Jacquline Alcindor, DEI Programme Partner at Legal & General and Ethnicity Awards 2024 winner, shares insights on fostering inclusion, empowering diverse voices, and embedding DEI into business strategy. She discusses storytelling, advocacy, and leadership, offering valuable career advice on authenticity, mentorship, and driving meaningful change.

Can you tell me a bit about who you are and the work you do?

I am a DEI Programme Partner at Legal & General within the Asset Management region, with a
strong focus on fostering inclusion as we move more into 2025/2026.

What’s your favourite part of your role?

I love making a difference — whether it’s amplifying people’s stories, supporting colleagues in
their development, or implementing impactful programmes. I work closely with network groups
to create a stronger sense of belonging, celebrate diverse experiences, and facilitate
knowledge-sharing. My role also involves tailoring business strategy to ensure these network
groups are meaningfully considered.

Would you say that your passion for storytelling and advocacy has always been a part of
you, or has it developed over time?

I’ve always been involved in improvement coaching and bringing people together. Being a
people person, I naturally encourage others to be the best versions of themselves. Over time,
I’ve found innovative ways to bring external community work into the workplace, making DEI
actionable and impactful. As apart of my role I must question, “How do we use our collective
power to take action that means somebody is going to have a better day?”

What’s your most notable achievement in your DEI career?

I’ve contributed to embedding DEI into every part of the business, ensuring it is an irrefutable
aspect of daily operations at Legal & General. It’s not just a standalone initiative — it’s woven
into the company’s DNA.

As a Black woman, do you feel your identity has influenced how you navigate certain
spaces in your career?

Absolutely — my cultural identity is my USP. Staying connected to my community is important
to me, and I believe in giving back to ensure that knowledge and opportunities are passed on. A
question I always ask is, “How can we empower people to believe they have the license and
support to act, to be anything they want to be, without being constrained by stereotypes?”. A lot
of the time, women in particular will feel the need to embody more ‘masculine’ traits to advance
their profile in the workplace, but I think it’s always more impactful to be yourself and hone in on
your own personal USP.

What’s one piece of advice you wish you had received at the start of your career—
something you’d pass on to future generations?

• Be yourself — it’s much harder to be someone else.

• Seek help early; collaboration leads to greater achievements.

• Growth isn’t always comfortable, but it’s necessary.

• Everyone needs a coach.

• Find what you like, then find what you love — and choose your mentors accordingly.

• You have to train how you want to play — replicate what you want to do in the same
environment in which you want to succeed.