Tash Koster-Thomas
Tash Koster-Thomas (she/her) is an Inclusion and Diversity Consultant, presenter, speaker, and LGBTQ+ Activist who stands at the forefront of transformative conversations. Leveraging her identity and lived experience as a Black queer woman, Tash champions the cause of diversity and inclusion in both society and the workplace.
Tash understands that embracing diversity is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage. She is committed to guiding organizations through transformative journeys that go beyond compliance, fostering cultures that champion diversity, equity, and inclusion at every level.
- Recording: Yes
- Language: English
- Duration: 45 min / 15 min
Advancing Equity: A Call to Action for Anti-Racism
In this expert session, Tash Koster-Thomas guides participants through an exploration of racial equity. She begins by creating an inclusive environment and using a scenario to prompt reflection on organizational experiences. Tash clarifies key terms such as POC, BIPOC, and racialized groups, and stresses that race is a social construct upheld by systems of power. She discusses how women of color face compounded discrimination and how media reinforces harmful stereotypes. Tash encourages acknowledging privilege, engaging in difficult conversations with empathy, challenging unconscious bias, and viewing DEI as essential daily practice.
During the expert session, Tash Koster-Thomas engages the audience through interactive exercises using the Mentimeter app, Q&A sessions, and live demonstrations.
- Broaden Your Understanding of Discrimination: Gain a deeper insight into the complexities of race and discrimination by clarifying key concepts and recognizing the interplay of various identities and experiences.
- Engage in Conversations with Empathy: Learn how to approach difficult conversations about race with empathy, acknowledging emotions and being open to learning from others.
- Challenge Unconscious Bias Everyday: Discover practical strategies for identifying and addressing unconscious bias in your daily life, such as using 'flip it' questions or creating psychologically safe spaces.
In this expert session, Tash Koster-Thomas, a renowned diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant, leads participants through an insightful discussion on advancing equity.
Tash sets the stage with a thought-provoking scenario, inviting attendees to reflect upon how the experience of a hypothetical new employee named EO from Nigeria would compare to their own organizations. This open-ended question encourages deep introspection and self-reflection, setting the tone for an engaging exploration of racial equity.
Throughout the session, Tash emphasizes the importance of understanding language and its role in addressing racism and discrimination. She clarifies various terms related to race and identities, such as People of Color (POC), Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), minoritized groups, and racialized individuals.
To further ignite the conversation, Tash asks attendees to share one word that comes to mind when they think about racism. This simple yet powerful activity elicits honest responses and initiates a dialogue on the topic. Tash also shares her own insights, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging biases and being open-minded.
The expert explains that race is a social construct used to categorize groups based on physical traits, such as skin color, facial features, and hair texture. Society has historically treated these categories as biologically significant, but there is no scientific evidence supporting this notion. The speaker emphasizes that racism is the system of power and oppression that results from these categorizations.
Tash shares statistics illustrating how women of color are disproportionately affected by various forms of discrimination and feeling compelled to change their appearance or presentation to be seen as acceptable leaders.
The expert highlights the significant role media plays in shaping our perceptions and reinforcing stereotypes. They provide examples of subtle ways media influences our understanding of black and brown people, such as portrayal of certain hairstyles and language used to describe defendants in trials. The speaker also notes that the movie industry has a considerable impact on our collective consciousness by influencing how we perceive and represent people from diverse backgrounds.
Tash shares her personal journey towards understanding racial inequality and the significance of listening and learning from the experiences of people of color. She encourages individuals to recognize their privilege and use it to support those impacted by harmful actions or words, even if unintentionally delivered as jokes. Tash also emphasizes acknowledging emotional labor during times of social unrest.
In addressing the current climate's focus on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), Tash emphasizes that DEI is not an additional task but rather a part of everyday work. By creating psychologically safe spaces where individuals can be their authentic selves and practicing self-awareness and consciousness of stereotypes, one can contribute to fostering an inclusive environment.
Throughout the session, Tash recommends various resources for further learning about understanding the black experience, recognizing bias and stereotypes, and addressing structural racism. She closes the session by encouraging everyone to continue the conversation and do their part in promoting equity and inclusion.
Advancing Gender Equity Through Inclusive Workplace Practices
This session focuses on exploring the systemic barriers that contribute to gender disparities in the workplace. It emphasises the importance of creating inclusive policies and practices that ensure equal opportunities for all genders. The discussion includes real-world examples, statistical data, and personal stories to highlight the pervasive nature of gender bias. Participants engage in interactive activities to develop actionable strategies aimed at promoting gender equity in their own organisation.
