Peridot Partners: Conversations with Leaders

Uzma Arif-Fryer - Deputy CEO at Greenwich University Students' Union

Peridot Partners Season 1 Episode 3

Conversations with Leaders: Uzma Arif-Fryer 

Uzma is the Deputy CEO of Greenwich University Students’ Union and Head of Membership Services. 

She’s a proud BAME woman who is passionate about supporting her staff and students to access opportunities for development and promotion. 

We learn what Students' Unions do and the incredible support they give to students across the UK as a powerful force. 

In this podcast we talk about her experience as an Asian woman and the barriers she’s faced in her career – from pay inequality to not being asked to key meetings and seeing white, male counterparts promoted over her. 

We hear how the CEO and senior leadership at Greenwich support BAME staff through development opportunities and open, collaborative conversations but how this isn’t the case at every SU. 

With our other guest Bill Yuksel (Peridot Business Manager), a former Sabbatical Officer and current Students’ Union Trustee, we discuss how the student movement should be supporting better diversity within the SU workforce. 

In the podcast we also talk about the barriers to creating an inclusive and diverse workforce and what needs to change to support progress. 

From recruitment through to supporting BAME staff in the workplace, while the student movement is seen as progressive, there appears still much to be done. 

You can read more about Uzma here:
https://su.careers/uzma-arif-fryerdeputy-chief-executive-head-of-membership-servicesgreenwich-students-union/ 

 NUS Rise Programme:
This programme has been developed to support more in-depth development for Black staff who are aspiring leaders. Applications are open now until 15th November 2019.
https://www.nusconnect.org.uk/learning-academy/rise-leadership-programme

NUS Black Staff Network:
A network for BAME staff working in NUS affiliated unions:
https://www.nusconnect.org.uk/learning-training/race-matters/black-staff-network

Guests:
Uzma Arif-Fryer
Bill Yuksel

Host:
Emma Wrafter