Arifa Syed

• Leadership & Strategy: Lead the consulting and learning divisions, steering a team of consultants in delivering DEI services globally.
• Client Engagement: Partnered with renowned clients including Subsea7, Mars, Tony's Chocolonely, CNWL NHS, Ant International, and Innospec, providing strategic DEI consulting and tailored training programs.
• Program Development: Designed and implemented inclusive leadership programs and DEI initiatives, effectively addressing clients' unique needs and enhancing their organizational cultures.
• Organizational Assessments: Conducted in-depth DEI assessments, identifying key areas for improvement and crafting actionable strategies that led to more inclusive environments.
• Thought Leadership: Contributed to the DEI discourse through webinars, industry conferences, and publications, establishing GDP as a trusted advisor in the field.

• Project Leadership: Led complex DEI projects for public and private sector clients, including West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Camden Council, Baillie Gifford, and Southwark Council.
• Customized Solutions: Developed and implemented tailored DEI strategies, policies, and programs that addressed specific organizational challenges and goals.
• Data-Driven Insights: Conducted comprehensive audits and analyses, providing clients with actionable insights to improve their DEI landscapes.
• Training & Facilitation: Delivered engaging DEI workshops and training sessions, fostering awareness and facilitating meaningful dialogue on topics such as unconscious bias and inclusive leadership.
• Client Collaboration: Worked closely with stakeholders to support the integration of DEI principles into organizational practices and cultures.

Key Achievements:

• Positive Change: Helped clients achieve measurable improvements in diversity representation and inclusion metrics.
• Recognition: Received accolades from clients for exceptional service and contribution to their DEI advancements.

• Research Excellence: Conducted pioneering research on gender and social inequality within organizations, contributing valuable insights to the field of DEI.
• Academic Contributions: Published research findings in respected academic journals and presented at international conferences.
• Teaching & Mentorship: Delivered lectures and seminars on management, organizational behavior, and EDI challenges, inspiring the next generation of leaders.
• Thesis: "Examining the Doctor Bride as Hybrid Femininity in Pakistan: A Postfeminist Analysis."

Key Achievements:

• Scholarly Impact: Recognized for advancing understanding of complex DEI issues through innovative research.
• Leadership: Co-founded the Kent Business School Doctoral Research Colloquium, fostering academic collaboration.

• Instruction: Taught courses on contemporary management, leadership, and diversity and inclusion, integrating current research and practical applications.
• Student Development: Mentored and supported students, enhancing their academic performance and professional readiness.
• Curriculum Innovation: Updated course content to reflect evolving trends and best practices in DEI and organizational behavior.

Key Achievements:

• Educational Excellence: Consistently received high evaluations for engaging teaching style and commitment to student success.
• Inclusive Learning: Promoted an inclusive classroom environment that valued diverse perspectives.

• Training Programs: Developed and facilitated a variety of training courses aimed at employee development and fostering inclusive behaviors.
• DEI Initiatives: Researched and assessed the organization's DEI practices, contributing to the development of strategies aligned with leadership objectives.
• Women's Leadership Development: Created initiatives to build a robust pipeline of women leaders, supporting gender diversity at all organizational levels.
• Engagement Project: Collaborated on an employee engagement project with GALLUP UK, managing the process for a workforce of 14,000 employees.

Key Achievements:

• Cultural Enhancement: Played a pivotal role in enhancing the organization's culture towards greater inclusivity and employee engagement.
• Leadership Empowerment: Successfully increased participation of women in leadership development programs.

• System Development Support: Assisted in the development of 'Decibel,' the in-house HRIS software, improving HR processes and efficiency.
• User Training & Support: Provided comprehensive training and support to end-users, ensuring effective system utilization.
• Documentation & Procedures: Developed user manuals and standard operating procedures, facilitating consistent and efficient use of the HRIS.
• Cross-Department Collaboration: Bridged communication between HR and IT departments, contributing to system enhancements based on user feedback.

Key Achievements:

• Improved Efficiency: Enhanced HR operations through effective training and support, leading to increased productivity.
• User Adoption: Achieved high levels of user satisfaction and adoption of the new HRIS system.