EMpowering future leaders

EMpowering future leaders

18 June 2020

Our vision is to be the most inclusive retailer where people love to work and shop and we recognise that this means supporting our Black colleagues and customers.

It's vital that our colleagues reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and so we're really fortunate to have passionate leaders that are fantastic role models for the BAME community and beyond.

As part of our commitment, we're always looking to celebrate the work and dedication of our colleagues and we're proud to have two colleagues feature in this year's EMpower Ethnic Minority Role Model lists. The annual shortlist celebrates the incredible achievements in championing people of colour in the business community throughout the UK, Ireland, Europe, United States and Canada and showcases 100 Ethnic Minority Executives, 15 Advocates and 50 Ethnic Minority Future Leaders.

This year marks the fourth year that Sarah Nelson, Head of Finance at Sainsbury's, has featured on the Top 100 Ethnic Minority Executives list. Simon Roberts, our newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer was recognised on the Top 15 Advocates list. Sarah and Simon have both been key in driving Sainsbury's and Argos' inclusion agenda and empowering the next generation of leaders. We're delighted they have been recognised for their brilliant work.

"We still need to recognise that systemic racism does exist and until we recognise that, we cannot move the argument forward. At the same time, the more positive stories we can tell, the more we can demonstrate how discrimination and racism can be stamped out and level the playing field. We are not here to blame or shame, but to bring about positive and lasting change in the business world. Our annual role model lists celebrate positive role models that other ethnic minority employees can look up to. They are more relevant now than ever."
Suki Sandhu OBE, Founder & CEO at Involve