Inclusive Leadership: Succeeding Across Cultures
This session equips leaders with the knowledge and tools to build strong, respectful relationships across cultural boundaries. Participants will explore cultural dimensions, communication styles, and leadership approaches that vary across global contexts. Through interactive activities, case studies, and self-refelction, leaders will gain insight into their own cultural perspectives and learn strategies to bridge differences, foster inclusivity, and drive results in diverse environments. By the end of the session, leaders will be prepared to lead more effectively and inclusively across cultures, promoting collaboration and innovation.
Building Inclusive Workplaces: Allyship for Disability and Neurodiversity
This session is designed to empower participants with the knowledge and tools to become effective allies for colleagues with disabilities and are neurodiverse in the workplace. Being an ally means actively creating a supportive, accessible, and equitable environment where all employees can succeed. We will explore practical strategies that make a meaningful difference, from rethinking communication and accessibility to challenging biases and fostering a culture of inclusivity.
Advancing Equity: A Call to Action for Anti-Racism
This session focuses on understanding, empathy, and action. Racism permeates our society in both subtle and overt ways, profoundly impacting individuals and communities. Recognizing this is the first step toward meaningful change. We will explore how biases shape our perceptions, how stereotypes reinforce inequality, and how systems of oppression persist. By fostering a deeper awareness of these realities, we can begin to dismantle harmful structures and promote a culture of inclusivity and equity—where every person is valued and respected, regardless of race or ethnicity.
Intersectionality - Including ALL Women
The session explores how overlapping identities such as race, gender, sexuality, disability, culture, and age shape women’s experiences at work. Tash Koster-Thomas explains how these intersections create unique challenges that are often overlooked in traditional gender-equity conversations. She emphasizes the need for better allyship and support—both between women and from wider teams—and outlines practical steps organisations can take to create fairer, more inclusive environments where all women can thrive.
Women Empowerment in the Workplace
In this session, Tash explores women’s empowerment in the workplace through an intersectional lens. She highlights common challenges like the gender pay gap and lack of leadership representation, while noting additional barriers faced by Black, Latina, disabled, LGBTQ+, and older women. Microaggressions, such as being interrupted or dismissed, can undermine confidence and career growth. Tash recommends self-advocacy, tracking achievements, negotiating salaries, and building diverse mentor networks. Allies, including men, should recognize intersecting challenges and support inclusive policies.
This expert session focused on understanding LGBTQ+ language and terminology and highlighted how important inclusive communication is. Participants learned that identity is complex and personal, and that respectful, accurate language helps create a sense of belonging. The session emphasized the value of recognizing diversity within the LGBTQ+ community and staying open to evolving terminology. It also introduced the concept of intersectionality, encouraging participants to consider how different aspects of identity can shape people’s experiences. A key message was the importance of creating psychologically safe spaces, promoting inclusive practices, and challenging discrimination.
LGBTQIA+ Inclusion for Advocates and Allies
This expert session highlights the importance of increasing awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals worldwide. It emphasizes how legal discrimination, microaggressions, overt exclusion, and lack of representation can harm mental well-being and create barriers to safety and belonging. The session encourages participants to reflect on their role as allies by educating themselves, challenging discrimination, and supporting inclusive environments. Key to meaningful allyship is recognizing personal biases, listening respectfully, and using inclusive language. Tash also suggests learning through accessible resources such as media, social platforms, and respectful conversations without placing the burden on LGBTQIA+ people. Overall, the session serves as a call to action to help build a more inclusive, supportive, and affirming society for all.
Psychological Safety in Action: Creating Safer, Stronger Teams
This expert session highlights the importance of increasing awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals worldwide. It emphasizes how legal discrimination, microaggressions, overt exclusion, and lack of representation can harm mental well-being and create barriers to safety and belonging. The session encourages participants to reflect on their role as allies by educating themselves, challenging discrimination, and supporting inclusive environments. Key to meaningful allyship is recognizing personal biases, listening respectfully, and using inclusive language. Tash also suggests learning through accessible resources such as media, social platforms, and respectful conversations without placing the burden on LGBTQIA+ people. Overall, the session serves as a call to action to help build a more inclusive, supportive, and affirming society for all.