Samira Chambas-Yusuf: Reflections on diversity, inclusion and representation in business

Ahead of the event, Samira sat down with us to offer some powerful reflections on her experiences so far.

• Can you share how your personal journey has shaped the way you’ve navigated your career?

  Coming from an immigrant family, I learned the importance of being resilient, curious and hardworking. My parents came to this country from nothing, and for them to see the life they gave my siblings and I and see what we have achieved, is incredible. My upbringing has helped me to navigate relationships and to understand how to work effectively across diverse teams of people.

• What challenges have you faced as a person of colour in your profession, and how have you overcome them?

  I always try to bring a piece of me wherever I go, whether it’s what I wear, my hair or my culture. I have been misunderstood in the workplace, and I think that’s because people haven’t taken the time to get to know who I am, where I am from and what I am about. I ’ve learnt that acceptance and knowing who you are is the key to overcoming challenges. It is difficult for some people of colour to believe that they deserve what they have. It’s important that I know my purpose, and that I know that I deserve to be where I am.

• Why is representation of people of colour in leadership and governance so important?

  There is so much power in representation of people of colour. It allows for better and more diverse decision-making. Seeing someone who looks like you in a leadership position gives you a sense of belonging and also a role model to look up to. This creates a pipeline effect, encouraging younger generations to aspire to leadership. That’s always been what drives me. My motto is ‘be a beacon of light onto others’ and I ensure I do that by working for the future of tomorrow, not just for me.

• What role does visibility play in empowering others who are following in your footsteps?

  Visibility is important and powerful. It allows others to see what is possible, so that those behind you can see people who look like them achieve success.

• How do you pave the way for others in your industry?

  I hope to pave a way for others in my industry by being visible, whether it’s at networking events, online through social networks and by being present in industry spaces. I try to where I can help others with a step up to better opportunities, whether putting them forward for new positions, responding to questions on LinkedIn or being a mentor to others.

• What does learning from others in your industry look like in practice?

  Learning not only comes from the top-down, but also from the bottom-up. This could look like a few things including taking the time to understand other people’s perspective, acknowledging that you don’t (and wont) know it all and always striving to improve yourself in the profession. It’s incredible knowing how much you can learn from junior members of staff. Sharing ideas with other governance professionals in industry is a form of learning and events such as this is essential to not only building connections and network but also learning and expanding your knowledge outside of your current role.

• What does being an ally to people of colour truly mean to you?

  Being an ally to people of colour is to truly take on their struggle. You don’t necessarily need to understand, but to actively show support that goes beyond passive agreement and intro action, learning, amplifying marginalised voices and working to dismantle oppressive systems.

• How do you approach personal branding, and why does it matter in today’s professional landscape?

  Personal branding couldn’t be more important in today’s professional landscape. People address you from how you present yourself. In this current day and age, people make assumptions from what you put on social media. It might not be who you are, but posts on social media can cause people to make judgements about you instantly. Making sure you have the right personal branding means you can attract and make connections with the right people.