{"id":1239,"date":"2025-07-26T22:29:55","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T12:29:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.romanruzbacky.com.au\/?p=1239"},"modified":"2025-08-06T21:58:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T11:58:17","slug":"what-is-you-diversity-equity-inclusion-leadership-practice-excellence-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.romanruzbacky.com.au\/index.php\/2025\/07\/26\/what-is-you-diversity-equity-inclusion-leadership-practice-excellence-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"What is you Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Leadership Practice Excellence? (2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Roman Ru\u017eback\u00fd<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

July 12, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Years ago, I met an inspirational Executive Coach and Leadership Trainer, Liz Wright of Leadership Caf\u00e9, and participated in a five-month leadership program with leaders and those aspiring to be leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember four things clearly: (1) Liz looked after a herd of donkeys in the UK, (2) we had a common interest in film music, especially the Lord of the Rings, (3) we developed a leadership blueprint which I still use to this day in my DEI work, and (4) we had a heart-to-heart conversation about my career (which I now call a vocation), values and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For years, prior to starting the leadership program, I had a recurring dream. Tidal waves coming towards me and crashing dangerously close to me. Looking up the interpretation of the dream, I found the following passage:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe message may be that your old self needs to be left behind. This may mean you must stop carrying around with you the crippling burden of your past (irrational guilt, feelings, and martyrdom complex or any other negative self-programming); and instead, you must open yourself to what the present self is offering. Alternatively, the old self may be old attachments, habits, ambitions, values, goals; in which case the dream is telling you that the only way forward for you lies in giving these up and looking deeper within yourself for better values (where better means more in tune with your real self).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Article<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The message has been central to my transformational journey in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practice. When self-doubt creeps in, it comes to us all, we start with the chatter\u2026. am I on the right path? am I making a difference? am I being distracted by things I can\u2019t control? am I shovelling s hit uphill? am I being totally consumed? am I being mainstream because it works for me? am I losing my authenticity? am I losing my way? am I losing my self-awareness? am I losing my confidence? am I getting more cynical? am I being inflexible? am I being caught up in playing in a system where the house always wins? am I working a way that doesn\u2019t work for me? do I feel like walking away? have I lost my authenticity? am I feeling invisible, or in constant pain? then realising the all-consuming ego, and grounding myself with Joe Dispenza, Ekhart Tolle, Pema Chodren or Mrs Coehlo, my year nine English teacher, or a good walk or check in conversation? And then we may get a sign. The world is telling us something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I visited an op shop this week and it has a coffee cart inside the shop. I had my first coffee made by a trainee barista who was blind! I was curious about the assistive technology he was using which gave voice instructions. He made an awesome coffee and we had a good chat. I thought of possibilities, a moment to feel, a moment to share, a moment to influence, a moment for accessibility and inclusion a moment to believe, a moment to say you\u2019re on the right track, keep going. And the day just kept unfolding like this. Time for the trusty pen and paper (OK keyboard) and start writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And gravitating back to a way I have seen best observed from our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders \u2013 generous leadership. In spades. \u201cWe are willing to show and teach you if you listen\u201d is what I heard recently at a Cultural Education walk and talk. Has my fearless DEI practice has always been about active deep listening and understanding?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generous leadership is a style where leaders prioritize the development and well-being of people and the environment, fostering growth and success for everyone involved. It\u2019s characterized by giving freely of time, knowledge, and support without expecting direct personal gain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moving from dream state to reality was the step under the guidance of Liz Wright, was the development of my Leadership Blueprint which I have been sharing with new diversity, equity and inclusion practitioners. It is inspired by the wonderful Glenn Singleton whose transformative work in racial equity and Courageous Conversations about Race Compass has brought a level of consciousness to my personal and professional life in different realms \u2013 in fact almost every day, with every interaction, this model comes into my consciousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It takes all these feelings, thoughts, beliefs and translates them into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Article<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The closed boxed includes the system and way I choose to operate. Over time I have learned to be less reactive in my practice and more intuitive. And it has evolved in ten years since I fist wrote this,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Believing<\/p>\n\n\n\n