Let me tell you a story…many years ago, I was one of the final candidates for a job I really wanted. The interviewer asked me, “tell me about your most recent reflection”. My mind went blank. I couldn’t think of anything.I’d been running my days like a well-oiled machine, having amazing conversations with people, tackling - [The first black student in an all white high school](https://rootsinspire.com/the-first-black-student-inan-all-white-high-school/) - In this first Roots Inspire podcast, we have a special guest with a unique story. Hopewell Hlophe was the first black student in an all-white high school two years before the apartheid regime was officially abolished in South Africa. He shares with us what that was like, the positives of his experience, the challenges and - [The Art of Mentoring - How to Leverage it in Your Career](https://rootsinspire.com/the-art-of-mentoring-how-to-leverage-it-in-your-career/) - Leadership podcast with Claudine Adeyemi on the art of mentoring and how deliberate relationships strengthen visibility, guidance and career progression. - [Being Intentional about your Personal and Professional Development](https://rootsinspire.com/being-intentional-about-your-personal-and-professional-development/) - Leadership podcast with Triston Francis on intentional development and the intentional choices and habits that shape self-authored career trajectory. - [Forging Your Own Path – My Unconventional Career Path](https://rootsinspire.com/forging-your-own-path-my-unconventional-career-path/) - In this episode, we talk with our special guest and mentor, Darius Askaripour, on his unconventional career path. - [Roots Inspire Raises Funding!](https://rootsinspire.com/seed-funding/) - We are proud to announce the completion of our funding round to expand our services across the UK and continental Europe — Roots Inspire helps organisations realise their diversity goals by providing talent management solutions. These solutions are delivered through an online platform and focus on attracting, retaining and advancing ethnically diverse leadership talent. Among - [Diversity in the work place is lacking at the top: Here’s why](https://rootsinspire.com/diversity-in-the-work-place-is-lacking-at-the-top-heres-why/) - In management positions across large companies, diversity in the workplace can be very difficult to achieve. BCG in partnership with Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) conducted a study that looked across the management consulting industry to understand why consultants (from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds) fall off the promotion track and the study found two root causes - [The Muddy Middle S2E5: Rob Anarfi](https://rootsinspire.com/the-muddy-middle-s2e5-rob-anarfi/) - Leadership podcast featuring Rob Anarfi on leadership development and the choices that strengthen progression, influence and long-term career direction. - [The Unwritten Criteria for VP Promotion](https://rootsinspire.com/the-unwritten-criteria-for-vp-promotion/) - Sponsorship is often described as advocacy behind closed doors. What is less examined is how those advocacy decisions are made. - [Being Advised Versus Being Advocated For](https://rootsinspire.com/being-advised-versus-being-advocated-for/) - Most organisations invest in mentoring. Fewer invest in structured sponsorship. - [A Presence Framework Designed to Fit You](https://rootsinspire.com/a-presence-framework-designed-to-fit-you/) - There is a version of executive presence advice that circulates widely in corporate environments. It tends to emphasise confident delivery, authoritative communication, and a particular kind of gravitas. One that, on examination, reflects a fairly narrow set of cultural norms about what leadership looks and sounds like. - [Negotiating While Underrepresented](https://rootsinspire.com/negotiating-while-underrepresented/) - Sponsorship is often described as advocacy behind closed doors. What is less examined is how those advocacy decisions are made. - [Authenticity as a Leadership Asset](https://rootsinspire.com/authenticity-as-a-leadership-asset/) - Sponsorship is often described as advocacy behind closed doors. What is less examined is how those advocacy decisions are made. - [The Logic Behind the Sponsorship](https://rootsinspire.com/the-logic-behind-the-sponsorship/) - Sponsorship is often described as advocacy behind closed doors. What is less examined is how those advocacy decisions are made. - [How Presence is Seen From the Top](https://rootsinspire.com/how-presence-is-seen-from-the-top/) - Leadership presence is often treated as a stable competency. In practice, it is evaluated differently at each layer of the organisation. - [What Code-Switching Costs Organisations](https://rootsinspire.com/what-code-switching-costs-organisations/) - Most senior leaders are familiar with the dynamic, even if they rarely name it directly. The adjustment of tone in certain rooms. The careful calibration of communication style depending on who is present. The version of yourself that gets left at the door when the meeting