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
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.
During the expert session, Tash Koster-Thomas engages the audience through interactive exercises using the Mentimeter app, Q&A sessions, and live demonstrations.
- Embracing Diversity Beyond Stereotypes: Understanding that neurodivergent individuals possess a wide range of skills and interests beyond their conditions is crucial for creating inclusive workplaces.
- Accessible Accommodations for All: Debunking the myth that accommodations for employees with disabilities are costly and promoting normalization of these practices in the workplace.
- Breaking Down Barriers to Support: Acknowledging the challenges preventing individuals from asking for support, such as lack of information and stigma, and implementing strategies to reduce these barriers through communication, clear accessibility, and psychological safety in the workplace.
In this expert session, Tash Koster-Thomas, an equity diversity and inclusion consultant, discusses the importance of allyship for disability and neurodiversity. Tash begins by setting up a respectful and inclusive learning environment.
Tash shares her passion for fostering inclusivity, emphasizing the significance of creating a culture that values differences and promotes open dialogue around disability and neurodiversity. She defines an ally as someone who advocates for the equality of marginalized groups they are not part of, encouraging everyone to embrace inter-allyship.
Tash explores the barriers to allyship, including common misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding disabilities and neurodivergence. She highlights that everyone can be an active ally for various identities. Tash then focuses on building alliances in workplaces, discussing the importance of recognizing and appreciating the diverse skills and strengths of individuals with disabilities and neurodivergent conditions.
Throughout the session, participants engage in activities to explore myths about accommodations, communication preferences, and workplace barriers preventing individuals from seeking support. Tash addresses these misconceptions and highlights practical solutions to reduce these barriers, such as clear communication, normalizing mistakes, advocacy, and psychological safety.
The session also covers the importance of being mindful of language and assumptions when creating inclusive workplaces for individuals with disabilities and neurodiversity. Tash shares her personal experiences and encourages active listening, empathy, and collaboration to create a more equitable environment.
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-reflection, 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.
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.