Helping the University of Leeds strengthen its Race Equality work through listening
The challenge
As part of its ongoing work towards the Race Equality Charter, the University of Leeds recognised that meaningful progress on race equity depends on how well organisations listen — particularly to lived experience, challenge and discomfort.
The Race Equality Charter Institutional Self-Assessment Team wanted to strengthen its shared understanding of what good organisational listening looks like in practice, and how listening can be embedded into decision-making, culture and change — not treated as a one-off consultation exercise.
Our approach
Listening as a Leadership Capability
We helped the Race Equality Charter Institutional Self-Assessment Team strengthen its shared understanding of what good organisational listening looks like in practice, and how listening can be embedded into decision-making, culture and change — not treated as a one-off consultation exercise.
What we delivered
Two interactive half-day listening workshops
Frameworks for understanding and assessing organisational listening
Practical examples to support race equity and inclusion work
Space for reflection, dialogue and shared learning within the REC team
The impact
The workshops helped the Institutional Self-Assessment Team deepen its understanding of the role listening plays in creating a racially diverse and inclusive university community.
Participants left with a clearer, shared language around listening, greater confidence in applying listening principles to their Race Equality Charter work, and practical frameworks they could continue to use beyond the sessions.
In February 2026 University of Leeds achieved a Bronze Race Equality Charter award from Advance HE, recognising the depth and integrity to understand and commit to address racial inequalities.
What our client said
“Ann-Marie and Howard delivered a thought-provoking workshop on Leading the Listening Organisation to the Race Equality Charter Institutional Self-Assessment Team here at the University of Leeds.
As we continue our expedition towards creating a racially diverse and inclusive community at the university, we know only too well how critically important listening will be in that endeavour.
Ann-Marie and Howard shared deep insights, examples and frameworks that will serve us well on that expedition and beyond. I can’t thank you enough, and I look forward to working with you both in the future.”
Dr Kendi Guantai, University Dean for EDI.”