For people leaders and HR
You Can’t Be What You Can’t See
Representation done well is the difference between a poster and a practice.
Marian Wright Edelman put it plainly: you cannot be what you cannot see. Representation in leadership is the practical difference between a workplace that promises inclusion and one that actually produces it. The catch is that representation done carelessly looks a lot like tokenism, and tokenism does real harm to the people it claims to help. If you really want to understand the concept of representation, try my book All About Yvie: Into the Oddity.
If you’d like to build on this topic beyond the keynote, you can learn more about how I work with organizations on consulting engagements.
Trailer
See it in ninety seconds
Trailer
A short trailer for this talk lands here. Speaking feedback and a longer sample appear below.
Overview
What genuine representation requires, and how to avoid the trap of doing it badly
Representation is one of the most misunderstood ideas in DEIA. Some teams treat it as a counting exercise. Others sidestep it entirely because they are worried about getting it wrong. Both approaches have costs.
This keynote separates representation from diversity, names what genuine representation actually looks like in a workplace, and walks through the concrete actions leaders can take, at the hiring stage, in development programmes, and at the leadership table, without sliding into tokenism.
This is the talk for leaders who want their people to genuinely see themselves in the room, and to know the room was built with real intention.
What clients say
From the organizations that booked this talk
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Michael provided our organization with amazing insights into how we can all make our workplace and our world more open, equal and considerate. He brought a strong idea of what an inclusive workplace is, fair, supportive and respectful to all within one event. Bringing definition to belonging was his drive and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Michael to other organizations looking to enhance their inclusiveness, equity and diversity functions.
Giselle Bodkin Chief Inclusion Equity & Diversity Officer BDO
Verified attendee feedback
What the rooms said
Combined, response-weighted scores from every delivery of this keynote, collected independently through Talkadot.
- 97%Engaging
- 95%Informative
- 95%Memorable
- 95%Actionable
- A light and impactful presentation on the human and business cases for creating intentionality behind a plan to bring representation into your organization. Attendee
- Engaging, informative, candid presentation. Michael keeps it real and empowers actionable takeaways to implement in the workplace. Attendee
- Dealing with work and life struggles it becomes extremely difficult to be motivated and want to succeed. The data, the explanations opened up my mind and understanding to see how one or even diverse people can succeed up the corporate ladder Attendee
Ten-minute speaking sample
Watch a longer sample
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Frequently asked
Quick answers before you reach out
How long is this keynote?
Sixty minutes is the standard, and it is adjustable in either direction. Tell me the slot and I will make it work.
Can it be delivered virtually?
Yes. The structure and the audience interaction are the same in both formats. Virtual delivery works on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, or whatever platform your team is already using.
Who is this talk for?
Built for people managers, HR teams, and leadership groups. It also lands well with broader leadership audiences and anyone thinking seriously about what representation actually requires.
Can the content be customized for our audience?
Yes. Every booking starts with a prep call to tailor the examples, language, and case studies to your sector, your audience, and the moment your organization is in. Customization is part of the speaking fee, not an add-on.
How do we book Michael for this talk?
Send a note through the contact page with your event date, audience, format, and budget range. You will hear back within two business days with availability, a fee, and a short note on fit.
Bring me to your stage
Tell me about the event, the audience, and what you want people to leave thinking about. I will come back with a short note on fit, format, and what a strong version of this looks like for your room.