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(he/him) Karim Karim El Oteify is the Founder and CEO of The Wheels of Impact, specializing in DEI, communication, and change management to foster employee engagement and inclusivity. Through storytelling, tailored workshops, and consultancy, he combines empathy, expertise, and facilitation to drive meaningful transformation. Originally from Cairo and now based in the Netherlands for over six years, Karim’s work reflects his commitment to sustainable change and equity. He founded Assist NL to support the international community and led ErasmusX’s communications, amplifying its team’s diversity as a strength. He also contributed to Diverse Leaders in Tech, promoting representation through community building. Karim El Oteify Looking for a Guest Speake r ? Get in touch Our Recent Articles... DEI Trends in 2025: Practitioner Wellbeing and Career Sustainability. UNLOCK | Queer Leadership 101 with Pius Kennedy Harnessing Queer Joy as an Act of Resistance. Create Space for Change. We work with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke DEI solutions. Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce insights and craft content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Discover our bespoke corporate solutions... Work with us

(he/him) Lee Lee has 17 years’ experience in the media industry, including roles at dentsu, LADbible, and JCDecaux. Lee is a vocal advocate for change within the media and advertising industry, and supports clients in making the necessary changes to be more representative of the UK population. In 2022, Lee won the IPA Speakers’ Cup for his speech on classism in the advertising industry, and was named by The Media Leader as one of its 2022 Future Leaders. During his tenure as co-chair of LGBTQ+ ERGPROUD, dentsu UK was named in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index Top 100. Lee Mabey Looking for a Guest Speake r ? Get in touch Our Recent Articles... DEI Trends in 2025: Practitioner Wellbeing and Career Sustainability. UNLOCK | Queer Leadership 101 with Pius Kennedy Harnessing Queer Joy as an Act of Resistance. Create Space for Change. We work with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke DEI solutions. Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce insights and craft content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Discover our bespoke corporate solutions... Work with us

Transmisogyny Discrimination that falls at the intersection of transphobia and misogyny, as experienced by trans women and trans feminine people. < Back to Glossary

he/they Jamie Jamie is a trans and non-binary financial adviser and founder of True Self Wealth, which provides specialist financial planning to the LGBTQ+ community. He is on a personal mission to encourage people to take charge of their money by helping people one on one with their finances and providing financial wellbeing workshops. He has been working as a financial planner for over 6 years, and worked in financial services for over 13 years. He is the founder of Trans Support Hub CIC, running clothes swaps with a focus on helping people explore their gender identity. Jamie runs queer business networking groups in Manchester and Leeds. Jamie Lowe Looking for a Guest Speake r ? Get in touch Our Recent Articles... DEI Trends in 2025: Practitioner Wellbeing and Career Sustainability. UNLOCK | Queer Leadership 101 with Pius Kennedy Harnessing Queer Joy as an Act of Resistance. Create Space for Change. We work with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke DEI solutions. Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce insights and craft content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Discover our bespoke corporate solutions... Work with us

Pansexual Pansexuality is sexual, romantic, or emotional attraction towards people regardless of their sex or gender identity. Pansexual people may refer to themselves as 'gender-blind', asserting that gender and sex are not determining factors in their romantic or sexual attraction to others. < Back to Glossary

(he/they) Jason Jason, a queer non-binary singer/songwriter from Hong Kong now based in London, has a diverse range of passions. In addition to creating hauntingly beautiful dark pop music, they are a cabaret performer, diversity and inclusion consultant, and youth worker who supports LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness across the UK. Jason also models for commercial campaigns, collaborating with brands to create inclusive and captivating campaigns that represent and celebrate diversity. Jason can offer insightful perspectives on the intersections of art and social justice, and the importance of creating safe and inclusive spaces. Through their music, performances, and advocacy work, Jason is committed to empowering others and fostering positive change. Jason Kwan Looking for a Guest Speake r ? Get in touch Our Recent Articles... DEI Trends in 2025: Practitioner Wellbeing and Career Sustainability. UNLOCK | Queer Leadership 101 with Pius Kennedy Harnessing Queer Joy as an Act of Resistance. Create Space for Change. We work with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke DEI solutions. Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce insights and craft content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Discover our bespoke corporate solutions... Work with us

