Keep It Simple Training Company [KISTC] is a provider of bespoke training services which helps create anti-racist environments in the workplace. This work comes in the form of visits and CPD certified training courses among other interventions.
Its founder and director, Grace Graham, recently appeared on The Leaders Council Podcast to talk about race, and she shared her perspective that the deep-rooted social inequalities exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside the death of George Floyd in the US at the hands of the police, have given rise to new discussions about racial equality.
Graham said: “A lot of the work I do is online content and that can be accessed 24/7. The more bespoke work involves going directly into organisations and working with them either in the long-term with comprehensive programmes or conducting short-term work like running workshops for them. The longer-term stuff can include year-long programmes to get the whole organisation tuned in to find their anti-racist voice and focus everyone on driving toward inclusion and belonging.”
KISTC has been in operation for eight years. For much of that time, Graham has been approaching businesses in pursuit of her work. However, since the pandemic, her caseload has increased significantly with more businesses wanting to establish ways of holding more open dialogue on racism and equality.
Graham explained: “When the pandemic hit and shortly thereafter, we saw the death of George Floyd, I found that I was suddenly doing a lot more work around anti-racism because there were a lot of conversations in workplaces where people wanted to talk about race but found it difficult. Plenty of organisations were being self-reflective and asking whether they were being fair on race, and were looking at their own equality, diversity and inclusion policies. Many very honestly said that they weren’t sure how to implement such policies, which is where I was asked to go in and help. Now, I don’t tend to approach companies to go and work, they are often referred to me.
“The death of George Floyd was a catalyst for everyone to start talking a lot more seriously and openly about race. However, the disproportionate amounts of black and brown people dying or being seriously ill with Covid has also opened the conversation on race, too. It has really made people think that we have to talk about how we look after people.”
Indeed, Graham has also seen first-hand the effects of the pandemic on people’s mindfulness of race through her own personal experiences.
“My doctor called me one day about one of my own personal medical conditions and was about to prescribe me some medication. Upon realising I was a black Caribbean woman; my doctor said that the typical medication that would be prescribed would not work as effectively in treating me and so my prescription was changed. This is just one example of how by being aware of people’s ethnicities, one can be more supportive. Practitioners and professionals are now becoming more aware that some groups need certain types of treatment.”
This positive trajectory is also moving into the corporate world. Graham highlighted that through her work, she had seen many business leaders looking to act more proactively in supporting ethnic minority individuals in progressing through their organisations and ensure they are not barred from accessing higher roles or positions of leadership.
An optimistic Graham said: “There is a heightened realisation now within organisations that certain ethnic groups need more help getting into positions of leadership. We are seeing a lot of businesses asking how they can support ethnic minorities into getting leadership positions. It is about equality, equity and inclusion, making sure things are fair all around.
“It is currently the leaders I am speaking to, so the CEOs, company directors and heads of department, that are really pursuing this change. They want to ensure that all their staff are getting the support they need to move up through the organisation and feel like they belong.”
Listen to the full interview with Grace Graham on The Leaders Council Podcast below.
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
