In this episode of the All Inclusive Podcast, we welcome back Gareth Whalley, Founder and Chief Connection Officer of Big Bang People Solutions. Gareth shares what he’s learned about leadership, workplace culture, and inclusion from working with organisations across multiple industries.

With over 20 years in corporate HR before launching his own business, Gareth has seen inside companies of all sizes — spotting the patterns, gaps, and opportunities that many leaders miss. He reveals how external pressures are changing inclusion strategies, why recognition is one of the most underused tools for building a strong culture, and what truly drives employee engagement across different workplaces.

Connect with Gareth:

🤝 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethwhalley/

🌐 Big Bang People Solutions: https://www.bigbangpeople.com/

🎧 Subscribe for more episodes on inclusive leadership, workplace culture, and building businesses where people belong.

👩🏾 Follow Natasha on LinkedIn:   / natasha-rainey-  

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Introduction

01:20 – Lessons from leaving corporate HR for a new chapter

05:05 – Surprising leadership patterns Gareth sees across companies

09:40 – Why leaders can’t do it all alone

14:15 – Key leadership lessons from working with many organisations

20:50 – How global and political shifts impact workplace culture

28:30 – The overlooked culture booster most companies ignore

37:10 – Gareth’s one piece of advice for living and working authentically