In The News

International Women’s Day 2021, meet 100 rising stars inspiring change

8th March, 2021

Roxanne has been listed as one of @the_dots_uk’s 100 rising stars who are transforming the industry of today, inspiring the generation of tomorrow & making history!

Soho Radio programme - International Men's Day

19th November, 2020

Daniele Fiandaca interviews Roxanne Hobbs on Soho Radio's Culture channel

Tough at the top - why management is still macho

23rd November, 2020

Employees are increasingly looking for leadership traits such as empathy and vulnerability in the workplace – but bosses aren’t demonstrating or rewarding these behaviours, according to new research out today.

Research shows old-fashioned, 'manly' bosses are failing workers during pandemic

19th November, 2020

The Masculinity in the Workplace study, conducted by culture change business Utopia and inclusion consultancy The Hobbs Consultancy, found that three in five (62%) workers think empathy is critical for business success, but only 19% believe it’s rewarded by their organisation.

Research shows old-fashioned, 'manly' bosses are failing workers during pandemic

19th November, 2020

Men in particular suppress 'softer' traits, with four in ten (39%) reporting they're taught to avoid being empathetic at work. This rises to half of men (49%) in non-managerial roles believing they have to actively hide how they feel while they're on the job.

Research shows old-fashioned, 'manly' bosses are failing workers during pandemic

19th November, 2020

97% of employees say showing you're emotionally vulnerable at work isn't valued, yet half (53%) see vulnerability as a key leadership trait.

A third (35%) go even further, saying it's too risky to demonstrate vulnerability in the workplace.

Research shows old-fashioned, 'manly' bosses are failing workers during pandemic

19th November, 2020

UK workers are increasingly seeking leadership traits such as empathy and vulnerability in the workplace - but bosses aren’t demonstrating or rewarding these behaviours, according to new research out today.

Who's Next with Zara Bryson -Episode 13, Roxanne Hobbs Autism, Bravery and Belonging

8th January, 2020

Last summer I had the pleasure of speaking to Roxanne Hobbs, the founder of The Hobbs Consultancy who are on a mission to tranform the workplace via inclusion. I was introduced to Roxanne by Antoinette Dale Henderson (Episode 9 ) who was inspired by her work.

Roxanne is a coach, speaker and author of 'Diverted' a book about resilience, inclusion and autism. Amongst other things, we discussed courage, the work of Brené Brown, the power of neurodiversity and the need to proactively build support systems. Rox is superbly honest and open about understanding her own biases, her son's autism diagnosis and the power of vulnerability and authenticity in leadership.

Are Women's own Unconscious Biases getting in their way of Success?

19th December, 2019

Businesses are certainly beginning to understand how unconscious bias means that some groups of people may have to ‘jump higher’ for certain roles within their companies. What is talked about less is another, more internalised, form of bias.

The impact of this bias is that individuals may find that they themselves unconsciously get in their own way of success.

Does business have a problem with fathers??

29th November, 2019

There’s long been a misconception that success in business has to come at the cost of family life. While trends like the rise of part-time CEOs are slowly dispelling that myth, many businesses still appear to be behind the times; especially when it comes to working fathers.

According to a study by culture change business Utopia and The Hobbs Consultancy in conjunction with research agency Opinium, a quarter of workers feel that bosses are inflexible when it comes to letting them be parents.

Creativebrief - BITE Thought Leadership

27th November, 2019

“The idea of manning up lets men down.” These were the words David Lammy MP opened with at the Masculinity in the Workplace conference hosted at Havas London on International Men's Day 2019. The event was organised by culture change business Utopia and The Hobbs Consultancy, in collaboration with HeANDShe and Token Man.

Lammy was being interviewed by Roxanne Hobbs, Founder of The Hobbs Consultancy and HeANDShe in a pre-recorded video, exploring vulnerability, the language of Westminster and why he will always maintain an “emotional connection with the people I want to represent.”

Three lessons for the Masculinity in the Workplace conference

21st November, 2019

Speakers at the event sought to challenge stereotypes about gender roles in society and the workplace.

The Masculinity in the Workplace conference, organised by culture change business Utopia and The Hobbs Consultancy, in collaboration with HeANDShe and Token Man, and held on International Men’s Day (19 November), aimed to challenge the limiting and narrow constructs of masculinity that currently exist in the workplace.

Here's some of the lessons we learnt:

International Men's Day press coverage

19th November, 2019

We got trolled in the Daily Star! They picked up on our joint research with Utopia and took umbrage at the way 'Snowflakes were preventing banter in the workplace'. Our PR agency were very upset but I have to admit we found it hilarious.

International Men's Day press coverage

19th November, 2019

In light of International Men’s Day, it has been discovered that over a fifth of employers actively discourages male staff from taking on parenting duties that may affect their work.

This was discovered through culture change business, Utopia and the Hobbs Consultancy’s joint research ‘Masculinity in the Workplace.’ It found that 21 per cent of male employees say their boss actually advises them not to take on parenting duties if it may affect their work.