begins. - [How to Strengthen Your Executive Presence](https://rootsinspire.com/strengthen-your-executive-presence/) - A pdf guide to strengthening executive presence through clear communication, visible leadership behaviours and actions that support your leadership trajectory. - [Why diversity programmes fail](https://rootsinspire.com/why-diversity-programmes-fail/) - Why diversity programmes fail without leadership ownership and structural clarity, and what strengthens diverse leadership and real organisational outcomes. - [Why your D&I strategy needs to be more diverse](https://rootsinspire.com/why-your-di-strategy-needs-to-be-more-diverse/) - Why diverse leadership strategies falter without real perspective diversity, and how structural clarity strengthens progression, engagement and leadership outcomes. - [Why diverse teams perform better](https://rootsinspire.com/why-diverse-teams-perform-better/) - How diverse teams improve decision quality and performance, and which leadership conditions turn perspective diversity into consistent organisational results. - [The Muddy Middle S2E1: Ference Lamp](https://rootsinspire.com/the-muddy-middle-s2e1-ference-lamp/) - Leadership podcast with Ference Lamp on leadership development and the decisions and patterns that sharpen leadership and long-term progression. - [The Muddy Middle S2E3: Justin Carty](https://rootsinspire.com/the-muddy-middle-s2e3-justin-carty/) - Leadership podcast with Justin Carty exploring leadership development and the leadership behaviours that build influence and support career advancement. - [The Muddy Middle S2E6: Frank Galestien](https://rootsinspire.com/the-muddy-middle-s2e5-frank-galestien/) - Leadership podcast with Frank Galestien on leadership development and the decisions that shape career progression and influence. - [The Muddy Middle S2E4: Gitanjali Ponnappa](https://rootsinspire.com/the-muddy-middle-s2e4-gitanjali-ponnappa/) - Leadership podcast with Gitanjali Ponnappa discussing leadership development and the mindset shifts that support clarity, momentum and career growth. - [Managing imposter syndrome: Unconventional careers](https://rootsinspire.com/managing-impostersyndrome/) - Leadership podcast with Sue Stephens on imposter syndrome and the mindset shifts that help leaders build confidence, clarity and sustained progression. - [Master Career Negotiation](https://rootsinspire.com/master-career-negotiation/) - A practical pdf guide to career negotiation, offering clear ideas to strengthen your position, clarify value and navigate career conversations with confidence. - [Building a Powerful Network](https://rootsinspire.com/building-a-powerful-network/) - A quick pdf guide on building professional networks that strengthen your leadership trajectory through consistent, authentic relationships. - [Diverse Leaders in Financial Services: Our Solution to Diverse Talent Attraction & Retention in Financial Services](https://rootsinspire.com/diverse-leaders-in-financial-services-our-solution/) - In an era where diversity is not just a buzzword but a proven element of corporate success, the urgent need to address and foster ethnic diversity within leadership roles has never been more apparent. Recognising this imperative, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our innovative leadership programme, Diverse Leaders in Financial Services, aimed - [Expectation vs Reality: Why it’s not enough to “Look the Part”](https://rootsinspire.com/expectation-vs-reality/) - It’s 2023, and almost all businesses want to look like they are doing the right thing regarding Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. With numerous articles, studies, conferences and keynotes about how diverse businesses improve productivity, creativity and profitability - why wouldn’t a company want to be invested in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion? There’s a big difference - [Community & Connection: How Sisterhood Supports Personal & Professional Development](https://rootsinspire.com/community-connection-sisterhood/) - As an organisation that aims to build ethnically diverse leadership pipelines within businesses, we want to continue to celebrate and recognise the hard work others are doing to build and grow diverse communities. With Black History Month in the UK recently passing, this year’s theme was ‘Saluting our Sisters’, a fitting topic that speaks to - [Failing up: why some climb the ladder despite mediocrity](https://rootsinspire.com/failing-up-why-some-climbthe-ladder-despitemediocrity/) - Most of us know the frustrating feeling of watching someone ‘fail upward’: landing successively sweeter gigs even after professional mediocrity or missteps. It turns out, allowing employees to fail up isn’t necessarily bad and can sometimes yield talented, resilient leaders. What is troubling, experts say, is the significant gap between who’s allowed to fail - [Diverse Talent: Meeting your future self](https://rootsinspire.com/diverse-talent-meetingyour-future-self/) - My dad promised me he would join me for each university introduction day. Together we set foot