Startup, Awareness and Inclusion

Extract key points from Business Ray featuring Priyanka Banerjee, video transcription by Williams Amos

What motivates you to be a diversity and inclusion specialist?

I want work culture and attitude to change from the usual or normal way of doing things at work places. It is only when everyone can feel respected and bring their best self to work that is good for all companies, this makes them more productive. I specialise in this to help companies create culture of inclusion in their organizations. The more I do this, the more I gain respect and slowly I got more clarity about my business.

Does your business entail capital for startup?

It doesn't require much of capital because I have detailed implementation programs like trainings, workshop coaching programs, seminars etc. But yet; it requires funding to develop new services and products.

How do you manage struggles of Integration with cultures that are not Europeans?

Integration is not one-sided but two-sided. When you work with client, they need to respect you and your culture. If you are an employee, you need to understand the company's culture and also they have to understand yours. It is all about emotional intelligence. I like to learn about new things because I am curious.

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Do you have feedbacks from your client and how do you handle them especially both positive and negative feedbacks?

I have received both feedbacks. Negative feedbacks are mostly like when people needs fast results and one training cannot change culture. It takes a lot of time, effort and action to achieve this. There are so many details like personality, culture, gender, age, sexual orientation. I use feedbacks to improve and develop my products and services. Results only come when you have long term commitment and implementation. When you are repeating your actions, it changes your habit

How do customers get to you?

It has been through building my personal brand. It was an advantage talking about this line of business culture because there were no so many people talking about it. It has challenges but also has advantages. I started speaking on stages and event for people to see me and so that they see what I am doing. You need to create trust before you start working for them, you have to provide value by letting them know what your work is all about.

Priyanka Banerjee: Public speaker, Co-Founder of BusinessWiz Oy, Diversity and Inclusion Coach

...social media as a power house!

Social media helps you get and build good networks. You should also ask your network to introduce you to people on their platforms as well and don't stop networking. You need to ask your customer what are their challenges and what problem they need to solve. You need to have clarity about what is it that you will provide for them. You need to be very crystal clear about what you are talking about, if not you will confuse them if you don't know what you are selling.

...when things ain't working!

When you feel like quitting, take a step back and ask your customers why you services is not working. Peradventure there is something that is not of value to them or something that is not providing them solution. Check if there is issue with languages, race, culture and currency as well. How you position yourself is not about the language but about the value that you are adding and at the same time understand your environment.