Case Study: Redefining Workplace Culture – GLA Executive Training on Intersectional Leadership
Context of Delivery
According to McKinsey’s 2023 “State of Organisations” Report, leaders are increasingly ill-prepared to respond to external shocks, including economic instability, evolving social expectations, and widening workplace inequalities. In London, where 40% of the workforce is from ethnically diverse backgrounds, intersectionality is key to unlocking the social and economic potential of organisations.
Voicing Voices partnered with the Greater London Authority (GLA) to implement a tailored training program to enhance inclusive leadership through an intersectional framework. Aligned with GLA’s broader objectives of ensuring its workforce reflects the diversity and dynamism of London, Voicing Voices created a hands-on educational experience for directors while addressing systemic barriers to inclusion.
The project aligned with GLA’s broader objectives of ensuring its workforce reflects the diversity and dynamism of London while addressing systemic barriers to inclusion.
Challenge: Overcoming Silos and Complexity
Large organisations in global cities like London face:
- Interdepartmental Silos
Many large entities are divided into distinct units and departments, each with its own priorities and workstreams, these silos can cause a lack of collaboration, inefficiencies, and challenges in delivering coordinated value for people, the planet and prosperity. - Diverse but Disconnected Workforce
With over 40% of London’s population coming from ethnically diverse backgrounds, A structured approach is needed to understand employees’ intersecting identities and how these overlapping experiences can lead to deeper engagement with inclusion efforts, leading to sustainable progress, high productivity and retention rates. - Economic and Social Context
A Gallup 2024 poll revealed that 62% of Britons feel the economy is worsening, with stress levels at record highs. Economic pessimism directly impacts workplace morale, requiring leaders to adopt strategies that foster resilience and psychological safety in the workforce for those facing overlapping challenges. - Preparedness for Modern Leadership
McKinsey & Co highlighted a key task for 21st-century leaders is developing their own capacity for change while also fostering resilience and adaptability in others across the organisation.
Our Intersectional Leadership program recognises that traditional leadership models are insufficient for addressing the evolving dynamics of today’s workforce.
Solution:
Voicing Voices implemented, its framework to drive social value and help GLA leaders to break silos, build trust, and to provide tools to navigate complexity.
The program consisted of three key components:
- Storytelling & Lived Experience Sharing – Directors shared personal experiences on career progression, cultural expectations, and workplace challenges, fostering trust and empathy across teams. Research from Harvard Business Review highlights storytelling as a key driver of workplace connection.
- Leadership Sessions – Scenario-based training provided practical tools for decision-making, inclusivity, and teamwork. Case studies demonstrated that organisations using similar approaches saw up to 35% higher efficiency (McKinsey, 2023).
- Collaborative Exercises – Cross-departmental challenges required teams to apply intersectional leadership to real-world issues, reinforcing strategic problem-solving and multi-stakeholder thinking.
Impact:
- Stronger Workplace Culture – 100% felt more connected to colleagues; 80% discovered new shared experiences.
- Improved Collaboration & Efficiency – Team members across units ideated together to reduce silos.
- Long-Term Change – 94% felt better equipped for complex leadership challenges with our toolkits and human-centred strategy.
Key Quotes from Participants:
“Hearing my colleagues’ stories allowed me to see beyond job titles. I found shared experiences with people I assumed were completely different from me.” -GLA Senior Leader
“Everything was about who we are and how we work, so therefore super useful. We were asked to think deeply and apply what we learnt and discussed to formulate actions and next steps. Felt very energised and connected to colleagues in the room. Thank you’’- GLA Unit Director