that day, for the first time at the Eindhoven University of Technology. There were 200 candidate students with their parents; and yes, we were the only Black family! “I want to offer young ethnic diverse talent a platform - [BCG Diversity Driver: building a virtual mentoring scheme](https://rootsinspire.com/bcg-diversity-driverbuilding-a-virtualmentoring-scheme/) - With COVID a continuing reality and people locked into their homes across Europe, Roots Inspire brings a practical solution to companies that want to invest in their ethnically diverse future leaders! Read the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) interview with our Co-Founder Sergio Panday as part of their Diversity Drivers series that highlights practical solutions to - [Right and wrong in the race discussion](https://rootsinspire.com/right-and-wrong-in-therace-discussion/) - Talking about race in the workplace is often a slippery slope. Especially in Europe, where we are taught from an early age that “we are not supposed to see colour”, it remains a difficult topic to discuss and therefore predominantly plays its role underneath the surface. Everyone seems to applaud the idea of diversity in - [Diverse leadership styles –the impact of cultural heritage](https://rootsinspire.com/diverse-leadership-styles-the-impact-of-culturalheritage/) - The culture we were raised in has a tremendous impact on our values and who we become as a person. Leaders come in all shapes and sizes and cultural heritage often plays an important role in our leadership style. Listen to three of our mentors (Sumitra Moeller, Paul Loiz and Mayen Ekong) as they discuss - [Performance and Empowering yourself](https://rootsinspire.com/performance-and-empowering-yourself/) - Contrary to common belief, how well you do your job has very little to do with how successful you are in your professional career. According to Harvey Coleman in his book Empowering yourself, the organisational game revealed performance counts for 10% of your success, image 30% and exposure an eye-popping 60%! Study highlightsBriefly stated, Coleman asserts that - [Mirror, Mirror on the Wall— the Power of Reflection](https://rootsinspire.com/mirror-mirror-on-the-wall-the-power-of-reflection/) - Let me tell you a story…many years ago, I was one of the final candidates for a job I really wanted. The interviewer asked me, “tell me about your most recent reflection”. My mind went blank. I couldn’t think of anything.I’d been running my days like a well-oiled machine, having amazing conversations with people, tackling - [Making a first impression – the role of clothing and language](https://rootsinspire.com/making-a-first-impression-the-role-of-clothing-andlanguage/) - For our third Roots Inspire podcast, we talk to our special guest Mr Q Msimanga who was born in Zimbabwe, then moved to the UK and now runs a successful clothing brand in Singapore. He is a fashion designer of his own men’s clothing brand, The Prefecture . We pick his brain on the importance - [Expat life: So where do I belong??](https://rootsinspire.com/expat-life-so-where-do-i-belong/) - It was my first time returning to Suriname. I was 19 years old and had not been back to Suriname since I left at the age of 2. I had been to Curaçao plenty of times to visit my mom’s family, but now it was time to join my dad on a trip to meet - [Diversity and Inclusion wins: Why inclusion matters](https://rootsinspire.com/diversity-and-inclusion-wins-why-inclusion-matters/) - In 2020, international management consultancy, McKinsey & Company published a report entitled – Diversity wins: How inclusion matters. The report revealed that the business case for diversity and inclusion is stronger than ever, consequently, data was gathered across 15 countries and more than 1000 large companies. This illustrates that the business case for D&I initiatives remains robust, - [Mentorship: Creating a work place culture](https://rootsinspire.com/mentorship-creating-a-work-place-culture/) - A research piece published by the global advisory firm, Heidrick & Struggles entitled “Creating A Culture of Mentorship” presented its data on mentorship. More than 1,000 professionals shared their experience with mentoring. As a result of this, research showed that mentorship is generally an impactful experience—particularly for self-described ethnic and racial minorities. Upon releasing the research, Heidrick - [Soft skills for business success](https://rootsinspire.com/soft-skills-for-business-success/) - Formal qualifications and technical skills are only part of the requirements for modern employees, as ‘soft skills’ and personal attributes are just as important to success. In fact, 92 percent of companies surveyed reported that human capabilities matter as much or more than hard skills in today’s business world, according to LinkedIn’s 2019 Global talent trends - [There can be Only One - the Power of Authenticity](https://rootsinspire.com/there-can-be-only-one-the-power-of-authenticity/) - Authenticity can be defined as your actions, behaviors being in line with your value system, instead