International Men's Day press coverage

19th November, 2019

Seven out of 10 men still feel they need to be the main financial provider in the family, a poll found. But at the same time, 46% also felt it was their responsibility to be their children's primary carer.

Comment, Grazia magazine

July, 2019

'Having read Why women need to wise up to the pension penalty (17 June), I feel people need to be careful about comments such as having a career in marketing and being a mum doesn't work unless you find the most amazing employer'.

Thank you for sharing, Psychologies magazine

July, 2019

Employers are realising that a culture of emotional honesty can build trusting, creative teams, but vulnerability is tricky terrain. Suzanne Scott explores how much sharing is too much

The agency to flex - why iCrossing called time on the 9-5.

2nd May, 2019

In January this year The Flexible Working Task Force launched a campaign to increase the uptake of flexible working; encouraging employers to advertise jobs as flexible regardless of level or pay grade. And the campaign’s strapline, Happy to Talk Flexible Working, has never rung truer at iCrossing UK, which introduced its first flexible working policy for all staff at the end of 2018.

6 takeaways from #DiverseMinds

18th March: 2019

The second industry conference on neurodiversity has created positive momentum and tangible action points to creating a more inclusive industry.

An article about our Diverseminds conference written by Nicola Kemp from Campaign.

Toxic Masculinity is a much needed conversation

18th January, 2019

It’s great to see an issue Token Man has been discussing for some time on the national agenda - it’s an important subject often ignored - and we applaud Gillette for bringing it to the fore. At our masculinity in the workplace conference in November 2018 we spent an evening with 180 men and women sharing experiences, research and personal stories on the damage done by aspects of masculinity that are toxic. The speakers were so insightful and inspiring we thought who better than this set of specialists to share their thoughts on the campaign and its potential impact. Here’s what they had to say:

Creative industries have to embrace #DiverseMinds 2.0

16th January, 2019

Neurodivergents – those with dyslexia, autism, ADHD or dyspraxia – make up about 10% of the population. Yet, just one in 10 organisations include neurodiversity in their people management practices, according to a 2018 poll by CIPD, the professional body for HR and people management. The fact is that, in the war for cutting-edge creativity and innovation, neurodivergents are the creative industries' best weapon.

Masculinity in the Workplace video

15th November, 2018

Paternity Coach, Tom Beardshaw, and Executive Coach, Roxanne Hobbs, discuss Masculinity in the Workplace, how understanding the history of gender roles is important to move forward and break the current structures, and how unconscious bias plays such a factor in how circumstances fold out - segueing into what true co-parenting actually looks like..

The TokenMan: CDM's Phil Bartlett on his experience at Omniwomen and workplace equality

15th October, 2018

Ahead of its event exploring the issue of toxic masculinity in the marketing sector, The Token Man interview series returns with Roxanne Hobbs, founder of the Hobbs Consultancy and #HeANDShe, interviewing Phil Bartlett, managing director at CDM, part of the Omnicom Group.

Roxanne Hobbs (RH): Why do you think we’ve ended up talking to each other today?

How unconscious bias means that we get in our own way

1st October, 2018

Are women's own unconscious biases stopping them from pursuing what they truly want in their lives?

Businesses are certainly beginning to understand how unconscious bias means that some groups of people may have to ‘jump higher’ for certain roles within their companies. What is talked about less is another, more internalised, form of bias.

The impact of this bias is that individuals may find that they themselves unconsciously get in their own way of success.

Masculinity in the Workplace guest blog for Virgin.com

25th September, 2018

Unconscious bias training is becoming a fixture of many big businesses. Organisations are seeking to understand how people are systemically excluded in our decision making due to the unconscious associations that we may hold about certain groups.

BIMA 100 2018

17th April, 2018

The Hobbs Consultancy are delighted to announce that Roxanne has been listed in this years BIMA 100 which honours individuals who are shaping the future of Britain’s digital industry. Recognised in the ‘Champions for Good’ category for those who have utilised their professional skills or resources to achieve social good.

#DiverseMinds Conference

14th March, 2018

'Stop defining people by what they can't do': 5 takeaways from #DiverseMinds. Neurodiversity may be the most invisible diversity dilemma facing the industry but it is nonetheless urgent. Expecting the workforce to conform to one definition of normal is not only hindering progress on diversity, it is stifling creativity and having a negative impact on business outcomes.

#DiverseMinds Conference

14th March, 2018

Video showing learnings from the #DiverseMinds conference on how to create a more inclusive workplace and embrace neurodiversity.

How Embracing Vulnerability can Power Innovation, Creativity and Change

22nd February, 2018

From Jackson Pollock’s drip paintings illustrating his internal rage to Adele’s breakup album 21, time and again people connect with work that reveals something about an artist’s soul. But most of us spend our lives trying to avoid being this exposed, thanks to a pervasive belief that vulnerability equals weakness.

