UCL Connect: Navigating professional and personal differences in the workplace

Professor Noreena Hertz (Chair)

Honorary Professor at UCL

Author, board member and keynote speaker Noreena Hertz is acclaimed as "one of the world's leading thinkers" by The Observer and hailed by Vogue as "one of the world's most inspiring women".

A pioneering economist whose work intersects the nexus of economics, technology, politics and society, Noreena has written five bestselling books including "The Lonely Century," "Eyes Wide Open" and “The Silent Takeover” and has spoken at prestigious events including TED, the World Economic Forum, and Google Zeitgeist.

She advises some of the most senior leaders in the world on strategy, ESG, the post-millennials and AI; has served on Citigroup’s Politics and Economics Global Advisory Board and the Inclusive Capitalism Taskforce’s Advisory Group; and sits on the boards of Mattel, Warner Music Group and Workhuman.
 
Her thinking served as the inspiration for Bono’s Product ‘Red’.

With a PhD from Cambridge University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Noreena is based at University College London, where she is Honorary Professor.

Find out more about Professor Noreena Hertz.

Fayola-Maria Jack

CEO at Resolutiion

Fay is a multi-award winning industry expert in conflict and dispute resolution, and the Founder of Resolutiion - an AI-powered system for managing conflict, disagreements and disputes between businesses. With experience as Head of Legal for a $25bn multinational and Head of Legal & Commercial for a Fortune company, she has overseen operations up to $5.7bn and managed teams of over 30,000. Internationally recognised with awards such as Top 5 Women in UK Business by Management Today, Fay has led a series of key initiatives, including Brexit commercial assurance for the Cabinet Office and establishing dispute resolution practices for the UK Government and Lloyds Banking Group. An accomplished thought leader, with an MBA from UCL and doctoral research in dispute resolution, she now drives Resolutiion with a mission to usher in an age of stronger, more resilient relationships globally.

Rahul Mehra

Management Consultant at VICKISARGE

Rahul is an award-winning Retail and HR professional who has a BA from UCL, and an MBA from Warwick Business School. After many years working in operational retail, leading large teams, he noticed that the most important but most complex elements of his role were related to people, their differences, and organisational disconnects. He subsequently made a decision to move into HR to best use his operational experience to impact both the organisation and its people for the better and has been recognised as a Chartered MCIPD. Aside from the day job, Rahul sits as a Trustee for Creative Mentor Network and RSPCA South London, as an NED for Opportunity Kensington, and a Director of VICKISARGE.

Nathan Nalla

Founder and Director at Be The Riot

Imagine the workplace as a space where everyone can thrive no matter their identity and background. Nathan Nalla believes this is a possibility and is committed to leading organisations on that journey.

Nathan is the founder and Director of Be The Riot, leading organisations to develop equity diversity and inclusion strategies that get results.

Nathan is experienced in culture change for inclusion, applying systems and behaviour analysis to deliver solutions. He drives adult learning design and delivery using best in class approaches that centre engagement and outcomes.

Nathan has 7 year's dedicated focus on EDI and 10 year's engagement in LGBTQ+ advocacy, Anti-Racism and social justice. Alongside 20 year's facilitation and public speaking experience in a variety of contexts.

As a man who is racialised as Black and identifies as gay, Nathan uses his personal experiences to shape his work. Centring the voices of those from minoritised groups and fostering approaches to EDI that lead to genuine long-lasting change.

Naomi Sutherland

Careers | Educator | Creative

Naomi Sutherland is a careers practitioner and educator specialising in helping students and recent graduates find their rightful careers. She has an MA in philosophy from Edinburgh, an MSc in politics from UCL, and is currently researching career development studies at Warwick University where she qualified in her field. Her research explores the psychology of learning and how learning wounds can play out in careers.