of being influenced by society and conforming to norms to the extent that you fundamentally deviate from who you are as a person. But how do you maintain that authenticity while operating in a corporate workplace? “You ask yourself: - [That’s Okay, and Here’s Why - the Power of Perseverance](https://rootsinspire.com/thats-okay-and-heres-why-the-power-of-perseverance/) - The startup you were interviewing with was just bought out by a larger corporation and the job listing has been removed. You wasted 2 months of your life, and invested your hopes and dreams, for nothing…but that’s okay. Your career is not off to the start you expected. You sell your first car, not because - [Building Credibility and Trust at the workplace](https://rootsinspire.com/building-credibility-and-trust-at-the-workplace/) - When I think about credibility, I think about trust as the two go hand-in-hand and it’s something that I’ve always held in high regard in my personal and professional life. When the team at Roots Inspire asked me to talk about building credibility in the workplace, I readily agreed as I believe this is one - [Everything you need is already inside you](https://rootsinspire.com/everything-you-need-is-already-inside-you/) - It is our pleasure to introduce Willem Pennings, a highly energetic and positive go-getter who believes in the power of people and teams. He hails from the Netherlands, but has been working at BTS Europe in London for the last 13 years. Willem is grateful for the opportunities and tough lessons he received throughout his - [Leading with Compassion](https://rootsinspire.com/leading-with-compassion/) - Gyzlene moved to the Netherlands from Morocco at the age of nine to live with her mother who had immigrated a few years prior. Up until then, she lived with her grandmother - her biggest role model who instilled lifelong values in her. The lessons continued when she moved to Holland; an entirely new environment - [Forging your own Path](https://rootsinspire.com/forging-your-own-path/) - Known for being empathic, versatile and a problem solver, Dessi wears several hats at IHS Markit across the Legal function and serves as the Global Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer (CDEIO) for the organisation globally. She is never one to shy away from a new set of challenges. From her perspective, each responsibility undertaken - [The Line is Never Straight](https://rootsinspire.com/the-line-is-never-straight/) - Born in Hong Kong, Robert moved to England when he was only 4 years old. He had a challenging childhood growing up in a small English town as an ethnic minority where cultural and language barriers were prominent. Those formative years taught him to navigate between cultures, which has served him well in his career. - [Owning Your Narrative](https://rootsinspire.com/owning-your-narrative/) - A very open and honest conversation with Curaçao born, Netherlands raised - global citizen Sue Stephens, who currently resides in Singapore. As Facebook’s Country Lead for Business Growth in Malaysia, Sue helps her team scale their impact through digital adoption. She has spent the last fifteen years building her industry experience, spanning across various job - [The Price of Success](https://rootsinspire.com/the-price-of-success/) - Born and raised on Curaçao, Ference moved to the Netherlands at the age of 18 to pursue a degree in Business Administration at Erasmus University in Rotterdam. He started out his career in investment banking working for MeesPierson before doing an eight-year stint that ended with his promotion to Managing Director at Lehman Brothers in - [The Journey Never Ends](https://rootsinspire.com/the-journey-never-ends/) - Born to Surinamese parents, Julien had quite the culturally diverse upbringing in the city of Amsterdam. His friends came from different walks of life, which impacted him in ways that serve him to this day. He found himself absorbing and unpacking different behavioural traits from a very young age. This is where the foundation for - [Step into the Light](https://rootsinspire.com/step-into-the-light/) - Aartie is known for building diverse yet strong teams and is well aware that women and people of colour are a vast minority in her industry; especially at the very top. Born and raised in the Netherlands, Aartie’s Indian-Surinamese parents instilled hard work and discipline in her. She learned at a young age that life ## Pages - [Leadership Development for Ethnic Professionals](https://rootsinspire.com/) - Closing the gap between ethnic talent and senior leadership — career coaching, executive sponsorship, and peer learning programmes across the UK and Europe. - [Our Story](https://rootsinspire.com/our-story/) - Founded in 2020 by Sergio Panday and Melvin Spalburg — since then: 120+ leadership mentors, 300+ alumni, 72% making a career step within 18 months. - [Resources](https://rootsinspire.com/resources/) - Career development content for ethnic professionals — built around the corporate dynamics, unwritten rules, and leadership challenges that matter. - [Building a Powerful