Donna Herdsman is Head of DE&I Consulting (EMEA) at Korn Ferry. She focuses on supporting clients in the development of inclusive leaders and sustainable inclusive culture. She has led initiatives that enable people to connect and showcase the value that is their unique self. A senior member of the Black Employee Network, she uses her different experiences, clients (e.g. the government of South Africa) and senior leadership roles (PricewaterhouseCoopers; IBM) to inspire others to know that barriers are made to be overcome. An award winner (Involve Empower; First Woman), Donna has been a judge at the Black British Business Awards for the last 11 years, shining a continual light on the excellence of ethnic talent.
Introduction and Background
I now live in London, having relocated from Hertfordshire to study for a degree in Business Studies and then made London my home thereafter. My parents still live in Hertfordshire and are of the Windrush generation, and I feel very blessed to have grown up with the ability to embrace my Caribbean heritage as an integral part of being Black
and British. I am a qualified public sector accountant, and my time at LB Lambeth gave me an insight into the importance of equity and the far-reaching implications of inequality, and why purpose is such an integral part of society, although I’m sure that realisation has come with the power of hindsight.
My move to Coopers and Lybrand and PricewaterhouseCoopers shaped the next phase of my professional background, firstly by being an auditor and then moving into consulting, where I eventually became a Director. As a consultant, I worked with many public sector UK organisations, but my time working on transformation programmes for the Government of Mozambique and then the Government of South Africa made me appreciate that even though things can be challenging here in the UK, we have an abundance of opportunity.
The mindset of positivity has been a constant part of me, really fostered I think by seeing how my parents overcome the obstacles that they faced, in simply working to give me and my sisters the best life they could. The experience really gave me the ability to focus on DEI as an integral element for all organisations because our greatest asset is people. I know that people helped and supported me when I joined IBM, and I used that experience in particular not only to support others directly but to work as part of a wider team, to introduce early diverse talent (school students, early-year graduates, community-based groups) to the breadth of opportunities within IT as a sector in which they too could thrive, as we all have, and the power to innovate.. Keeping it real, it has also been important to recognise however that being able to achieve equity takes time and energy, and I think that has influenced where I am today, working for a people consultancy, Korn Ferry, as head of DEI, where DEI is an integral part of all the services we provide to our clients and inclusion is one of Korn Ferry’s key values.
Challenges and Milestones
I think as DEI has evolved, it has in some areas been seen as a separate initiative from the establishment and realisation of an organisation’s strategy, especially in the context of the UK, as many of the studies and insights that people were sharing were heavily linked to the US experience and understandably so, because of the volume of data and breadth of research that they can point to.
Being able to engage constantly in a way that highlights social barriers alongside the business benefits we all reap when DE&I works, can be exhausting. Staying the course has proven imperative, and as the quality and coverage of data has increased, I have found that people have been more ready to engage, explore, discuss, and above all act on a myriad of DEI-related initiatives. I also think sometimes being the only one, which at times that is how it has felt, can be really challenging, like you are standing alone. But by reaching out, connecting with others, finding allies, reframing one’s mindset
(everything starts with a first step), and tapping into our internal strength, then all challenges, no matter their size, can be overcome.
My key milestones include being named one of the top 100 Senior Black Executives twice by Empower/INvolve, mentor of the year by CBI, named as an equality and race trailblazer by WeAreTheCity, being invited by the EU to present in Brussels on the importance of diverse talent and the creation of technology that serves us all, and then being interviewed by several young people regarding their expectations of us as adults doing all we can to make the world better for those that follow. I think the most satisfying moments has been seeing people, after asking for support, owning their space and stepping into their own power, such as a mentee being promoted to partner and being thanked because you helped someone find a sponsor that they could trust help them navigate the organisation. Other people’s success provides fuel for growth.
Key Initiatives and Impact
I am extremely honoured to be a judge for several awards programmes. Each one of them has resulted in providing visibility to diverse talent that many people did not realise existed outside of the organisations that they work in. A great example is Roni Savage, who I nominated for a Black British Business Award. She ended up being named as the overall winner, highlighting that it is possible to be ethnically diverse, a woman, and be successful in the world of construction! I have been a judge for 11 years, and it’s hard to put into words the impact on me and indeed others of showcasing wonderful talent. Another great example is Steven Bartlett; I and the other judges knew when we met him in 2018 and named him as a rising star that he would grow and continue to do great things. I always smile internally when I hear others speak about how inspiring they find Steven. By showcasing and highlighting role models, inspires others to know that achieving their aspirations is possible.
