Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria powered by CCDI

Can education change the course of human rights? And what happens when we stop challenging injustice?In the latest episode of Leader Talks, host Sartaj Sarkaria speaks with Ron Ghitter, former Alberta senator and co-founder of the Dignity Forum, about his longstanding commitment to human rights and the fight for equality and dignity.Former Senator Ron Ghitter reflects on Alberta’s human rights history and his role in introducing the province’s Individual Rights Protection Act in the early 1970s. He highlights education as a driving force for challenging prejudice, encouraging critical thinking, and helping young people navigate misinformation and polarised politics. This episode is a reminder that meaningful progress and lasting change begins with education and the courage to put it into practice. Key Points From This Episode:Introducing today’s guest, Ron Ghitter.Ron’s inspiration for a life in human rights.Alberta’s first human rights legislation: past challenges and ongoing barriers.The three pillars of human rights: dispute resolution, advocacy, and education.Dignity as a guiding principle in Ron’s life and work.Keeping human rights above political ideology.Education as a catalyst for change.Understanding Alberta’s upcoming referendum.Building inclusive and respectful public-sector workplaces.Hope for a more inclusive and dignified Canada.Doris Kearns Goodwin’s impact on Ron’s life.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Ronald D. GhitterDignity ForumDignity Forum DocumentaryWilliam Aberhart (Bible Bill Aberhart)The Bill of Rights (Canada)The Individual’s Rights Protection ActDoris Kearns Goodwin (Books)Canadian Centre for Diversity and InclusionSartaj SarkariaLeader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria

AI is transforming the way we work, but who benefits from these change? In this episode of Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria, we welcome Roxanna Kassam Kara, founder of Cup of Lightning, to explore what the rise of AI means for equity and inclusion in the workplace.With over 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, and strategy, Roxanna brings a practical perspective to help teams make sense of generative AI. We discuss the gap between the promise of these tools and the experience of those using them, including the importance of thoughtful leadership as workplaces navigate change.Roxanna also reflects on the opportunities this technology has created in her own career, highlighting the human skills that will remain essential as AI in the workplace evolves. Tune in for an honest conversation about approaching AI with curiosity, confidence, and care for the people it affects.Key Points From This Episode: Meet Roxanna and hear about her unexpected path into AI and gender equity.Discover what recent research shows about AI and workplace inequality.Explore how shared hiring algorithms can repeat the same biases.Learn which questions HR and DEI teams should ask before adopting AI.Understand why challenging AI’s answers is part of using it well.Consider how AI can open new doors for women and budding entrepreneurs.Hear how Roxanna built an AI chief of staff to challenge her thinking.Examine why professional expertise matters when judging AI output.Find out how leaders can build their teams’ AI literacy and increase employee fulfilment.Uncover what listening to employees can reveal before an AI rollout.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Roxanna Kassam Kara on LinkedInCup of Lightning'New ILO data confirm women face higher workplace risks from generative AI than men''Algorithmic Monocultures in Hiring'Canadian Centre for Diversity and InclusionSartaj SarkariaLeader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria

Entrepreneurship can build confidence, independence, and community prosperity. Combined with Indigenous perspectives, it strengthens innovation, leadership, and creates more resilient communities.   In the latest episode of Leader Talks, we sit down with Magnolia Perron, leader of the Indigenous Women and Youth Programs at NACCA, to discuss the power of supporting Indigenous women, believing in their potential, and creating a stronger sense of belonging for Indigenous youth. Magnolia shares insights on meaningful allyship, unconscious bias, championing Indigenous entrepreneurship, and what employers should know to better assist Indigenous employees and Indigenous women-owned businesses. Key Points From This Episode:Welcoming Magnolia Perron and an overview of her background.Meaningful allyship for people who want to advance opportunities for Indigenous women.  The importance of being aware of the unconscious biases we all hold. Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Program’s impact and memorable stories. How we can make Indigenous youth feel like they belong in community. What employers need to understand to support Indigenous employees and businesses. How Indigenous and Black women can be supported to lead, grow and advance in business.As always, Magnolia leaves a powerful question for the next guest on the show. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Magnolia Perron on LinkedInCanadian Centre for Diversity and InclusionSartaj SarkariaLeader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria

What changes when we stop asking women to fit into the workplace and start asking the workplace to change?In this episode of Leader Talks, Sartaj Sarkaria speaks with Dr. Golnaz Golnaraghi, Founder & President of Accelerate Her Future, about the quiet barriers that continue to shape the career experiences of Indigenous, Black and racialized women.Drawing on her own journey from Iran to Canada, Golnaz shares how personal experiences, research, and community conversations led her to build an organization focused not on “fixing” women, but on creating the conditions for them to thrive.Listen in to learn how to create workplaces where more people can grow, lead, and flourish. Key Points From This Episode:The experiences and quiet barriers that inspired her to create Accelerate Her Future.Discover how listening to community helped a promising idea grow into lasting work.Uncover what new research reveals about the hidden forces shaping women’s careers.Explore who should carry responsibility for career growth and workplace change.Hear how greater transparency opens access to development, sponsorship, and leadership.Learn how collaboration is a shared effort in trust, reciprocity, and stewardship.Examples of the difference that mentorship and belonging can make in women’s careers.Consider why disability remains at the fringes of many workplace inclusion efforts.Final takeaways Dr. Golnaraghi has for listeners. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Dr. Golnaz GolnaraghiDr. Golnaz Golnaraghi on LinkedInAccelerate Her Future'Career Development and Experiences of Indigenous, Black, and Racialized Women in the Canadian Workplace'Women + Future of WorkSouth Asian Women’s Collective (SAWC)Canadian Centre for Diversity and InclusionSartaj SarkariaLeader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria

Disability is too often left out of DEIA conversations, but true inclusion isn't possible without disability equity. In the latest episode of the Leader Talks Podcast with Sartaj Sarkaria, we sit down with Jeff Tiessen, Executive Producer of Mindset DEI and President & Publisher of Disability Today. Jeff shares his journey as a double amputee, athlete, father, and leader. He explains how his lived experience has shaped his career, leadership, and commitment to disability equity. We discuss the progress and ongoing challenges in disability advocacy, from accessibility to universal design. We also explore how Mindset DEI is advancing awareness and inclusion. Jeff also shares practical ways everyone can help build more inclusive environments.  Tune in for an insightful conversation on resilience, leadership, and building a more inclusive future. Available now on your preferred podcast platforms or visit ccdi.ca/podcast.Key Points From This Episode: A brief overview of today’s guest, Jeff Tiessen.  How his lived experience has affected his path and career.  Jeff’s key motivations as an athlete and how they’ve evolved.  Accessibility today versus before and its ebb and flow in progress. What Mindset DEI is and how Jeff moved from publishing to education.  Jeff’s leadership style and how it differs from that of a non-disabled person.  What Jeff is doing to make his environment more inclusive daily.  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Jeff Tiessen on LinkedIn Mindset DEI Disability Today Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion Sartaj Sarkaria Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria 

Sport can foster connection and community, but for many 2SLGBTQIA+ people, it has also been a source of exclusion. In this episode of Leader Talks, we are excited to welcome  guest host Pangus Kung, Director, Initiatives and Engagement at CCDI. Pangus is joined by Keph Senett, writer and trustee for Pride House International, and Kurt Weaver, Executive Director of You Can Play, for a timely conversation about inclusion, participation, and the future of sport.  Together, they explore the role of sport  in culture and community, the origins and impact of Pride House initiatives, and how organizations are working to create more welcoming environments at every level of participation. The conversation delves into the growing politicization of trans participation in sport, the realities behind exclusionary policies, and why grassroots participation and everyday inclusion are just as important as representation at the professional level. Keph and Kurt also reflect on their personal experiences in sport, the importance of community, and the ways coaches, leagues, and  participants can help build safer, more inclusive spaces.   Tune in for an honest conversation about sport, leadership, and the future of inclusion! Key Points From This Episode: Introducing today’s guests, Keph Senett and Kurt Weaver. The origins of You Can Play and its mission to build inclusive sport spaces. How Pride House International supports 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion at major sporting events. Why 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion in sport remains a pressing issue today. How anti-trans rhetoric is being used as a broader political wedge issue. Why trans inclusion in sport is not a one-size-fits-all conversation. The importance of separating grassroots participation from elite sport debates. How exclusion and bullying push many queer athletes out of sport. The value of queer recreational leagues and intentionally inclusive spaces. Why sport organizations need more creative and inclusive participation models. How small actions from coaches, leaders, and communities can create change. Answering the previous guests’ questions on personal sustainability and everyday DEIA work. What questions today’s guests want to leave for the next guests of Leader Talks. Keph and Kurt answer the question: What is one leadership habit you are carrying with you right now? Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:  Keph Senett Keph Senett on Instagram Pride House International Kurt Weaver on LinkedIn You Can Play Pangus Kung Pangus Kung on LinkedIn Pride House Toronto 2026 Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) Sartaj Sarkaria Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria 

