💭 “How does it feel to be the only non-white person in the group?”
Sometimes, the most powerful leadership lesson doesn’t come from a keynote — but from one awkward, honest question asked with kindness. I was excited to attend Leadership School 2025 with the Ministry of Justice, it was a unique experience that I looked forward to attending in person for a long time. During a session led by Sam Conniff , we were asked to “ask an awkward question to your neighbour.” My group facilitator, Mark Buttanshaw , turned to me and asked, gently: “How does it feel to be the only non-white person in the group?” He seemed to sense a quiet discomfort I hadn’t yet recognised in myself. So, it took me a few moments to even process what he meant. I had noticed my own minority presence and the striking majority in the room, but in my group, I just saw people — their energy — and my own. Only after he asked did I realise that yes… I was the only brown person in that small circle. When I asked him in return how he felt about it, Mark said...