Network](https://rootsinspire.com/building-a-powerful-network/) - Quick guide: networking strategies from senior ethnic leaders — build authentic relationships that strengthen your leadership trajectory. - [Strengthen Your Executive Presence](https://rootsinspire.com/strengthen-your-executive-presence/) - Quick guide: how senior ethnic leaders align visibility, language, and influence — practical approaches to ensure your leadership is recognised. - [Master Career Negotiation](https://rootsinspire.com/master-career-negotiation/) - Quick guide: career negotiation strategies from senior ethnic leaders — framing your value, navigating power dynamics, and owning your narrative. - [Working with Leadership](https://rootsinspire.com/working-with-leadership/) - Guide senior leaders from awareness to active sponsorship of ethnic talent — embedded in your leadership frameworks. UK and Continental Europe. - [Working with Talent](https://rootsinspire.com/working-with-talent/) - Develop your ethnic talent into leaders: 1:1 career coaching, group sessions, and tailored workshops across three career stages. UK and Continental Europe. - [Request information](https://rootsinspire.com/request-information/) - For organisations building diverse leadership pipelines and for ethnic professionals advancing into leadership. UK and Continental Europe. - [Speaking Engagements](https://rootsinspire.com/speaking-engagements/) - Ethnic leadership keynotes and workshops for boardrooms, offsites, and company events — drawing on insights from 300+ alumni and 120+ ethnic leaders. - [Make Your Case](https://rootsinspire.com/make-your-case/) - Learn how to build the case for joining a Roots Inspire programme — practical tools and talking points to secure your manager's support. - [Individual Participants](https://rootsinspire.com/individual-participants/) - Three leadership development programmes for ethnic professionals: Emerging Professionals, Emerging Leaders, Emerging Executives. UK and Continental Europe. - [For Corporate Partners](https://rootsinspire.com/for-corporate-partners/) - Build a diverse leadership pipeline by developing ethnic professionals and activating senior leaders as sponsors. UK and Continental Europe. - [Charity projects](https://rootsinspire.com/charity-projects/) - Over £100,000 raised for charity — partnering with Future Leaders UK and Giving Back Foundation on mentorship and education for ethnic young people. - [Diverse Leadership In Practice](https://rootsinspire.com/diverse-leadership-in-practice/) - Senior leaders at Van Lanschot Kempen, Rabobank, De Brauw and ABN AMRO discuss investing in diverse leadership pipelines. UK and Continental Europe. - [Research Basis](https://rootsinspire.com/research-basis/) - Four research themes underpin the approach: role modelling, organisational fluency, psychological safety, and sponsorship. - [Thank You | Charity Projects](https://rootsinspire.com/charity-projects/thank-you/) - Thank you for reaching out. We’ll be in touch shortly. Whether you’re exploring support for your leadership pipeline or our charity partnerships, we’re glad to continue the conversation.In the meantime, our Research Basis sets out the evidence behind our approach, and our Corporate Partners page shows how we work with leading organisations. You can also - [Thank You | Strengthen your executive presence](https://rootsinspire.com/strengthen-your-executive-presence/thank-you/) - Your authentic executive presence guide is on its way We’re excited that you’re taking this step to strengthen your executive presence authentically. Check your inbox for an email with your Quick Guide: Building Executive Presence Authentically. If you don’t see it in a few minutes, check your spam folder.This guide is designed to give you - [Thank You | Individual Participants](https://rootsinspire.com/individual-participants-bak/thank-you/) - Thank you for registering your interest. You’ve just taken a step towards accelerating your leadership journey. We’ll be in touch with more information about our programmes.In the meantime, explore our upcoming events or resources, where you will find interviews, podcast episodes and more.Kind regards, Team Roots Inspire - [Thank You | Roots Inspire Speaking Engagements](https://rootsinspire.com/speaking-engagements/thank-you/) - Thank you for your enquiry. We’ll be in touch shortly to explore how we can support your leadership agenda.In the meantime, explore our resources, where you will find interviews, podcast episodes and more.Kind regards,Team Roots Inspire - [Thank You | Quick Guide: Building. a Powerful Network](https://rootsinspire.com/building-a-powerful-network/thank-you/) - Strengthening your network starts here. We’re excited that you’ve taken the next step in strengthening your leadership journey. Check your inbox for an email with your Quick Guide: Building a Powerful Network. If you don’t see it in a few minutes, check your spam folder.This guide is designed to give you practical strategies for building - [Thank You | Leadership in Motion - Alumni programme](https://rootsinspire.com/leadership-in-motion-programme/thank-you/) - Thank