“The future is inclusion”

Zalando’s Vikki Leach talks all things D&I for the ‘Pieces of me’ podcast

What does Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) mean to you and your career? The opportunity to learn from people from different backgrounds? Always being included in the conversation?

Zalando’s ‘Pieces of Me’ podcast host, Janine Matos, explores this fascinating subject in her conversation with our Diversity & Inclusion Director, Vikki Leach.

Since joining Zalando, Vikki’s focus has been on integrating our ambitious D&I strategy ‘do.BETTER’, into the rest of the business. Vikki talks about where the company is now, and where it’s going.

“The future for us is inclusion. The present, right now, is diversity. We’re already living it. We need to invest much more in inclusion so that diversity can thrive.”

And for Vikki, D&I isn’t just a job — it’s in their blood. Inspired by a mother who built a business from scratch, Vikki feels as if born with“eyes open to the need for equity and fairness”. It’s this mindset that has kept Vikki motivated throughout a successful D&I career, which is now focused towards helping Zalando drive D&I forward.

“For a business to grow, it needs a diverse group of people working in an inclusive environment. And for these people to feel they can contribute and feel included regardless of their background. That’s inclusion.”

Tune into the ‘Pieces of me’ podcast to hear Vikki’s views on:

• Zalando’s do.BETTER D&I Strategy
• The value of being part of a diverse team
• The future of D&I at Zalando

More about ‘Pieces of me’
The ‘Pieces of Me’ podcast delves into the exciting world of fashion and tech retail. Industry thought-leaders bring in three personal items to help tell their stories, reveal their career insights and share their top tips.
You can find Pieces of Me on every major audio platform including Spotify and Apple Music.