(he/they) José Luis José Luis is a philologist with a Ph.D. in Modern Languages and Gender Studies with a 20-year experience in international education as a teacher, team leader and academic manager. He is passionate about the teaching-learning process, as well as cinema, music and musical theatre. Some of his areas of interest are the LGBTQ+ representation and the works of pioneer women in culture, as well as leadership and team management. Growing up queer has helped him follow the yellow brick road to put diversity at the center of everything he does in the education field. José Luis Espinosa Sales Looking for a Guest Speake r ? Get in touch Our Recent Articles... DEI Trends in 2025: Practitioner Wellbeing and Career Sustainability. UNLOCK | Queer Leadership 101 with Pius Kennedy Harnessing Queer Joy as an Act of Resistance. Create Space for Change. We work with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke DEI solutions. Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce insights and craft content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Discover our bespoke corporate solutions... Work with us

(she/her) Kari Kari is a Venezuelan vocalist that pursues dance floor liberation by performing vogue, reggaeton and rap through her organic vision. Kari was interested in music from a young age, participating in dance festivals in her native Venezuela and performing in Madrid's pride parade for 4 years consecutively. Her artistry seeks to establish a radical mark in a male-dominated genre. Kari can speak on topics including Language & Terminology, Leadership, Workplace Allyship, Body Positivity, Self-empowerment, Culture Change, Community Building and Activism. Kari Serrano Looking for a Guest Speake r ? Get in touch Our Recent Articles... DEI Trends in 2025: Practitioner Wellbeing and Career Sustainability. UNLOCK | Queer Leadership 101 with Pius Kennedy Harnessing Queer Joy as an Act of Resistance. Create Space for Change. We work with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke DEI solutions. Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce insights and craft content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Discover our bespoke corporate solutions... Work with us

Multicultural Competence A process of embracing diversity and learning about people from other cultural backgrounds. The key element to becoming more culturally competent is respect for the ways that others live and an openness to learn from them. < Back to Glossary

Deepen your knowledge and understanding of LGBTQ+ identities, experiences and allyship with this self-navigated FREE LGBTQ+ inclusion online course and LGBT training programme designed to encourage knowledge building around issues relating to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI). We combine informational knowledge sharing, research, resources and real-life experiences. Who am I? Home page LGBTQ+ Inclusion EXPLORE QUEER IDENTITIES, EXPERIENCES & ALLYSHIP. FREE LGBTQ+ INCLUSION ONLINE TRAINING Our free LGBTQ+ Inclusion online course is designed to help you deepen your knowledge and understanding of LGBTQIA+ identities, experiences and allyship. Start now Allyship Programmes Ready to get started? Check out the course overview and content below for more detailed information. Start now MODULE 1 DEI Core Concepts. In this section, we cover core concepts relating to inclusion and determining LGBTQIA+ identities, creating a solid foundation that you can build on. Lesson 1: The Importance of Language. Lesson 2: Community Through Belonging. Lesson 3: The Power of Inclusion. Lesson 4: LGBTQ+ Initialisms. Lesson 5: The Significance of Symbols. Lesson 6: Determining LGBTQ+ Identities. MODULE 2 LGBTQIA+ Identities. In this section, we examine identities that fall under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella and provide space for participants to reflect on how they relate to their own identity. Lesson 1: What is Identity? Lesson 2: Orientation & Attraction. Lesson 3: LGBTQ+ Identities (Part 1) Lesson 4: What is Gender Identity? Lesson 5: LGBTQ+ Identities (Part 2) Lesson 6a: Gender Transition. Lesson 6b: Pronouns & Misgendering. MODULE 3 Intersectional Experiences. In this section, we'll spotlight Queer experiences across history, different global and social contexts and within the workplace, considering both the challenges and joys of being LGBTQ+. Lesson 1a: Systems of Oppression. Lesson 1b: Intersectionality. Lesson 2a: Representation & Visibility. Lesson 2b: Authenticity & Role Models. Lesson 3: Queer Histories. Lesson 4a: Queer Experiences - Global. Lesson 4b: Queer Experiences - Workplaces. Lesson 4c: Queer Experiences - Media. Lesson 5: Queer Joy & Queer Futures. MODULE 4 Queer Allyship. In this section, we tie together the foundational knowledge from the first three modules and explore how to be an ally to LGBTQ+ individuals in your immediate circles, across society and even globally. Lesson 1: What is Allyship? Lesson 2: Power & Privilege. Lesson 3a: Unconscious & Implicit Bias. Lesson 3b: Microaggressions. Lesson 4: Organisational Allyship. Lesson 5: Individual Allyship. Lesson 6: Action Planning. Your hosts Each lesson will be hosted by one of our LGBTQ+ Inclusion specialists, Diego Lazaro or Yassine Senghor. Yassine Senghor (ANY PRONOUNS) Yassine is a DEI consultant, writer, facilitator, mentor, speaker, sensitivity coach and podcaster with expertise in LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion, building community spaces and creating anti-racist workplaces. Diego Lazaro (HE/HIM) Diego is a DEI consultant and passionate about bringing positive change within organisations and his purpose is to work towards improving LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace and society as a whole. Guest Speakers Yassine and Diego are joined by a range of guests from the WCS Speaker Collective, who expand on key themes within the course by sharing elements of their lived experience, personal and professional life stories. Kevin Hawkins (HE/HIM) Sanjukta Moorthy (SHE/HER) Elliot Theodore (HE/HIM) Cindy Nehme (SHE/HER) Our Platform. All of our courses are delivered via WCS | Campus , our online community learning platform and social hub. Want to know more? For information on bespoke corporate packages or multi-user licensing please get in touch. Enquire now Any other Questions? If you're looking to develop resources for your business or organisation, we offer a variety of bespoke solutions designed to honour and elevate the diverse voices and perspectives of marginalised communities. To book a free consultation, please email hello@wecreatespace.co 💌. Get in touch

