At this year’s Ivanti Live, WIC’s President Josephine Calabria delivered a powerful keynote on “Breaking Down Silos and Leading with Inclusion,” calling on leaders to treat diversity not as a “nice to have” but as a business imperative.
Josephine, who also heads government IT recruitment at Hudson, shared insights from her 25-year tech career and her passion for creating pathways for women and girls in ICT. “Diversity drives innovation, resilience, and better decision-making,” she said, citing research from McKinsey and the World Economic Forum that links diverse leadership teams to higher profitability.
But achieving inclusion isn’t without its challenges. Josephine spoke candidly about the “healthy tension” that comes with diverse teams—differences in communication styles, work habits, and expectations. “These challenges require intentional leadership. We must create safe spaces, clear ways of working, and foster a culture where collaboration trumps competition,” she explained.
Central to her message was the need to build a strong, diverse talent pipeline. Josephine championed initiatives like work experience programs for girls, reskilling for women returning to the workforce, and inclusive hiring panels. “You can’t be what you can’t see,” she noted, encouraging organisations to visibly reflect the diversity they wish to attract.
Closing her address, Josephine issued a clear call to action: “If each of us changes just one thing to create greater equity and inclusion, the impact will be game changing.”
WIC continues to lead in shaping a tech sector that welcomes all voices, especially those historically underrepresented. As Josephine reminded the audience, “It’s not about ticking boxes. It’s about building better businesses and a better future.”
For the full speech please download here.
📸 Image courtesy of Nico Keenan