The Hidden Neurodiversity Toll in our Industry

7th February, 2018

Last year I was completed blindsided when we were told that my child has autism. Suddenly life at home became much, much harder. And life at work became much more complicated. I was ashamed that I had spent seven years championing diversity and had not mentioned neurodiversity once. This has now changed and we are, along with Creative Equals and Campaign, hosting the industry's first #diverseminds conference on 1 March.

The Truth Behind The IPA's Diversity Survey

19th January, 2018

Last week's IPA Diversity Survey laid bare how far the industry is behind where it should be. The numbers of women moving up to senior leadership has moved by 0.6%. Overall, the BAME figures have moved by 0.7%. This is despite a year of articles, panels, discussion groups and diversity conferences.

Transforming The Workplace via Inclusivity Podcast

21st December, 2017

Are you able to be your true self at work? Imagine the benefits to you and the business if you could. In this episode I caught up with Roxanne Hobbs, the founder of The Hobbs Consultancy. She is on a mission to transform the workplace via inclusivity so that people can show up as themselves.

Gender Equality: Fathers in the Workplace

21st November, 2017

Much has been debated about gender equality, but the focus has always been on women and the impact that motherhood may have on their careers. What about the father and the challenges that they face? Gender equality organisations, HeANDShe together with Token Man hosted last week in London the workshop: 'Fathers in the workplace', to discuss how a shared responsibility can have an impact on their partners and ultimately gender equality.

Leadership and Emotional Intelligence

9th November, 2017

"There's been enough talking about what we're going to do to create more diversity and inclusion in our industry. It's time to start doing. Here are The Hobbs Consultancy's 5 things that you can do RIGHT NOW."

Leadership and Emotional Intelligence

3rd November, 2017

"The command-and-control style of leadership in agencies is fast becoming a relic of the Mad Men era, but what skills do the new generation of leaders possess in 2017? We explore the rise of emotional intelligence , vulnerability and resilience and how they are shaping the behaviour of those at the top."

Why Men Need To Get Involved In The Gender Equality Debate

25th October, 2017

"Men face struggles as a result of gender stereotypes as much as women do, but they are just different struggles. The may be making inauthentic career decisions because of expectations on them or they may be finding it hard to reach out about their struggle because our society says they need to be strong and it doesn't need to be this way."

How To Show Up As Your Authentic Self And Still Kick Ass

3rd October, 2017

Authenticity is one of those buzz words on everybody’s lips at the moment and I sometimes wonder if we’re all talking about the same thing. I once went to a conference where people were encouraged to be ‘authentic – but not too authentic’, and I left feeling confused as to what we were actually encouraging people to do.

Neurodiversity starts at home

27th July, 2017

"In the Spring of this year, one of my children was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism. It has been a challenging time for our family and I’m sure the challenges will continue for some time yet. However, we’re definitely on the rising side of the change curve now – beginning to see the gifts and learnings in our situation. ..."

Startup Mums -Meet Roxanne Hobbs Founder of The Hobbs Consultancy

16th July, 2017

The Hobbs Consultancy is transforming business with its learnings on the inclusivity of women in the workplace, and continues to develop and learn with its aim to promote neurodiversity. Here Roxanne shares her inspiring startup story. The Hobbs Consultancy is on a mission to transform business through inclusivity. We believe creating cultures in which people can show up as themselves, and be valued for that, can step change business. We believe that the world is changed through conversation and so offer coaching, facilitation and public speaking all with the aim of kickstarting those challenging conversations."

HeANDShe: The Courage Required for Change

22nd June, 2017

"Earlier this week, we hosted The Third Annual HeANDShe Conference at Mindshare. It was an awesome event that made me proud to work here. The evening opened with Jenny Healy, Chief Talent Officer, talking about ‘Being Human’ and our drive to provide audiences valuable experiences. Jenny introduced Roxanne Hobbs, founder of The Hobbs Consultancy, who spoke about: Holding Space; Shame; Vulnerability & Courage..."

Going back to work: How to make returning a successful transition

22nd May 2017

"Going back to work after time away can be a daunting experience. Whether you're two months out of a job, two years or two decades, the nerves, anticipation and anxiety related with the move to return can be overwhelming. But you're not alone. These feelings are totally normal. Going back to work can also be an incredibly exciting time, signalling change and a new chapter in your life. Here, our panel of experts share their advice and pool their years of experience to offer their top tips on going back to work, and how to make returning a successful - and hopefully enjoyable and exciting - transition."

Shame in Organisations

18th May 2017

"I’ve recently become convinced that it is not possible to talk about the Diversity and Inclusivity challenges we are facing in the workplace without a discussion about shame. And the biggest obstacle to tackling our D&I challenges may well be that no one wants to have this conversation. What is shame? Shame is best characterised as an inherent lack of worthiness and a feeling of somehow being inadequate. It is a toxic emotion leading not to behavioural change but instead to disconnection. And - we all have it. As human beings that are wired for connection with others, our greatest fear can only be that there is something about us that is somehow not worthy of that connection."