Solidarity If someone shows solidarity, they show unwavering unity and support for another group or person. < Back to Glossary

Lesbian A woman (or non-binary person) who has a particular romantic, emotional and/or sexual attraction towards women. < Back to Glossary

Gaslighting A deliberate attempt to undermine a victim’s sense of reality or sanity. In a work context, it usually means behaviours that undermine the success, self-confidence, self-esteem or wellbeing of the target. For people in underrepresented groups, it is more likely to occur, with more severe and harmful cumulative effects. Tactics can include withholding (critical information, meeting invitations, silent treatment), isolation (exclusion, causing conflict with coworkers), and discrediting (consistently shooting down the target’s ideas, ignoring or taking credit for them). < Back to Glossary

(he/him) Diego Diego is a Diversity & Inclusion consultant and Founder of Be Diverse, a firm that provides LGBT+ awareness and strategy trainings to companies. In the past, Diego has also been collaborating with COGAM, one of Spain's oldest LGBT+ NGOs, delivering over 100 workshops to top multinational companies such as IBM, Vodafone and AXA. Diego is fluent in three languages and has lived in Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany and Spain. He's passionate about bringing positive change within organisations and his purpose is to work towards improving LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace and society as a whole. Diego Lazaro Looking for a Guest Speake r ? Get in touch Our Recent Articles... DEI Trends in 2025: Practitioner Wellbeing and Career Sustainability. UNLOCK | Queer Leadership 101 with Pius Kennedy Harnessing Queer Joy as an Act of Resistance. Create Space for Change. We work with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke DEI solutions. Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce insights and craft content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Discover our bespoke corporate solutions... Work with us

Ethnicity and Race Ethnicity is a term used to describe a way of categorising people based on a range of different characteristics, ranging from the geographical region they are from, their faith/religion, as well as the language they speak, heritage and customs. Race is a term used to describe a way of categorising people based on various physical characteristics such as skin colour and ascribing social meaning and significance to that group. People’s perception of Race in society is heavily influenced by internalised biases - by how we are taught from a young age to perceive people of races different to our own, by society and the people around us. Equally, it is important to acknowledge the negative effects that racial prejudice and discrimination/racism has. We as allies should all work hard to educate ourselves to be aware of why and how other’s life experiences may be different to our own, and how this can impact the way that people move through the world. (See: Biracial/Multiracial and Racism) < Back to Glossary

(he/him) Vaneet Vaneet is an Indian bisexual man born and raised in South London, who has made it his mission to raise awareness and visibility for the bisexual community. As a software engineer, writer, and public speaker, Vaneet founded the viral campaign #BisexualMenExist in 2020, and has since appeared on numerous panels and delivered talks to various companies. Vaneet's work has been published in Men's Health , Stonewall, GMFA, Metro UK, OutLife and Unicorn Magazine , and he is a contributor to The Bi-ble: New Testimonials, The Ampersand Project, and The Sex Agenda . Bisexual Men Exist is his first book, an empowering guide for bisexual men, providing personal stories, advice and support. Vaneet is also an advocate for intersectionality, anti-racism, and mental health awareness, and is passionate about creating safe and inclusive spaces for marginalized communities. Vaneet Mehta Looking for a Guest Speake r ? Get in touch Our Recent Articles... DEI Trends in 2025: Practitioner Wellbeing and Career Sustainability. UNLOCK | Queer Leadership 101 with Pius Kennedy Harnessing Queer Joy as an Act of Resistance. Create Space for Change. We work with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke DEI solutions. Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce insights and craft content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Discover our bespoke corporate solutions... Work with us