you for registering your interest. We’re excited to have received the registration of your interest in our Leadership in Motion Programme!Our team is currently reviewing your submission and will reach out soon with more details about the programme, including timelines and the selection process.In the meantime, we invite you to explore our LinkedIn page for insights and - [Thank You | For Corporate Partners](https://rootsinspire.com/for-corporate-partners/thank-you/) - Thank you for reaching out. We’ll be in touch shortly to explore how we can support your leadership pipeline.In the meantime, our Research Basis sets out the evidence behind our approach, and our Corporate Partners page shows how we work with leading organisations.Kind regards,Team Roots Inspire - [Thank You | Diverse Leadership In Practice](https://rootsinspire.com/diverse-leadership-in-practice/thank-you/) - Thank you for reaching out. We will be in touch shortly to discuss how Roots Inspire might be relevant to what you are working on.Meanwhile, you can read more about our Corporate Programmes here. - [Thank You | Our Story](https://rootsinspire.com/thank-you/) - Thank you for reaching out. We’ll be in touch shortly.Meanwhile, you can explore our upcoming events or resources, where you’ll find interviews, podcast episodes and more. - [Thank You | Research Basis](https://rootsinspire.com/research-basis/thank-you/) - Thank you for reaching out. We’ll be in touch shortly to discuss how our approach could work in your organisation.Meanwhile, you can explore our upcoming events or resources, where you will find interviews, podcast episodes and more. - [Emerging Executives Programme](https://rootsinspire.com/emerging-executives-programme/) - Emerging Executives Programme Leadership tailored for ethnic-cultural professionals Roots Inspire’s mission is to increase ethnic-cultural diversity in corporate leadership. This programme is designed to identify, develop and support ethnic-culturally diverse candidates who will become the next leaders in their industry. apply here Your Move to Leadership Leadership is more than a title - it’s an - [Emerging Executives Programme](https://rootsinspire.com/emerging-executives-programme-2/) - Emerging Executives Programme Leadership tailored for ethnic-cultural professionals Roots Inspire’s mission is to increase ethnic-cultural diversity in corporate leadership. This programme is designed to identify, develop and support ethnic-culturally diverse candidates who will become the next leaders in their industry. REGISTER INTEREST Your Move to Leadership Leadership is more than a title - it’s an - [Terms and conditions](https://rootsinspire.com/terms-and-conditions/) - Last updated: July 31, 2023 Please read these terms and conditions carefully before using Our Service. Interpretation and Definitions Interpretation The words of which the initial letter is capitalized have meanings defined under the following conditions. The following definitions shall have the same meaning regardless of whether they appear in singular or in plural. - [Leadership Development for Ethnic-Cultural](https://rootsinspire.com/leadership-development-for-ethnic-cultural/) - Roots Inspire Leadership Development for Ethnic-Cultural Professionals and Corporate Partners Mission Roots Inspire is a leadership development centre by ethnic-cultural corporate leaders for ethnic-cultural leadership talent. Our mission is to maximise the potential of ethnic-cultural talent and increase ethnic-cultural diversity in corporate leadership positions. The Problem We Address Many organisations are stuck in a vicious cycle - [Emerging leaders september 2025](https://rootsinspire.com/emerging-leaders-september-2025/) - Our Emerging Leaders programme Leadership tailored for Ethnocultural Professionals Roots Inspire’s mission is to increase ethnocultural diversity in corporate leadership. This programme is designed to identify, develop and support ethnoculturally diverse candidates who will become part of tomorrow’s leadership. Apply now Your Move to Leadership Leadership is more than a title - it’s an opportunity - [Thank You | Master Career Negotiation](https://rootsinspire.com/master-career-negotiation/thank-you/) - Your career negotiation guide is on its way We’re excited that you’re taking the next step in accelerating your career. Check your inbox for an email with your Quick Guide: Negotiating Your Career. If you don’t see it in a few minutes, check your spam folder.This guide is designed to give you practical strategies to - [Emerging Executives in Financial Services](https://rootsinspire.com/emerging-executives-in-financial-services/) - Emerging Executives in Financial Services Leadership tailored for Ethnocultural Professionals Roots Inspire’s mission is to increase ethnocultural diversity in corporate leadership. This programme is designed to identify, develop and support ethnoculturally diverse candidates who will become the next leaders in the financial services industry. REGISTER INTEREST Your Move to Leadership Leadership is more than