Inclusive Leadership – Leading Differently for Change

23/02/2026 -

Vivian Okeze-Tirado is a national award-winning social work leader and social justice advocate.

Inclusive leadership is not just about position, authority or job titles. At its core, it is about professional integrity, accountability, courage, and respect for humanity and diversity. These core values or attributes of good leadership have always been clear and ageless. These are non-negotiable, even in an age where they are watered down or dismissed. It asks leaders to be sensitive to people’s lived realities, to act with compassion, and to understand that how we show up for others matters just as much as the outcomes we deliver. At its simplest, practising inclusive leadership requires committing to “leading differently” in ways that put people, not power, at the centre.

An inclusive leader brings people together, leads with courage and confidence, empathy, integrity, and respect for diversity. This means genuinely exemplifying these principles, holding oneself accountable, while ensuring that leadership actions align with stated intentions. Crucially, an inclusive leader who is aspiring to lead differently must acknowledge the real and present realities, the discrimination faced by marginalised voices and communities, and involve them in decision-making and priority setting for change. This requires continuous reflection and adjustment to ensure fairness and equity for all. Leaders must regularly ask: “Whose voices are missing? Who benefits? Who does not? How can I carry everyone along?”

Historically, leadership has been shaped by unequal systems of power, colonial, capitalist, and privileged structures that concentrate authority among a narrow group, often white, male, and wealthy. As a result, leadership has been defined by control, competition, and individual achievement, rather than care, service to humanity, or collective success. Privilege has dictated who is seen as a “legitimate” leader, who gains access to education, networks, and opportunities, and who remains at the top.

Marginalised groups have been systematically excluded through embedded biases, prejudices, and stereotypes within institutions and society.

Leaders must avoid falling victim to the “iceberg of ignorance” where leaders remain confined to the summit, detached from their surroundings and what lies beneath. Instead, they must connect to the staff on the other floors, listen deeply, and observe what is often unseen or unsaid. This includes naming uncomfortable truths, listening to underrepresented voices, examining personal biases, and unapologetically centring marginalised groups.

Great leaders develop others, understanding that leadership isn’t about having all the answers or being the smartest person in the room. They must lead differently, championing humanity, inclusion, social justice, and societal cohesion to drive positive change.

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Reflective Challenge: How do you show up as an inclusive leader, and what impact does this have on others?

Vivian Okeze – Tirado

Role:

Social work leader, social justice advocate, practice educator, keynote speaker and a changemaker

With over a decade of experience in children’s social care, Vivian has dedicated her career to amplifying unheard voices, challenging injustice, and creating spaces to promote inclusion, fairness and equity to enable marginalised communities thrive. Her work is grounded in courage and compassion, and a deep belief in our shared humanity.
She is the author of D.I.V.E.R.R.S.I.T.Y.: A Guide to Working with Diversity and Developing Cultural Sensitivity, published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in 2023, which has become a key resource for people-facing professionals across the UK.
Vivian is the Founder and Head of VOT Training and Consultancy Services, delivering nationally recognised training and consultancy in social work and social care, equality, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism, supporting organisations to embed diversity, cultural sensitivity, inclusive leadership and practice. Vivian has trained numerous social work and social care professionals nationwide, working with local authorities, private and national organisations. She has delivered keynote addresses at high-profile platforms, including at the House of Commons, the children’s national regulatory body (Ofsted) National Conference, and served as a headline trainer for Social Work England, BASW, and Community Care Inform and the Social Workers Union etc. Her contributions have been widely recognised, including winning the National Overall Social Worker of the Year and the Social Justice Advocate Gold Award in 2021, presented by The Social Worker of the Year Award.

Vivian is also the Director of VOT Community Conferences CIC, A newly incorporated community interest company with the mission of promoting social justice, fairness, anti-racism, humanitarian and inclusive practices through transformative education and meaningful community engagement. Vivian is described as a passionate, innovative and inspiring leader and keynote speaker.