The unspoken impact of unconscious bias on men

3rd May 2017

Finally, the agency world seems to have woken up to the issue of unconscious bias as more and more agencies sign up for training. We are spending a lot of time talking about how we might unconsciously make it harder for certain groups to get recruited for certain roles, and for certain individuals to achieve promotion success.

If Donald Trump is the best the US can offer, what's next for masculine leadership?

3rd November 2017

"Watching the car crash that is the US election 2016 play out has, at times, been shocking, frightening, unsurprising and downright fascinating. The question I keep coming back to is, ‘Why this? And why now?’. We are seeing a huge backlash against the establishment which is seen to be elitist and corrupt. Put simply, the status quo is not working for much of the population.

In America, men are more likely to be drawn to the rhetoric of Donald Trump. Nate Silver (the polling statistician) tells us that if only men were to vote this year, Trump would win every swing state and get 350 electoral votes (compared with Clinton’s 188)."

Fighting the culture of 'pro-bro': How can women in advertising be themselves at work?

2nd November 2016

“Too often, women are putting on a mask in order to survive the male-centric ad industry. But perhaps it’s time to take off the disguise to tackle the cult of ‘bro’. Elephant on Madison Avenue, the 3% Conference’s aptly named new research into the biggest problem in advertising today, highlights the hurdles faced by female talent as they take on institutionalized discrimination. Whether it’s being overlooked for opportunities because you’re not invited to boys’ golf days, being left out of meetings because you’re a mother, or putting up with sexist remarks from colleagues, superiors and even clients, it’s clear from the findings that women have the odds stacked against them."

The Gender Pay Gap

14th September 2016

"There was a certain irony in seeing the headline that ‘more than a third of teenage girls suffer depression and anxiety’ on the same front page as updated data on the gender pay gap (in short - there still is one). (I wonder what it must be like to read the continual coverage about the pay gap, the casual sexism of the Olympic commentators, the constant trolling and victim blaming as an 18 year old girl? Pretty bloody depressing, I’d say.)

I read the pay gap coverage with an eye roll. Here we are again. At first I couldn’t even be bothered to comment on it. Creating systemic change in this arena is complex, painfully slow and full of people missing the point entirely."

Maternity leave: What's not working and how to fix it

8th September 2016

"Having a baby can bring about its fair set of challenges, but one that expectant mothers should not have to face is the threat of encountering discrimination in the workplace. At the end of August, maternity leave related discrimination made UK headlines after a major report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission estimated that around 54,000 women in the UK lose their job each year over a pregnancy, and that 77% of UK mothers surveyed felt they’d had a negative or discriminatory experience in telling their work they were pregnant."

Supporting Women Past Imposter Syndrome and into Leadership

4th February 2016

"This article is part of our in-depth content series on women in the workplace - take a look at the full list of articles today and increase your knowledge of a range of issues relating to women in the workplace, including sickness absence, impostor syndrome and mental health. Advertisement Are you doing enough to support women into leadership positions in your company? If you’re not tackling imposter syndrome then the answer is probably ‘no’. Why? Because, it is something that impacts on women in the workplace more than men and hinders them from taking that step up into leadership."

Why we must stop framing inclusivity as a women's issue

5th October 2015

"Progress on inclusivity and equality within organisations remains frustratingly slow. I believe a significant part of the problem is that we insist on framing it purely as a gender issue. Instead, I have recently started urging leaders to get behind the business case for a more inclusive working environment for everyone. The challenge is that focusing solely on women is actually the antithesis of inclusivity. Inclusivity is not about cherry-picking one group for success; it is about removing the barriers to success that exist for everybody."

Going back to work: The difference between guilt and shame

28th July 2015

"Today’s blog post is written by Roxanne Hobbs, founder and maternity coach at the Hobbs Consultancy. The Hobbs Consultancy offers maternity coaching to support mums in navigating the transition back to the workplace. Here, she explores the difference between guilt and shame that many mothers feel when going back to work after having children. When working as a maternity coach, supporting women in the transition back to work, one of the most common presenting issues is guilt. Women tell me how guilty they feel at leaving their children to go back to work, or how guilty they feel at leaving early (usually meaning ‘on time’) to get back for bathtime or, even, guilty that they don’t feel guilty!"

Why mums feel guilt (and how to stop)

16th January 2014

"When we speak to mums – whether they’re working flexibly, talented freelancers, or running their own businesses – one word seems to crop up a lot. And that’s guilt. Coach Roxanne Hobbs explains why we’re almost conditioned to feel guilty once we have children, and how you can banish your own guilt forever. Guilt seems like an inevitable part of being a mum. There’s always a list of things that we ought to be doing or ways in which we should be doing things differently. Our time is so stretched that we inevitably use short cuts to get by, and then beat ourselves up about it."