a - [Diverse Leaders in Financial Services](https://rootsinspire.com/diverse-leaders-in-financial-services/) - [Sign Up For Newsletter](https://rootsinspire.com/sign-up-for-newsletter/) - Please fill out the form below and we will get back to you within 3 business days. - [Attract, Retain & Advance Talent](https://rootsinspire.com/attract-retain-advance-talent/) - [Charities](https://rootsinspire.com/charities/) - Our mentors allocate their mentoring fee to their preferred charity. Our pre-selected charities have a focus on youth development and education. Please find an overview of our current pre-selected charities below. Are you a charity that is interested to partner with us? Please reach us at hello@rootsinspire.com. - [Cookie policy](https://rootsinspire.com/cookie-policy/) - This Cookie Policy was last updated on 31 July 2023 and applies to citizens and legal permanent residents of the European Economic Area. 1. Introduction Our website, https://rootsinspire.com (hereinafter: “the website”) uses cookies and other related technologies (for convenience all technologies are referred to as “cookies”). Cookies are also placed by third parties we have engaged. In - [Privacy policy](https://rootsinspire.com/privacy-policy/) - Last updated: July 31, 2023 This Privacy Policy describes Our policies and procedures on the collection, use and disclosure of Your information when You use the Service and tells You about Your privacy rights and how the law protects You. We use Your Personal data to provide and improve the Service. By using the Service, ## Events - [Leadership Mentor Breakfast
](https://rootsinspire.com/event/leadership-mentor-breakfast/) - The Senior Executives Dinner brings together ethnic senior leaders and Emerging Executives participants for an invite-only evening of dinner and conversation at Hotel Jakarta. - [Elevate: Emerging Executives
June 2026](https://rootsinspire.com/event/elevate-emerging-executives-june-2026/) - The Senior Executives Dinner brings together ethnic senior leaders and Emerging Executives participants for an invite-only evening of dinner and conversation at Hotel Jakarta. - [Senior Executives
Dinner 2026](https://rootsinspire.com/event/senior-executives-dinner-2026/) - The Senior Executives Dinner brings together ethnic senior leaders and Emerging Executives participants for an invite-only evening of dinner and conversation at Hotel Jakarta. - [Reconnect and Reflect
2025 Alumni](https://rootsinspire.com/event/reconnect-and-reflect-2025-alumni-23-june/) - Reconnect & Reflect is an evening designed for one thing: honest conversation with people who get it. Peers who are navigating the same terrain, and who are now further along their own paths. - [Annual Members Event:
Roots United 2026](https://rootsinspire.com/event/annual-members-event-roots-united-2026/) - Join us at Roots United — our Annual Members Event bringing the Roots Inspire community together for an evening of conversation, connection, and Amsterdam skyline views. - [Emerging Leaders
Programme](https://rootsinspire.com/event/all-sectors-emerging-leaders-cohort-3/) - Join our upcoming Emerging Leaders Programme kickoff event. Discover your network, clarify your goals, and gain a clear understanding of the programme. - [Emerging Professionals
Programme](https://rootsinspire.com/event/all-sectors-emerging-professionals-cohort/) - Join our inaugural Emerging Professionals Programme kick-off event. Meet fellow ethnic-cultural professionals and explore the career development programme - [Emerging Executives
Programme](https://rootsinspire.com/event/all-sectors-emerging-executives-cohort-2026/) - oin our upcoming Emerging Executives Programme kick-off event. Meet fellow senior ethnic-cultural professionals and explore the leadership development programme. - [Pre-Launch Event: Emerging Executives](https://rootsinspire.com/event/pre-launch-event-emerging-executives/) - Discover more about the Emerging Executives Programme by joining this pre-launch event. Connect with industry leaders and gain insights. - [Financial Services:
Emerging Leaders Cohort](https://rootsinspire.com/event/all-sectors-emerging-executives-cohort-2/) - Join our next Financial Services: Emerging Leaders Cohort kick-off event. Meet fellow senior ethnic-cultural professionals and explore the value of the programme. - [Financial Services:
Ethnic-Cultural C-Suite Dinner 2024](https://rootsinspire.com/event/financial-servicesethnic-cultural-c-suite-dinner-2024/) - Join this exclusive dinner, where we bring together ethnic-cultural diverse industry leaders and emerging talent in Financial Services. - [All Sectors:
Emerging Leaders Cohort](https://rootsinspire.com/event/all-sectors-emerging-leaders-cohort/) - Accelerate your leadership journey with Roots Inspire’s Emerging Leaders Cohort. Connect with diverse peers, clarify your goals, and lay the foundation for authentic, senior-level career growth. - [Financial Services:
Emerging Executives Cohort](https://rootsinspire.com/event/financial-services-emerging-executives-cohort/) - Join our Roots Inspire’s Financial Services: Emerging Executives Cohort. Meet your peers, explore the programme, and prepare for your leadership journey. - [All Sectors:
