Teresa Boughey MA Chartered FCIPD is the CEO of award-winning Jungle HR, a TEDx speaker, a Non-Executive Director and the author of Closing the Gap – 5 Steps to Creating an Inclusive Culture. Her experience spans over 25 years and has been gained across FTSE 100 & FTSE 250 Companies.  She has a proven, consistent track record of working with Executive Boards and Leadership teams to deliver business improvements through and with people and to create an inclusive workplace culture.    Teresa is also a UK Female Entrepreneur Ambassador, Business Board Member of the Women and Enterprise and the Women and Work All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPG) and a regular contributor to the media and public policy. In addition, Teresa is an Entrepreneur in resident at the University of Birmingham Centre for Women’s Expertise, Leadership, Economy and Diversity, contributing to the department’s research.

The importance of inclusive leadership and the creation of a workplace environment where people feel safe and valued for their unique difference is rising to the top of the Leadership agenda.    Research shows that embracing inclusivity and diversity not only ensures employees are supported and engaged, but also enables any business to stand out from their competitors.    Yet, creating an inclusive culture can feel daunting particularly as it often requires the unpicking of deep-rooted traditions, a shift in mindset and behaviors, as well as a review of operational practices.

For some, closing the gap and creating an inclusive workplace culture feels like an enormous issue to address.   Some leaders continue to lack clarity around what diversity and inclusion really means, and sadly there are still some who question why they need to embrace and engage with diversity and inclusivity at all.   It therefore either continues to sit on the ‘too difficult’ pile, or business leaders undertake piecemeal initiative – neither of which creates impetus, and the gap fails to close.

Closing the Gap by Diversity and Inclusivity expert Teresa Boughey provides a simple yet transformational step-by-step guide to support Board Directors and their Leadership Teams with a clear path to follow enabling them to  take Inclusion and Diversity off the ‘too difficult’ pile and move forward with their inclusivity journey with confidence.

The foundation of Closing the Gap is Teresa’s tribe5 Diversity & Inclusion ™ methodology, which stands for Take Stock, Raise Awareness, Inspire and Involve, Build for the Future and Embed, provides a comprehensive structure for any business to wholly transform their inclusivity in a sustainable way. The book clearly demonstrates how an inclusive workplace culture can be achieved and why establishing a feeling of belonging is critical to its success.

The impact and reach of Closing the Gap since its publication in March 2019 has been extensive.  Closing the Gap achieved #1 ranking in the hot new releases on Amazon within a week of publication.   The book became #1 bestseller in three categories within a month of publication overtaking fellow esteemed authors such as Simon Sinek, Patrick Lencioni and Sir John Whitmore – clearly demonstrating its appeal to high-level business professionals across the spectrum.

Closing the Gap has also attracted significant media attention, it has been featured in The Sunday Times, Raconteur, British Airways (BA) Business Life, HR Director and People Management, Elite Business to name just a few and it has provided an invaluable vehicle to provide businesses with a clear framework and implore them to take action.

Closing the Gap provides a clear framework for Leaders to follow.   Closing the Gap’s conversational style is easy to read yet impactful.  It’s brimming with top tips, case studies, resources, reflective questions and check lists.    The book can be read cover to cover, alternatively readers can dip into each chapter and focus on specific areas.   Closing the Gap will enable leaders to not only take stock of ‘their’ inclusivity journey but will equip them with the tools to shape an action plan that will deliver sustainable change.

As a teenage mother Teresa endured the challenges of judgmental social labels levied at her  by others and, like many women suffered discrimination and had to fight hard to break through the glass ceiling whilst trying to maintain a good work life balance and support her family.   Hearing words like ‘you’ll never make anything of yourself’ cut deep, however they have driven Teresa to champion diversity and equality all my working life.

Writing Closing the Gap  has been such an incredible personal achievement for Teresa.  It has also reinforced her position as a Diversity and Inclusivity thought leaders.   The book also assists Teresa in her personal mission of helping over 10,000 companies to create an Inclusive workplace culture  and to enable over 2.5 million people feel a sense of belonging when they come to work; to be in an environment where they feel respected and valued for their unique difference.