In The News

The IAB UK Podcast - Neurodiversity, autism and inclusion

1st April, 2021

In this special episode to mark World Autism Awareness Week (29 March - 4 April 2021), James speaks to Roxanne Hobbs, Founder of The Hobbs Consultancy.

International Women’s Day 2021, meet 100 rising stars inspiring change

8th March, 2021

Roxanne has been listed as one of @the_dots_uk’s 100 rising stars who are transforming the industry of today, inspiring the generation of tomorrow & making history!

Soho Radio programme - International Men's Day

19th November, 2020

Daniele Fiandaca interviews Roxanne Hobbs on Soho Radio's Culture channel

Tough at the top - why management is still macho

23rd November, 2020

Employees are increasingly looking for leadership traits such as empathy and vulnerability in the workplace – but bosses aren’t demonstrating or rewarding these behaviours, according to new research out today.

Research shows old-fashioned, 'manly' bosses are failing workers during pandemic

19th November, 2020

The Masculinity in the Workplace study, conducted by culture change business Utopia and inclusion consultancy The Hobbs Consultancy, found that three in five (62%) workers think empathy is critical for business success, but only 19% believe it’s rewarded by their organisation.

Research shows old-fashioned, 'manly' bosses are failing workers during pandemic

19th November, 2020

Men in particular suppress 'softer' traits, with four in ten (39%) reporting they're taught to avoid being empathetic at work. This rises to half of men (49%) in non-managerial roles believing they have to actively hide how they feel while they're on the job.

Research shows old-fashioned, 'manly' bosses are failing workers during pandemic

19th November, 2020

97% of employees say showing you're emotionally vulnerable at work isn't valued, yet half (53%) see vulnerability as a key leadership trait.

A third (35%) go even further, saying it's too risky to demonstrate vulnerability in the workplace.

Research shows old-fashioned, 'manly' bosses are failing workers during pandemic

19th November, 2020

UK workers are increasingly seeking leadership traits such as empathy and vulnerability in the workplace - but bosses aren’t demonstrating or rewarding these behaviours, according to new research out today.

Who's Next with Zara Bryson -Episode 13, Roxanne Hobbs Autism, Bravery and Belonging

8th January, 2020

Last summer I had the pleasure of speaking to Roxanne Hobbs, the founder of The Hobbs Consultancy who are on a mission to tranform the workplace via inclusion. I was introduced to Roxanne by Antoinette Dale Henderson (Episode 9 ) who was inspired by her work.

Roxanne is a coach, speaker and author of 'Diverted' a book about resilience, inclusion and autism. Amongst other things, we discussed courage, the work of Brené Brown, the power of neurodiversity and the need to proactively build support systems. Rox is superbly honest and open about understanding her own biases, her son's autism diagnosis and the power of vulnerability and authenticity in leadership.

Are Women's own Unconscious Biases getting in their way of Success?

19th December, 2019

Businesses are certainly beginning to understand how unconscious bias means that some groups of people may have to ‘jump higher’ for certain roles within their companies. What is talked about less is another, more internalised, form of bias.

The impact of this bias is that individuals may find that they themselves unconsciously get in their own way of success.

Does business have a problem with fathers??

29th November, 2019

There’s long been a misconception that success in business has to come at the cost of family life. While trends like the rise of part-time CEOs are slowly dispelling that myth, many businesses still appear to be behind the times; especially when it comes to working fathers.

According to a study by culture change business Utopia and The Hobbs Consultancy in conjunction with research agency Opinium, a quarter of workers feel that bosses are inflexible when it comes to letting them be parents.

Creativebrief - BITE Thought Leadership

27th November, 2019

“The idea of manning up lets men down.” These were the words David Lammy MP opened with at the Masculinity in the Workplace conference hosted at Havas London on International Men's Day 2019. The event was organised by culture change business Utopia and The Hobbs Consultancy, in collaboration with HeANDShe and Token Man.

Lammy was being interviewed by Roxanne Hobbs, Founder of The Hobbs Consultancy and HeANDShe in a pre-recorded video, exploring vulnerability, the language of Westminster and why he will always maintain an “emotional connection with the people I want to represent.”

Three lessons for the Masculinity in the Workplace conference

21st November, 2019

Speakers at the event sought to challenge stereotypes about gender roles in society and the workplace.

The Masculinity in the Workplace conference, organised by culture change business Utopia and The Hobbs Consultancy, in collaboration with HeANDShe and Token Man, and held on International Men’s Day (19 November), aimed to challenge the limiting and narrow constructs of masculinity that currently exist in the workplace.

Here's some of the lessons we learnt:

International Men's Day press coverage

19th November, 2019

We got trolled in the Daily Star! They picked up on our joint research with Utopia and took umbrage at the way 'Snowflakes were preventing banter in the workplace'. Our PR agency were very upset but I have to admit we found it hilarious.

International Men's Day press coverage

19th November, 2019

In light of International Men’s Day, it has been discovered that over a fifth of employers actively discourages male staff from taking on parenting duties that may affect their work.

