WCoMC Education Lecture 2021: Unconscious Bias and the Management Consultant

Guest Speaker: Professor Binna Kandola OBE, BSc(Econ), MSc, PhD, CPsychol, FRSA

The importance of diversity has gained increased attention over recent years. On a positive note, some of our best corporates, public sector bodies, charities and management consultancies recognise the link between superior performance and embracing diversity and inclusion.  However, unconscious bias gets in the way. It colours our perspectives, it affects how we behave, and it can impact our dealings with others.  Recognising and overcoming our in-built biases is one of the most important “new age” skills for today’s management consultant and Livery companies in general.

Professor Binna Kandola is a Business Psychologist.  He is Senior Partner and co-founder of Pearn Kandola.  As well as leading the practice, Professor Kandola is the author of three new and critically acclaimed books on these subjects – ‘The Invention of Difference: The story of gender bias at work’, ‘The Value of Difference: Eliminating bias in organisations’, and ‘Racism at Work: The Danger of Indifference’.  He is currently a visiting Professor at Leeds University Business School and at Aston University Business School. In 2012 the University of Aston awarded him an Honorary DSc – Doctor of Science.  A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), he was recognised in 2004 by The Independent on Sunday as one of the UK’s Top Ten Business Psychologists. Professor Binna Kandola was awarded an OBE in 2008 for his services to Disadvantaged People and Diversity.