The Social Mobility Podcast

Kerry Dryburgh is bp’s EVP for People, Culture & Communications and the company’s chief human resources and communications officer. In this episode, Kerry shares her personal social mobility journey. From leaving school at sixteen, to becoming an architect of the employee experience at bp – influencing strategy, performance, culture, and transformation. Hear how her decision to take on an apprenticeship sparked a career that today influences people, programmes and policies in over 60 countries. And gain insights on how companies can help close the gap between potential and opportunity, while supporting the current and future workforce as they build skills for a lifetime. Your host is Tunde Banjoko OBE, founder of Making The Leap.

Peter Scott is the Global Co-Managing Partner, and Managing Partner EMEA of law firm Norton Rose Fulbright. Peter joined the firm as a trainee solicitor in 1997, and became a partner 10 years later. He was a member of the City of London Socio-economic diversity taskforce, a group of 30 cross-sector leaders aiming to enhance socio-economic diversity at senior levels across the UK's financial and professional service sectors, and a judge of the Women and Diversity in Law Awards.Your host is Tunde Banjoko OBE, founder of Making The Leap.

Paul Lewis is the Firmwide Managing Partner of one of the biggest law firms in the UK, Linklaters. He’s been at the firm since he joined as a trainee solicitor in 1998 and was one of their youngest Partners ever. With his Oxford Law degree and his success at Linklaters, you’d be forgiven for thinking Paul grew up in that world, but how he actually comes from a small Welsh village and went to comprehensive school.In this episode, Paul tells us how the leadership team at Linklaters all play a role in sponsoring diversity and inclusion, and how he’s introduced billable credits for those who do DEI on top of their day job. And why his first order of business if he was in charge of the country tomorrow would be to double teachers’ pay.Find out more about Paul and his work here.Your host is Tunde Banjoko OBE, founder of Making The Leap.

Matthew Crummack is the current CEO of Domestic & General, a firm you might have never heard of before, but that is present in all our homes. D&G is the UK's leading specialist warranty provider for kitchen appliances, TVs, and more. Matthew has over 25 years of experience working at companies including GoCompare, lastminute.com, Expedia, and Nestlé.In this episode, Matthew tells us how education changed his family’s trajectory. He talks about his focus on flexibility, diversity and inclusion as he took over D&G in 2021, and why creating an equitable environment is so good for business. And about some of the amazing initiatives he’s put in place over the years – from working with Code First Girls, to funding a scholarship for asylum seekers at Aston University.  Find out more about Matthew and his work here.Your host is Tunde Banjoko OBE, founder of Making The Leap.

Shirine Khoury-Haq is CEO of The Co-operative Group – the first woman to hold the position in the history of the business. Shirine is a powerhouse and has held significant leadership roles in both the US and the UK.  In this episode, Shirine tells us about climbing up the corporate ladder as a woman and her choice to be outspoken about her perceived difference in a world full of men. How she and Co-op foster diversity and inclusion for a more robust business. And she reminds us that these policies aren’t just for the sake of a few, but for the collective - they ensure everyone can bring their whole self to work. Find out more about Shirine and her work here.Your host is Tunde Banjoko OBE, founder of Making The Leap.

Lee Elliot Major OBE, the UK's first Professor of Social Mobility, shares his journey from a working-class background to academia. He discusses the importance of education and business in social mobility, advocating for social economic background as a protected characteristic under the Equalities Act.

Danuta Gray is the Chair of Direct Line Group and a Non-Executive Director of the fashion brand, Burberry. She started her career in the tech sector before holding a series of board roles. In this episode, Danuta explains how, despite her working-class background, she’s been given a number of opportunities which she credits for her success in business, and explains how she’s now working to pay that forward for others. She also explains how she is keen to get more women into leadership roles, and tells us about the work she’s doing to help businesses cater for neurodivergent people in the workplace. Find out more about Danuta and Direct Line Group here.Your host is Tunde Banjoko OBE, founder of Making The Leap.

Jon Lewis is CEO at consulting, transformation and digital services business Capita. Previously he was the CEO of Amec Foster Wheeler, and before that he had a 20-year career at Halliburton where he held a number of senior roles.In this episode, Jon explains why he’s always been passionate about meritocracy - why we in the UK need to start focussing more on potential instead of formal qualifications. He tells us how he’s fostered a strong, purpose-led culture in Capita since his arrival in 2017, and how this has become the company’s “north star” of how they operate. And he even offers invaluable advice for new CEOs too.Your host is Tunde Banjoko OBE, founder of Making The Leap.

Brian Duffy is the CEO of Watches of Switzerland. Previously, he served on several boards across the fashion, retail and sports sectors including several subsidiaries of Ralph Lauren. Brian is an ICAS Chartered Accountant and holds an Honorary Doctorate from Glasgow Caledonian University. Brian tells us about his childhood growing up on a council estate on the outskirts of Glasgow. He grew up with very little, but it was his drive and ambition to achieve more in life that got him to where he is today and believes others can achieve what they want to too. Brian also tells us about the Watches of Switzerland Foundation which launched a food bank support programme in 2020 in response to the pandemic and its ongoing work to support local communities through volunteering and fundraising. Your host is Tunde Banjoko OBE, founder of Making The Leap.

Dominic Carter is EVP, Publisher of The Sun, a role he’s only recently taken on, following his time as Chief Commercial Officer at parent company News UK. He’s also a Trustee of the charity NABS, the support organisation for the advertising and media industry. Born to a Nigerian mother and British father, Dominic comes from a working class background, and spent his early education in Nigeria before moving to boarding school in England. As an award-winning advocate for diversity and inclusion, Dominic explains why diversity matters to a business like The Sun, and why it should be reflected in all areas of journalism, from the makeup of the newsroom, to the way they write and the opportunities they offer. In 1991 Dominic became the first black display sales executive on a national news brand, and has seen a positive shift in attitudes towards diversity over the years. In this episode he discusses how a strong and considered diversity strategy can promote significant buy-in from staff, he explores the many programmes The Sun has implemented to advance equality, and he explains why you can and should drive for change no matter your position in your organisation. Your host is Tunde Banjoko OBE, founder of Making The Leap.