This was discovered through culture change business, Utopia and the Hobbs Consultancy’s joint research ‘Masculinity in the Workplace.’ It found that 21 per cent of male employees say their boss actually advises them not to take on parenting duties if it may affect their work.

International Men's Day press coverage

19th November, 2019

Seven out of 10 men still feel they need to be the main financial provider in the family, a poll found. But at the same time, 46% also felt it was their responsibility to be their children's primary carer.

Comment, Grazia magazine

July, 2019

'Having read Why women need to wise up to the pension penalty (17 June), I feel people need to be careful about comments such as having a career in marketing and being a mum doesn't work unless you find the most amazing employer'.

Thank you for sharing, Psychologies magazine

July, 2019

Employers are realising that a culture of emotional honesty can build trusting, creative teams, but vulnerability is tricky terrain. Suzanne Scott explores how much sharing is too much

The agency to flex - why iCrossing called time on the 9-5.

2nd May, 2019

In January this year The Flexible Working Task Force launched a campaign to increase the uptake of flexible working; encouraging employers to advertise jobs as flexible regardless of level or pay grade. And the campaign’s strapline, Happy to Talk Flexible Working, has never rung truer at iCrossing UK, which introduced its first flexible working policy for all staff at the end of 2018.

6 takeaways from #DiverseMinds

18th March: 2019

The second industry conference on neurodiversity has created positive momentum and tangible action points to creating a more inclusive industry.

An article about our Diverseminds conference written by Nicola Kemp from Campaign.

Toxic Masculinity is a much needed conversation

18th January, 2019

It’s great to see an issue Token Man has been discussing for some time on the national agenda - it’s an important subject often ignored - and we applaud Gillette for bringing it to the fore. At our masculinity in the workplace conference in November 2018 we spent an evening with 180 men and women sharing experiences, research and personal stories on the damage done by aspects of masculinity that are toxic. The speakers were so insightful and inspiring we thought who better than this set of specialists to share their thoughts on the campaign and its potential impact. Here’s what they had to say:

Creative industries have to embrace #DiverseMinds 2.0

16th January, 2019

Neurodivergents – those with dyslexia, autism, ADHD or dyspraxia – make up about 10% of the population. Yet, just one in 10 organisations include neurodiversity in their people management practices, according to a 2018 poll by CIPD, the professional body for HR and people management. The fact is that, in the war for cutting-edge creativity and innovation, neurodivergents are the creative industries' best weapon.

Masculinity in the Workplace video

15th November, 2018

Paternity Coach, Tom Beardshaw, and Executive Coach, Roxanne Hobbs, discuss Masculinity in the Workplace, how understanding the history of gender roles is important to move forward and break the current structures, and how unconscious bias plays such a factor in how circumstances fold out - segueing into what true co-parenting actually looks like..

The TokenMan: CDM's Phil Bartlett on his experience at Omniwomen and workplace equality

15th October, 2018

Ahead of its event exploring the issue of toxic masculinity in the marketing sector, The Token Man interview series returns with Roxanne Hobbs, founder of the Hobbs Consultancy and #HeANDShe, interviewing Phil Bartlett, managing director at CDM, part of the Omnicom Group.

Roxanne Hobbs (RH): Why do you think we’ve ended up talking to each other today?

How unconscious bias means that we get in our own way

1st October, 2018

Are women's own unconscious biases stopping them from pursuing what they truly want in their lives?

Businesses are certainly beginning to understand how unconscious bias means that some groups of people may have to ‘jump higher’ for certain roles within their companies. What is talked about less is another, more internalised, form of bias.

The impact of this bias is that individuals may find that they themselves unconsciously get in their own way of success.

Masculinity in the Workplace guest blog for Virgin.com

25th September, 2018

Unconscious bias training is becoming a fixture of many big businesses. Organisations are seeking to understand how people are systemically excluded in our decision making due to the unconscious associations that we may hold about certain groups.

BIMA 100 2018

17th April, 2018

The Hobbs Consultancy are delighted to announce that Roxanne has been listed in this years BIMA 100 which honours individuals who are shaping the future of Britain’s digital industry. Recognised in the ‘Champions for Good’ category for those who have utilised their professional skills or resources to achieve social good.

#DiverseMinds Conference

14th March, 2018

'Stop defining people by what they can't do': 5 takeaways from #DiverseMinds. Neurodiversity may be the most invisible diversity dilemma facing the industry but it is nonetheless urgent. Expecting the workforce to conform to one definition of normal is not only hindering progress on diversity, it is stifling creativity and having a negative impact on business outcomes.

#DiverseMinds Conference

14th March, 2018

Video showing learnings from the #DiverseMinds conference on how to create a more inclusive workplace and embrace neurodiversity.

How Embracing Vulnerability can Power Innovation, Creativity and Change

22nd February, 2018

From Jackson Pollock’s drip paintings illustrating his internal rage to Adele’s breakup album 21, time and again people connect with work that reveals something about an artist’s soul. But most of us spend our lives trying to avoid being this exposed, thanks to a pervasive belief that vulnerability equals weakness.

