Understanding the Value of Teamwork in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Jak Matthews, Diversity Equity and Inclusion specialist at BT Group shares their DE&I journey and why LGBTQ+ inclusion is essential in the workplace.

Hi Jak! Tell us a bit about your career journey to date.

I have had a bit of a wonky career, I fell out of university into the first job I could find, ended up working in a construction firm, it wasn’t really for me and pushed me firmly back into the closet for a few years and made me feel like I needed to carve my career in a direction that fit. I made my way into financial services and then quickly moved into HR and finally settled after a few different roles into specializing in Diversity Equity and Inclusion.

What's the most challenging aspect of managing people right now?

For me I always feel like it’s like herding cats, whether you are fully virtual, in the office or hybrid. Getting all the people together is always a challenge but existing in a mixed workforce brings some unique challenges. You have to really consider when the right time is to bring people together to get the most value out of it.

What attributes do you look for in new recruits and why?

Someone who brings a unique perspective is always the most likely to stand out to me in any recruitment situation. It's more about the skills they can articulate the literal experience. I think we should be well past the days we look at a CV and make an assumption of competency based on longevity with an organization.

How important is LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace for you personally?

For me it’s essential, I couldn't be myself or exist in an organization without it. I am very openly out as a trans woman and my identity is very visible. But it’s not just important to me on a personal level it’s also about organizational values to me too. If inclusion isn’t a priority in your organization, we aren’t a match. If you aren’t loudly inclusive as an organization, you are quietly telling prospective candidates you aren’t.

What's your favorite inclusion campaign to date and why?

I would really struggle to narrow it down to a single campaign, but I really admire all the work Diversity Role Models do in relation to trying to address and prevent LGBTQIA+ bullying in schools. While section 28 may have been repealed while I was in school, it still heavily impacted my school experience, and I think something like what they do existing when I was that age would have been revolutionary.

How do you encourage staff to have a worklife balance, especially with the increase in remote/hybrid working?

Trying to set a good example (and trying truly is the operative word right there). I used to have real issues with work creep and often would still be responding to messages or emails at 9/10pm at night for me that included things like deleting work apps off my personal phone to remove temptation.

What's the biggest highlight of your career to date and why?

For me it has pretty recent in the grand scheme of things, I have been moving into a place in my career where public speaking is becoming increasingly part of what I do, it brings me a lot of joy especially where I get to talk about trans inclusion in the workplace a lot of the time.

What podcast series are you listening to right now for your career development? Are there any DE&I-related podcast series you would recommend?

I try and listen to as much as I can from the Neuroleadership Institute, including their podcast ‘Your Brain at Work’ it focuses a lot on the science behind how our brains work and contextualizes it into how you can change your organization.

In terms of recommendations on DE&I podcasts I love “Diversity & Inclusion: Satisfying the tickbox?” The hosts Georgie Higgs and Vijitharan Nageswaran are lovely and really engaging.

What was the last book you read (fiction/non-fiction)? Any interesting take-aways and would you recommend it to fellow leaders? Why?

I mostly read fiction but recently I have tried turning to different styles of writing. I have been slowly making my way through “Gender Euphoria” which is a series of personal stories from trans, non-binary and intersex writers. It’s been a great read and I think it’s a great read for any leader looking to understand the lived experience of gender diverse people.

What was your last holiday destination and where do you plan to visit next?

This is an embarrassing one, I haven’t been away on a proper holiday since 2016. The closest has been weekends away to Manchester and London. However, I am finally escaping to Amsterdam for a few days but even then, it is for work!

What do you do to relax at the end of a hard-working day?

Me and my partner are both really nerdy so we both enjoy playing a lot of Dungeons and Dragons, other than that it's usually flopping in front of the TV. Really excited for the next series of Taskmaster to start.