About Us
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What Is Our 'Why'?
We build inclusive cultures that empower EVERYONE to thrive.
Over the years we have seen the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB) movement evolve from being a legal requirement to something that is becoming a part of the DNA in organisations that really value their greatest assets - their people. However, whilst a lot of great work has been done and the direction of travel is positive, progress often feels sluggish.
Why are we echoing conversations from more than two decades ago?
Great question!
We believe there are two key reasons:-
1) The focus on minoritised groups (we do recognise this is awesome work) often ends up excluding the majority of people. The irony is that this is contradictory to the very essence of inclusion.
2) 'Culture is defined by the worst behaviour tolerated' and your experience is only ever as good as the quality of your local management and how they shape the culture around you.
Therefore, we advocate that:-
A) You should start with the end in mind and focus, not so much on our differences but, on what makes us human and unites us.
B) We need to be driving change from the middle out through first line and middle management
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Why Work With Us?
💜 We are Sophie and Danielle Wood - a married couple.
We met at university back in 1992 and just clicked. Almost 10 years to the day we finally tied the knot and became man and wife. Fast forward another 9 years, following a prolonged period of very low mental health Sophie transitioned (male to female) in 2011.
It was not an easy time for either of us – the world was still quite in the dark when it came to any sort of understanding of what it meant to be transgender. Family and friends struggled with the change and we lost some of them along the way as they could not comprehend the situation.
We struggled with the sense of rejection and isolation that we experienced and both grappled with mental health issues.
We went through this transitional experience whilst working for the same employer who, on the whole, handled the adjustments well. Primarily, they asked us both, and listened to our ideas and opinions.
We got to write the playbook on how to best support someone transitioning in the workplace. This has not been our experience everywhere.
The next few years saw change after change and it's fair to say our mental health has been on a roller-coaster ride throughout.
We've seen the world from different angles and we've experienced how being different can affect your life.
We've also both led in-house Diversity & Inclusion teams in our professional lives.
Therefore it is, without doubt, our lived experience and learning that have played a major part in what has inspired the creation Belonging Base!
What do we bring to the table?
Between us we have over 40 years of experience working within the People/Human Resources arena within the UK Police Service to major global FTSE 100 companies and tech start-ups.
Sophie Wood
🟪 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Expert
🟪 Learning and Development Specialist
🟪 Mental Health First Aid Instructor
🟪 Motivational Speaker
For more, visit Sophie's LinkedIn
Danielle Wood
🟪 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Expert
🟪 HR Consultant (MCIPD)
🟪 Business and Life Coach
🟪 Mentoring Scheme Builder
For more, visit Danielle's LinkedIn
Together, we aspire to craft inclusive cultures that empower individuals to be their best selves – flourishing, belonging, and adding value.
Our credentials
What Do We Actually Offer?
We steer clear of the one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we personalise what we do to meet the specific aims of WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE i.e. what does your culture need right now.
However...........................
To help signpost you, these are the 3 focus areas:-
TRANSGENDER MATTERS - RAISING AWARENESS OF 'BELONGING'
We deliver talks that weave in our personal lived experience of navigating Sophie's gender transition. These raise awareness around what it is to be transgender and for both of us coming out as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. They draw out how being diferent and feeling like you don't belong impacts on both your personal and professional life.
MEMORABLE MANAGERS
We work with managers to help them become more self-aware. We develop their understanding of the impact they have on the experience of others at work. This enables them to nuture an inclusive team culture where people can be their best-self and contribute confidently to team success.
MENTAL HEALTH
We deliver a range of different mental health sessions designed by MHFA England®. These give people the skills, knowledge and confidence to have the important conversations that will support individuals, elevate the overall people experience and inevitably the performance of the team.
Our Mission
We’re passionate about building thriving, inclusive cultures.
We champion the idea that beyond our rich tapestry of differences, we are all human beings.
We prioritise psychological safety for everyone as the bedrock that fosters a workplace where every
individual feels valued, heard and celebrated.
We believe that when psychological safety reigns, every voice contributes to your story.
Feeling secure, individuals confidently challenge the status quo, unlocking the magic where belonging leads to thriving potential – for both individuals and businesses.
We're on a mission to to nurture your culture, one where everyone not only belongs but confidently influences positive change.
Our Values