The Hidden Neurodiversity Toll in our Industry

7th February, 2018

Last year I was completed blindsided when we were told that my child has autism. Suddenly life at home became much, much harder. And life at work became much more complicated. I was ashamed that I had spent seven years championing diversity and had not mentioned neurodiversity once. This has now changed and we are, along with Creative Equals and Campaign, hosting the industry's first #diverseminds conference on 1 March.

The Truth Behind The IPA's Diversity Survey

19th January, 2018

Last week's IPA Diversity Survey laid bare how far the industry is behind where it should be. The numbers of women moving up to senior leadership has moved by 0.6%. Overall, the BAME figures have moved by 0.7%. This is despite a year of articles, panels, discussion groups and diversity conferences.

Transforming The Workplace via Inclusivity Podcast

21st December, 2017

Are you able to be your true self at work? Imagine the benefits to you and the business if you could. In this episode I caught up with Roxanne Hobbs, the founder of The Hobbs Consultancy. She is on a mission to transform the workplace via inclusivity so that people can show up as themselves.

Gender Equality: Fathers in the Workplace

21st November, 2017

Much has been debated about gender equality, but the focus has always been on women and the impact that motherhood may have on their careers. What about the father and the challenges that they face? Gender equality organisations, HeANDShe together with Token Man hosted last week in London the workshop: 'Fathers in the workplace', to discuss how a shared responsibility can have an impact on their partners and ultimately gender equality.

Leadership and Emotional Intelligence

9th November, 2017

"There's been enough talking about what we're going to do to create more diversity and inclusion in our industry. It's time to start doing. Here are The Hobbs Consultancy's 5 things that you can do RIGHT NOW."

Leadership and Emotional Intelligence

3rd November, 2017

"The command-and-control style of leadership in agencies is fast becoming a relic of the Mad Men era, but what skills do the new generation of leaders possess in 2017? We explore the rise of emotional intelligence , vulnerability and resilience and how they are shaping the behaviour of those at the top."

Why Men Need To Get Involved In The Gender Equality Debate

25th October, 2017

"Men face struggles as a result of gender stereotypes as much as women do, but they are just different struggles. The may be making inauthentic career decisions because of expectations on them or they may be finding it hard to reach out about their struggle because our society says they need to be strong and it doesn't need to be this way."

How To Show Up As Your Authentic Self And Still Kick Ass

3rd October, 2017

Authenticity is one of those buzz words on everybody’s lips at the moment and I sometimes wonder if we’re all talking about the same thing. I once went to a conference where people were encouraged to be ‘authentic – but not too authentic’, and I left feeling confused as to what we were actually encouraging people to do.

Neurodiversity starts at home

27th July, 2017

"In the Spring of this year, one of my children was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism. It has been a challenging time for our family and I’m sure the challenges will continue for some time yet. However, we’re definitely on the rising side of the change curve now – beginning to see the gifts and learnings in our situation. ..."

Startup Mums -Meet Roxanne Hobbs Founder of The Hobbs Consultancy

16th July, 2017

The Hobbs Consultancy is transforming business with its learnings on the inclusivity of women in the workplace, and continues to develop and learn with its aim to promote neurodiversity. Here Roxanne shares her inspiring startup story. The Hobbs Consultancy is on a mission to transform business through inclusivity. We believe creating cultures in which people can show up as themselves, and be valued for that, can step change business. We believe that the world is changed through conversation and so offer coaching, facilitation and public speaking all with the aim of kickstarting those challenging conversations."

HeANDShe: The Courage Required for Change

22nd June, 2017

"Earlier this week, we hosted The Third Annual HeANDShe Conference at Mindshare. It was an awesome event that made me proud to work here. The evening opened with Jenny Healy, Chief Talent Officer, talking about ‘Being Human’ and our drive to provide audiences valuable experiences. Jenny introduced Roxanne Hobbs, founder of The Hobbs Consultancy, who spoke about: Holding Space; Shame; Vulnerability & Courage..."

Going back to work: How to make returning a successful transition

22nd May 2017

"Going back to work after time away can be a daunting experience. Whether you're two months out of a job, two years or two decades, the nerves, anticipation and anxiety related with the move to return can be overwhelming. But you're not alone. These feelings are totally normal. Going back to work can also be an incredibly exciting time, signalling change and a new chapter in your life. Here, our panel of experts share their advice and pool their years of experience to offer their top tips on going back to work, and how to make returning a successful - and hopefully enjoyable and exciting - transition."

Shame in Organisations

18th May 2017

"I’ve recently become convinced that it is not possible to talk about the Diversity and Inclusivity challenges we are facing in the workplace without a discussion about shame. And the biggest obstacle to tackling our D&I challenges may well be that no one wants to have this conversation. What is shame? Shame is best characterised as an inherent lack of worthiness and a feeling of somehow being inadequate. It is a toxic emotion leading not to behavioural change but instead to disconnection. And - we all have it. As human beings that are wired for connection with others, our greatest fear can only be that there is something about us that is somehow not worthy of that connection."