Many organizations and researchers have the best of intentions when it comes to DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility). But creating truly inclusive systems requires going further and embracing accountability. In this episode of Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria, Julia Santana Parrilla of Beyond the Binary and Heather McCain of Live Educate Transform Society (LETS) discuss how research, policy, and workplace systems can unintentionally exclude the people they are meant to support. Julia and Heather reflect on the personal experiences that shaped their commitment to DEIA work and explain how the Beyond the Binary Canada Guide examines cisnormative and heteronormative assumptions embedded in women’s health research. They explore the real-world impact of biased systems and research, from barriers to diagnosis and accommodation to inequitable workplace practices and inaccessible services. The conversation also examines why inclusion must go beyond representation and language to include accountability, community collaboration, and structural change. Along the way, Julia and Heather share practical insights on helping organizations move beyond feeling “stuck” in DEIA work, how small changes can create more accessible spaces, and the importance of self-compassion and ongoing learning. Listen in for a thoughtful conversation on how inclusive research can help create more equitable systems that respond to people’s actual needs.Key Points From This Episode:Introducing today’s guests, Julia Santana Parrilla and Heather McCain.How their personal experiences shaped their commitment to DEIA work.The origins of Beyond the Binary and its focus on inclusive health research.Harms caused by gaps in research and biased research design.How biased systems affect diagnosis, accommodations, and access to services.The importance of community collaboration in building equitable research practices.Why intersectionality, accountability, and structural change are crucial in DEIA work.Practical ways organizations can move beyond feeling “stuck” in DEIA work.How small accessibility changes can create wider community impact.Why curiosity, self-compassion, and ongoing learning are essential to DEIA work.Understanding DEIA as ever-evolving, not as something with a particular endpoint.The critical role of community support in sustaining DEIA work.Reflections on what hope, progress, and accessibility look like for future generations.Answering the previous guests’ questions about progress, privilege, and responsibility.What questions today’s guests want to leave for the next guest of Leader Talks. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Julia Santana Parrilla on LinkedInWomen’s Health Research Institute (WHRI)Beyond the Binary in Canada | GuidePartnership for Women’s Health Research Canada (PWHR)Heather McCainHeather McCain on LinkedInLive Educate Transform Society (LETS)Canadian Centre for Diversity and InclusionSartaj SarkariaLeader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria

In this episode of Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria, we sit down with, Barry Alexander and Gavin Barrett, two trailblazers in Canadian marketing, to discuss the power of embracing DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibilities) as a growth strategy. Rather than treating DEIA as a box to check or a defense measure, our guests share how DEIA can become a driving force behind business success. Tune in for inspiring stories from Barry and Gavin as they reflect on their personal journeys and experiences that shaped their DEIA views. Learn from their insights on the state of diversity in marketing and the importance of moving past representation and into inclusion. They also share actionable strategies marketing leaders can use to foster belonging, drive meaningful change, and create workplaces where everyone thrives. Tune in to hear how inclusive leadership in marketing can dismantle systemic barriers and build lasting, transformative change. Key Points From This Episode:Introducing today’s guests, Barry Alexander and Gavin Barrett. Their lives and how those experiences have shaped their views on EDI. Why brands that see EDI as a growth strategy have a competitive advantage. The impact POCAM has had and the need it fulfills. Where the marketing industry stands in terms of embedding diversity within its teams. What marketing leaders can do that’s truly impactful in terms of EDI. How our guests approach the concept of inclusion and belonging in their lives. Why there is no ‘end’ to EDI and why it’s an ongoing investment.  They answer the previous guest’s question about handling incredibly hard times.  What question today’s guests want to leave for the next guest of Leader Talks. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Barry Alexander on LinkedInGavin BarrettGavin Barrett on LinkedIn‘EDI Is a Growth Strategy. Brands That Treat It as Defence Are Already Losing.’POCAMCreativity with a ConscienceCanadian Centre for Diversity and InclusionSartaj SarkariaLeader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham

Sharing your story has the power to save the lives of individuals experiencing similar hardships.In this episode of Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria, we welcome Matt Kenny, the self-described ‘recovering hockey player’, marathon runner, and 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate, to discuss how he navigates life as a disabled, queer immigrant. Hear all about his experience playing hockey, why he decided to leave the sport, and navigating life in the United States as a gay immigrant with a disability.Matt speaks candidly about the challenges following his multiple sclerosis diagnosis, including a deeply personal and emotional moment of crisis. He discusses the changes that helped him return to running despite his disability, and his journey to the NHL Unites Pride Cup, where he found inspiration to uplift fellow queer athletes. He also reflects on the importance of representation and how embracing both “hockey Matt” and “gay Matt” helped to advance inclusion within the sport.Listener discretion advised: This episode contains a brief discussion of Matt Kenny’s personal story, which touches on sensitive topics including attempted suicide. Listeners who wish to avoid these references may do so at timestamps 06:47 and 29:58. We encourage you to pause, skip these sections, or seek professional support as needed. Thank you for listening, and we hope you find this episode valuable.Key Points From This Episode: Introducing Matt Kenny to the show.  Why he calls himself a ‘recovering hockey player.’ What Matt is doing today and how his diagnosis has affected his life.   TW: For listeners who wish to avoid Matt’s account of attempted suicide, please skip audio between [00:06:47] and [00:08:28].  The changes Matt made and how he started running again.   His experience attending the NHL Unites Pride Cup and why he was invited.  What Matt wishes he had been told as a young, gay athlete.  How LGBTQ+ representation in media builds confidence within the community.  The impact the You Can Play project is having on young hockey players.  How Matt has improved equity and inclusion in hockey and the resistance he’s faced.  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Matt Kenny Linktree Matt Kenny on Instagram You Can Play Pride Tape Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion Sartaj Sarkaria Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham 

What does real leadership look like when the goal is not just delivering services, but building a community where people feel seen and supported?In the debut season of Leader Talks Podcast with Sartaj Sarkaria, we sit down with Marina Boulos-Winton to discuss nonprofit leadership and the systems that shape opportunities. Marina shares how early experiences with social injustice influenced her career path, what she learned through crisis-line and youth support work and how those lessons inform her leadership today.Marina explains what it means to design services with dignity and why representation and strong community partnerships matter when working with youth and families. Marina also explores the barriers nonprofits face, the value of relationship-building and the kind of leadership mindset that helps teams deliver meaningful outcomes. Tune in to hear how community-centred leadership can move beyond intent and create meaningful change with Marina Boulos-Winton. Download the Unity toolkit here https://new-api.ccdi.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Unity_Workplace-Toolkit_EN.pdf, and take your first step toward a safer, more supportive workplace.Key Points From This Episode:Marina’s path into nonprofit leadership and how social injustice shaped her direction.  Learn how her career journey and experience inform her work in her current role.Her vision for connecting complementary organisations around shared goals. Common misconceptions around poverty relief and what it actually involves.The progress of equity and inclusion initiatives, and where the gaps still exist.Examples of how Sun Youth provides meaningful support to people in need.Why culturally grounded mentorship builds resilience for youth who lack support.Explore the funding hurdles that limit support for nonprofits and the issues they cause.Advice for emerging nonprofit leaders and what it takes to be successful. Tips on overcoming resistance to equity and inclusion, and Marina’s leadership habit for 2026.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Marina Boulos-Winton on LinkedInSun YouthGovernment of CanadaGovernment of Canada: Suicide Crisis HelplineCovenant HouseUnityUnity ToolkitChez DorisCanadian Centre for Diversity and InclusionSartaj SarkariaLeader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham