‘I altered my personality to fit in at work’
The lack of ethnic diversity at the top of UK companies is coming under increasing focus, with calls for change from big business groups and investors.
Surveys continue to show that black, Asian, or minority ethnic (BAME) people are under-represented in senior positions.
But some succeed, and then turn their drive and passion to helping others. The BBC has spoken to four of them.
‘I had adapted who I was to fit the environment’
Pavita Cooper runs More Difference, a recruitment and consultancy firm that promotes diversity.
Working at blue-chip firms for more than 25 years she never felt discriminated against.
But after she left, she realised she had been altering her personality to “fit in”.
“I had adapted who I was to fit the environment,” Pavita says. “I presented a version of myself that would fit in with them.”
“I’m a Sikh,