Cultural Cookbook Volume 8 - Smashing Stereotypes

I’m Vicki Franz and I run the Inclusion & Belonging book club at AXA alongside my day job as an Operational Excellence Leader. We read books that challenge our ways of thinking and encourage conversation about equality, diversity and equity. So here’s my recipe for smashing stereotypes, both in work and in wider society. 

Ingredients

• A safe space to learn 
• Freedom to ask questions 
• Tackling challenging topics 
• Questioning what you see in the media 
• Making practical changes 

Method

Step 1: Create a safe space to ask questions 

Our book club focuses on stories that smash stereotypes and challenge people’s assumptions about topics including race, disability, gender roles, and much more. We hope to introduce new ways of thinking around these topics to help people be better allies to our colleagues.  

It’s a safe and brave space for people to explore inclusion and belonging - so there’s a lot of asking questions, people sharing their lived experiences to help educate and fill in any knowledge gaps that people may have on a certain topic. 

It encourages us not to shy away from challenging topics. I want people to feel empowered to ask questions and use that curiosity to learn more and be able to advocate for their colleagues’ needs. 

Step 2: Challenge what you’re told 

When we read “Demystifying Disability” by Emily Ladau, it was so eye-opening. It made me more critical of how the media represents marginalised communities. I realised how prejudiced our society can be and how much prejudice goes unnoticed or unchallenged. So now I’m more careful about the news sources and information that I use when I’m trying to learn new things. 

Step 3: Use what you learn to make positive changes  

When we finish a book, I want us to ask ‘so what?’ — what can we each take away from what we read to help us be a better inclusion ally? It's also important to end our discussions on a positive note so that we focus on solutions and think about what we could do differently for our AXA colleagues – but also across the wider society too. 

Step 4: Learn about your colleagues’ experiences 

Our books help draw attention to the daily lives, struggles (and wins!) that our colleagues experience, and we work with our Employee Networks to highlight issues that are relevant to them. Our employee networks are: 

• REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage): raising awareness about the value of ethnicity in the workplace and the importance of a diverse workforce 

• ABLE: raising awareness of disability, neurodiversity and mental health in the workplace  

• Pride: providing support and networking opportunities for our LGBT+ colleagues and allies 

• Carers@AXA: space for our colleagues with caring responsibilities to meet, support each other and share knowledge  

• Balance: promoting gender equality and supporting working families.  

• Social Mobility network: our newest network, aiming to bring the topic of social mobility to the fore.  

Step 5: Surround yourself with enthusiastic people 

There’s so much positive energy around diversity and inclusion at AXA, which helps us stay at the top of the diversity, equality, equity and inclusion game. Without exception, the people I’ve met in the inclusion and belonging roles at AXA are passionate about what they do, and the energy they generate is infectious. 

Seeing my colleagues come together to swap advice and be present for each other makes me really proud to be a part of this community. Not every company enables and encourages these types of conversations. I’m surrounded by such open, wonderful and inspirational people, who empower me to think bigger and better – how amazing is it that I can bring my passions into my everyday working life and make a difference! 

Bon appétit!