Drawing on internal talent pools to diversify leadership

As organisations seek to ensure inclusive progression, strengthen internal pipelines, and build representative leadership, they need to reshape the way they support the talent that’s already within the business. But how do you help people with leadership potential to build career navigation and advocacy skills – with the confidence to access the opportunities that support progression?

For this roundtable, we’re delighted to welcome Michelle Alexis, Portfolio Manager – Inclusion, BBC Nations, to share insights from BBC Pathways. Originally piloted in Wales and now rolling out across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the programme was created in response to progression data on movement into leadership for ethnically and socio-economically diverse, and disabled and neurodivergent colleagues. Michelle will explore how Pathways has supported colleagues to build career skills and leadership readiness, and generated valuable outcomes and insight for the business.

Michelle will share:

• The business need behind BBC Pathways, and how progression data informed the programme
• How the pilot was designed to build career navigation, confidence and networks
• The role of senior sponsorship, stakeholder buy-in and staff networks in scaling the approach
• How participants apply their learning through strategic challenges, coaching and mentoring
• Leadership outcomes from the programme, including progression
• What Pathways has revealed about barriers to progression and leadership readiness

This roundtable is ideal for HR and Talent leaders exploring how to strengthen internal leadership pipelines, improve progression for underrepresented groups, and unlock the talent within their organisation.