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

Peridot Partners: Conversations with Leaders

What if you are a different type of leader? Do you look around and struggle to see people like you? Here at Peridot we're talking to leaders who lead differently. They're people who embrace qualities like empathy, vulnerability, conviction, patience, curiosity, courage and creativity to support the people around them to be the best versions of themselves. They're not afraid to talk about love - whether that's loving your career or looking after themselves and their own wellbeing. Our leaders come from all walks of life and different sectors but they all have a couple of things in common - transparency and candour when talking about their leadership journey. We're Peridot Partners and we're an executive search agency working with people who see things differently and lead better.

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Peridot Partners: Conversations with Leaders

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

October 16, 2019 • 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.

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