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
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.
During the expert session, Tash Koster-Thomas engages the audience through interactive exercises using the Mentimeter app, Q&A sessions, and live demonstrations.
- Recognizing Intersectionality Matters: Understanding how multiple forms of discrimination or inequality compound, such as race, gender, disability, and sexuality, is essential for creating an inclusive society.
- Supporting Marginalized Women: Using your power, privilege, and influence to uplift underrepresented groups, continuously educating yourself, being an upstander, and advocating for change are all crucial steps in supporting marginalized women.
- Inclusive Conversations on Gender Equity: Expanding conversations beyond just women's issues, recognizing men's experiences, dealing with ambiguity, and approaching situations with facts and data contribute to genuine gender equity discussions.
In this expert session, Tash Koster-Thomas, a leading voice in gender equity and intersectionality, emphasized the importance of understanding and addressing how multiple forms of discrimination or inequality can compound and create unique experiences for individuals based on their intersecting identities.
Tash began by sharing statistics that illustrate the intersectionality of race and gender in earnings: White women earn an average of 13.6% more than white men, but a black woman earns 20.5% less than a white man, and a Latina woman earns 46.8% less than a white man. These disparities highlight the importance of recognizing how race and gender intersect to create distinct experiences for women in the labor market.
Next, Tash discussed intersectionality's impact on maternal health. Women with disabilities are three times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth than women without disabilities. Moreover, black women in the United States are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. These statistics demonstrate how race and disability or race and womanhood intersect to create unique challenges that may not be fully addressed by focusing on one identity at a time.
Tash then emphasized the significance of intersectionality in leadership roles. Only 4% of executive positions are held by black women, and only 1% of Fortune 500 companies have CEOs who are black women. The lack of representation in leadership positions further compounds the disadvantage faced by some women due to their intersecting identities.
To create a more equitable and inclusive society, Tash urged support for marginalized women in various ways, especially for those who hold privileged identities. She suggested being an ally by using one's power, privilege, and influence to support underrepresented groups, continuously educating oneself about the experiences of marginalized communities, speaking out against biased systems and policies, creating sponsorship programs, mentorship opportunities, and leadership development initiatives tailored to marginalized women, addressing hidden biases in hiring practices, providing safe reporting mechanisms, and supporting self-advocacy, networking, and participation in leadership programs for underrepresented women.
Tash also encouraged acknowledging the importance of intersectionality and individual experiences, listening to and including the voices of marginalized communities, making small daily actions towards equity, and valuing visibility. She emphasized that supporting gender equity requires recognizing and understanding men's experiences as well. For genuine conversations on intersectionality, Tash advises dealing with ambiguity and being curious when encountering differences, focusing on behavior rather than trying to change opinions, utilizing resources like HR and anonymous speak-up tools, and speaking up in a non-confrontational manner for managers with unconscious biases.
Throughout the session, Tash encouraged active listening, awareness of microaggressions, supporting each other, expanding the conversation beyond just women's issues, and acknowledging the challenges faced by men in areas like mental health and paternity leave. The expert session concluded with a reminder that women can be stronger allies for one another and an invitation to the next session.
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.
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.