The unspoken impact of unconscious bias on men

3rd May 2017

Finally, the agency world seems to have woken up to the issue of unconscious bias as more and more agencies sign up for training. We are spending a lot of time talking about how we might unconsciously make it harder for certain groups to get recruited for certain roles, and for certain individuals to achieve promotion success.

If Donald Trump is the best the US can offer, what's next for masculine leadership?

3rd November 2017

"Watching the car crash that is the US election 2016 play out has, at times, been shocking, frightening, unsurprising and downright fascinating. The question I keep coming back to is, ‘Why this? And why now?’. We are seeing a huge backlash against the establishment which is seen to be elitist and corrupt. Put simply, the status quo is not working for much of the population.

In America, men are more likely to be drawn to the rhetoric of Donald Trump. Nate Silver (the polling statistician) tells us that if only men were to vote this year, Trump would win every swing state and get 350 electoral votes (compared with Clinton’s 188)."

Fighting the culture of 'pro-bro': How can women in advertising be themselves at work?

2nd November 2016

“Too often, women are putting on a mask in order to survive the male-centric ad industry. But perhaps it’s time to take off the disguise to tackle the cult of ‘bro’. Elephant on Madison Avenue, the 3% Conference’s aptly named new research into the biggest problem in advertising today, highlights the hurdles faced by female talent as they take on institutionalized discrimination. Whether it’s being overlooked for opportunities because you’re not invited to boys’ golf days, being left out of meetings because you’re a mother, or putting up with sexist remarks from colleagues, superiors and even clients, it’s clear from the findings that women have the odds stacked against them."

The Gender Pay Gap

14th September 2016

"There was a certain irony in seeing the headline that ‘more than a third of teenage girls suffer depression and anxiety’ on the same front page as updated data on the gender pay gap (in short - there still is one). (I wonder what it must be like to read the continual coverage about the pay gap, the casual sexism of the Olympic commentators, the constant trolling and victim blaming as an 18 year old girl? Pretty bloody depressing, I’d say.)

I read the pay gap coverage with an eye roll. Here we are again. At first I couldn’t even be bothered to comment on it. Creating systemic change in this arena is complex, painfully slow and full of people missing the point entirely."

Maternity leave: What's not working and how to fix it

8th September 2016

"Having a baby can bring about its fair set of challenges, but one that expectant mothers should not have to face is the threat of encountering discrimination in the workplace. At the end of August, maternity leave related discrimination made UK headlines after a major report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission estimated that around 54,000 women in the UK lose their job each year over a pregnancy, and that 77% of UK mothers surveyed felt they’d had a negative or discriminatory experience in telling their work they were pregnant."

Supporting Women Past Imposter Syndrome and into Leadership

4th February 2016

"This article is part of our in-depth content series on women in the workplace - take a look at the full list of articles today and increase your knowledge of a range of issues relating to women in the workplace, including sickness absence, impostor syndrome and mental health. Advertisement Are you doing enough to support women into leadership positions in your company? If you’re not tackling imposter syndrome then the answer is probably ‘no’. Why? Because, it is something that impacts on women in the workplace more than men and hinders them from taking that step up into leadership."

Why we must stop framing inclusivity as a women's issue

5th October 2015

"Progress on inclusivity and equality within organisations remains frustratingly slow. I believe a significant part of the problem is that we insist on framing it purely as a gender issue. Instead, I have recently started urging leaders to get behind the business case for a more inclusive working environment for everyone. The challenge is that focusing solely on women is actually the antithesis of inclusivity. Inclusivity is not about cherry-picking one group for success; it is about removing the barriers to success that exist for everybody."

Going back to work: The difference between guilt and shame

28th July 2015

"Today’s blog post is written by Roxanne Hobbs, founder and maternity coach at the Hobbs Consultancy. The Hobbs Consultancy offers maternity coaching to support mums in navigating the transition back to the workplace. Here, she explores the difference between guilt and shame that many mothers feel when going back to work after having children. When working as a maternity coach, supporting women in the transition back to work, one of the most common presenting issues is guilt. Women tell me how guilty they feel at leaving their children to go back to work, or how guilty they feel at leaving early (usually meaning ‘on time’) to get back for bathtime or, even, guilty that they don’t feel guilty!"

Why mums feel guilt (and how to stop)

16th January 2014

"When we speak to mums – whether they’re working flexibly, talented freelancers, or running their own businesses – one word seems to crop up a lot. And that’s guilt. Coach Roxanne Hobbs explains why we’re almost conditioned to feel guilty once we have children, and how you can banish your own guilt forever. Guilt seems like an inevitable part of being a mum. There’s always a list of things that we ought to be doing or ways in which we should be doing things differently. Our time is so stretched that we inevitably use short cuts to get by, and then beat ourselves up about it."