I am a judge for the Baton Awards, which focuses on women of colour working in both business, charity, and wider society initiatives, and this is my fourth year as a judge. What I love about these awards is not only that we celebrate women but we also take the opportunity to acknowledge that women are leading in areas of education, sport, technology, thought leadership, and public services, demonstrating the positive difference they are making to society today and into the future. One great example and a winner several years ago was a doctor who has established her own clinic and championed other women of colour because she felt that when sharing their health challenges, they were not being fully listened to. Her patients provided glowing comments about how she had helped change their world.
The last and latest awards programme I would like to mention is the WeAreTechWomen 100 awards. It is my second year as a judge, and this all-embracing programme drives up the focus on inclusion for us all, and when we lean in, all can benefit. By focusing on
up-and-coming talent, below senior manager, we are shining a spotlight on the great things achieved today and all the great things these multitudes of women will go on to achieve.
One of the roles I guess I speak less about is the role of a school governor. I am also the equalities governor and have mentored students at the school. This year, 2024, I attended their awards programme simply to show my support, and there was a young girl, 18, achieving top scores in all her A levels and as a result off to study Medicine at a top London University. As well as being a fantastic student, it was moving to hear how people had supported her to overcome personal challenges without which she would have struggled to maximise her academic achievements. It was a great reminder not only about the importance of kindness, but the difference we can make when we lean in to support others find their own path. I don’t mind admitting that I cried at the awards ceremony. It was a special moment for all.
Personal Growth and Learning
It is because of my personal and professional growth that I have emerged as the head of a DE&I practice area, marrying my consultancy skills with my passion and commitment to DEI. The lessons I have learnt along the way are that sometimes you are just where you are meant to be, and that others can see things in you that you can’t. As a result of those insights, I think it is important to do things when they are right for you. Sometimes circumstances mean that it feels like your breadth of choice has been taken away, but this is a moment in time, and new moments will emerge. How does that relate to DEI? Being in this field is not a one-and-done role or job. Societal, business, and political headwinds, whilst not of your making, can blow you off if not eradicate the course you thought you were on. Take the time to rest, recover, and when you are ready, re-enter the journey in a way that enables you to be kind to yourself and to take care of your well-being. None of us are an island, and there are so many great people around; find your tribe (family, friends, work colleagues, Zumba classmates). As you support them, so they will support you.
Future Vision and Goals
One of the biggest barriers to inclusion is a socio-economic one, and thus one of my aspirations in due course would be to become more greatly involved in a charitable initiative focused on addressing and if feasible, eradicating a socio-economic issue.
Until that time, I’m looking forward to maintaining a DEI focus on everything we do. For example, as the global discussions on equal pay gain further voice, I hope to be at the forefront, working with clients to make pay transparency and then equal pay (hopefully) a reality. The World Economic Forum’s prediction of a 100 years on average to close the gender pay gap (on average, because it does not reflect the breadth of the intersectional lens such as race) meant for me that closing the gap would be something I would speak
about but never really get the chance to work with others to address. It seems that I might have been wrong in my estimation, and I’m excited to see what can be done to move the dial and to be involved in doing so.
Advice for Aspiring DEI Advocates
As you can see from my path, I never started in the field, but I think my parents, by helping me to focus on the actions of people rather than how they appeared, formed a seed that bloomed into my DEI passion. With that in mind, I would ask folks to remain forever curious, as words without action are just words. By investing time to get to know others, they will invest time in getting to know you. When you connect with each other well, that is when magic can happen. Be kind to yourself, and when things do not go as you wish, acknowledge and even mourn if you must, but be ready to bounce back and re-enter the fray anew, because sometimes that is how it might feel. Find your tribe, your safe people, where you and they can share alike. It’s amazing the new ideas that can take root when we all stop, take a breath, and give ourselves permission to do so.
I have come to realise as part of my journey that it is by listening to others that I can begin to understand what meaningful change means for them. For some people, it is knowing that their career path is straight and all and any barriers will be removed. When I have spent time with Gen Z, I have been delighted and wonderfully surprised at the extent to which they articulate their heritage and celebrate the diversity they bring, believe me, I am learning from them too.
I think there are key ingredients to being an advocate. Be true to yourself, as with most things requiring and sustaining change, the work can be mentally exhausting. Find your allies, as we all need others to make a change and for the change to stick. Follow your passion, which inspires others to follow their passion too. Sometimes you won’t see the change that you’ve contributed to creating, but even if it is only one person who feels better positioned and/or empowered to pursue their dreams, then you’ve played a role in achieving meaningful change!
Learn more: https://www.ethnicityawards.com/top-10-inspirational-leaders-2024/