(he/him) Freddie Freddie is a songwriter and performer hailing from Bristol. Known for his thoughtful and playful lyricism, he creates catchy melodies and offers nuanced accounts of human emotions in his music, drawing from his love of pop, folk, and jazz. Freddie's unique style of bedroom soul-pop also reflects his passion for poetry. He made his music debut in the summer of 2021, and since then, his work has garnered critical acclaim, receiving airplay on BBC Radio 1 , Radio 6 Music , and making it to the cover of Spotify 's editorial playlist 'Transcend' for four months. Freddie has made a name for himself in the live music scene, performing at various venues and festivals across the UK, including The Great Escape Festival , Glastonbury , 2000 Trees , Bristol, and Birmingham Pride Main Stages, as well as selling out hometown shows. His incredible talent has also earned him recognition as one of PRS 's Keychange Artists of 2023. In addition to his music career, Freddie is a speaker on topics such as identity, gender theory, poetry, queer theory, feminism, and anything academic. Freddie Lewis Looking for a Guest Speake r ? Get in touch Our Recent Articles... DEI Trends in 2025: Practitioner Wellbeing and Career Sustainability. UNLOCK | Queer Leadership 101 with Pius Kennedy Harnessing Queer Joy as an Act of Resistance. Create Space for Change. We work with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke DEI solutions. Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce insights and craft content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Discover our bespoke corporate solutions... Work with us

(she/her) Ashtar Ashtar a passionate Motion Designer, originally from Homs, Syria, but currently living in Spain and pursuing higher education at Idep Barcelona. Disability and feminist advocacy play a main role in her work. As a war survivor, refugee, and activist, she uses art to make a change and tell the unheard stories of underprivileged people. She works in a wide range of creative disciplines including motion design, animation, and illustration. She has an extremely positive attitude towards life with a great ambition to make a change. Ashtar speaks on topics such as LGBTQ+ discrimination, disability, body positivity, self-empowerment, culture change, activism and trauma. Ashtar Alahmad Looking for a Guest Speake r ? Get in touch Our Recent Articles... DEI Trends in 2025: Practitioner Wellbeing and Career Sustainability. UNLOCK | Queer Leadership 101 with Pius Kennedy Harnessing Queer Joy as an Act of Resistance. Create Space for Change. We work with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke DEI solutions. Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce insights and craft content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Discover our bespoke corporate solutions... Work with us

(she/her) Marie-Helene Diversity & Inclusion have been at the heart of Marie-Helene’s career since the start. As an out, gay woman, inclusion, visibility and acceptance have been constant drivers in her career. Today she is Global Inclusion, Diversity & Belonging Business Partner at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty , where she leads DEI initiatives globally. In addition to this, Marie-Helene has been involved in the Pride Employee Resource Group in the Allianz Group since 2018 – and has been the Chair since January 2022. In this role she sets the strategy for LGBTQ+ inclusion for the Allianz Group worldwide. She is very vocal and active on social media on LGBTQ+ inclusion. Her engagement and dedication was recognised last year by her receiving an award in France of Role Model LGBT Leader by L’Autre Cercle . Marie-Helene Tyack Looking for a Guest Speake r ? Get in touch Our Recent Articles... DEI Trends in 2025: Practitioner Wellbeing and Career Sustainability. UNLOCK | Queer Leadership 101 with Pius Kennedy Harnessing Queer Joy as an Act of Resistance. Create Space for Change. We work with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke DEI solutions. Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce insights and craft content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Discover our bespoke corporate solutions... Work with us

(he/him) Jon-Paul Jon-Paul is a queer Lebanese man living with depression who understands the complexities of holding multiple identities. With a focus on authenticity and personal growth, Jon-Paul approaches life with a positive attitude. Since coming out in 2004, Jon-Paul has been a strong supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. He has volunteered with HIV/AIDS NGOs, organized community events for LGBTQ+ youths, created DEI programming, advised on inclusive products and services, supported LGBTQ+ political candidates, and worked on recruiting diverse talent. Additionally, Jon-Paul is a strong advocate for mental health and well-being, neurodiversity, self-empowerment, and culture change. He is passionate about community building and activism, and has spoken about these topics at various events. Jon-Paul Vicari Looking for a Guest Speake r ? Get in touch Our Recent Articles... DEI Trends in 2025: Practitioner Wellbeing and Career Sustainability. UNLOCK | Queer Leadership 101 with Pius Kennedy Harnessing Queer Joy as an Act of Resistance. Create Space for Change. We work with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke DEI solutions. Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce insights and craft content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Discover our bespoke corporate solutions... Work with us