Emerging Leaders Cohort](https://rootsinspire.com/event/february-2025-programme-cohort-kick-off-event/) - We start our new cohorts with an in-person kickoff event, where our cohort participants are introduced to each other and learn more about what to expect during the programme. - [Pre-Launch Event: Emerging Executives in Financial Services](https://rootsinspire.com/event/emerging-executives-in-financial-services/) - Discover more about the Emerging Executives in Financial Services programme by joining this pre-launch event. Connect with industry leaders and gain insights. - [New Year's Reception:
Roots Resolutions](https://rootsinspire.com/event/new-years-reception-roots-resolutions/) - Join us at our 2025 New Year’s Reception - Roots Resolutions, where we unite to celebrate our successes and kick off the new year together. - [Consumer Goods: Ethnic-Cultural Leaders Dinner](https://rootsinspire.com/event/consumer-goods-ethnocultural-leaders-dinner/) - Roots Inspire invites senior ethnic-cultural leaders in the Consumer Goods sector for an intimate dinner focused on how we can advance ethnic-cultural diversity in leadership. This evening is dedicated to gaining clarity. Together, we will share insightful strategies, what works and what doesn’t, and define the actionable steps required to make a genuine impact - [Law: Ethnocultural GC's & Law Firm Partners Dinner](https://rootsinspire.com/event/law-ethnocultural-cgs-law-firm-partners-dinner/) - Roots Inspire is bringing together GC's, Heads of Legal, and law firm partners discuss how we can advance ethnic‑cultural representation in the legal sector. - [Annual Member's Event:
Roots United Sept 2025](https://rootsinspire.com/event/annual-members-eventroots-united-sept-2025/) - Join us at our Annual Members Event - Roots United, where we come together as a community for a celebration of our unique origins. - [Online Learning Circle: Building a Powerful Network](https://rootsinspire.com/event/online-learning-circle-building-a-powerful-network/) - Learn networking strategies for diverse professionals. Join 23 Sept virtual event with ethnocultural leaders sharing authentic career-building tactics. - [Financial Services:
C-Suite Dinner](https://rootsinspire.com/event/c-suite-dinner-financial-services/) - Join this exclusive dinner, where we bring together ethnic-cultural diverse industry leaders and emerging talent in Financial Services. - [Unfiltered Convo:
Building Executive Presence](https://rootsinspire.com/event/unfiltered-convo-building-executive-presence-as-an-ethnically-diverse-leader/) - Join this Unfiltered Convo and gain valuable insights on developing a strong executive presence in the workplace as an ethnic-cultural diverse leader. - [Unfiltered Convo: Negotiating Your Career](https://rootsinspire.com/event/unfiltered-convo-negotiating-your-career/) - Join this Unfiltered Convo to connect with successful mentors who will share insights on effectively advocating for yourself in your professional journey. - [Consulting:
Big 4 Partners Dinner](https://rootsinspire.com/event/big-4-ethnocultural-partners-dinner/) - Join us for this exclusive event designed to facilitate meaningful discussions among senior leaders from the Big 4 accounting firms. - [Annual Member's Event:
Roots United](https://rootsinspire.com/event/annual-members-event-roots-united/) - Join us at our Annual Members Event - Roots United, where we come together as a community for a celebration of our unique origins. ## Testimonials - [Yvonne Rosina](https://rootsinspire.com/testimonials/yvonne-rosina/) - To me, success is not measured by a position someone holds in a corporate organisation or the high profile deals someone has worked on. To me, success is knowing who you are and daring to be yourself! Throughout my career as a lawyer, I have worked at high profile firms, started my own firm, sold - [Zia Tahseen](https://rootsinspire.com/testimonials/zia-tahseen/) - It has been an interesting journey working across geographies and cultures (Pakistan, Netherlands, Sweden, UK, China, South America, Middle East, Singapore). Often, I came across unexpected prejudices and had to use cultural competency to turn these challenges into opportunities. With a South Asian background, I realized how much is still unknown to the world about - [Diana Lam](https://rootsinspire.com/testimonials/diana-lam/) - From a young age I have been exposed to different cultures and customs. When I moved from Hong Kong to the Netherlands as a child, a sense of belonging had never been so important to me. It has taught me what having a different starting position in life, religion and/or skin colour actually means. I - [Guillano Demon](https://rootsinspire.com/testimonials/guillano-demon/) - First studying and later working across Europe & North America as an Afro-Surinamese born and raised professional has been a great experience so far. But it came with many challenges. 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