Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria powered by CCDI

Each month, Sartaj Sarkaria, President and CEO of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion interviews a leader who is a making a difference in Canada in the field of diversity, inclusion, and equity. Over the course of a year, you will hear from an eclectic group of people who inspire change.

Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria powered by CCDI is a business podcast hosted by Sartaj Sarkaria, with 6 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Sartaj Sarkaria hosts Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria powered by CCDI, a business show with 6 episodes published.

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  Episode #6

  Season 5, Episode 6 | Championing Disability Equity Together with Jeff Tiessen

  Jul 15, 202633 minS5

  Disability is too often left out of DEIA conversations, but true inclusion isn't possible without disability equity. In the latest episode of the Leader Talks Podcast with Sartaj Sarkaria, we sit down with Jeff Tiessen, Executive Producer of Mindset DEI and President & Publisher of Disability Today. Jeff shares his journey as a double amputee, athlete, father, and leader. He explains how his lived experience has shaped his career, leadership, and commitment to disability equity. We discuss the progress and ongoing challenges in disability advocacy, from accessibility to universal design. We also explore how Mindset DEI is advancing awareness and inclusion. Jeff also shares practical ways everyone can help build more inclusive environments. Tune in for an insightful conversation on resilience, leadership, and building a more inclusive future. Available now on your preferred podcast platforms or visit ccdi.ca/podcast. Key Points From This Episode: A brief overview of today’s guest, Jeff Tiessen. How his lived experience has affected his path and career. Jeff’s key motivations as an athlete and how they’ve evolved. Accessibility today versus before and its ebb and flow in progress. What Mindset DEI is and how Jeff moved from publishing to education. Jeff’s leadership style and how it differs from that of a non-disabled person. What Jeff is doing to make his environment more inclusive daily. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Jeff Tiessen on LinkedIn Mindset DEI Disability Today Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion Sartaj Sarkaria Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria

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  Episode #5

  Season 5, Episode 5 | Inclusion, Belonging, and the Future of Sport with Keph Senett and Kurt Weaver

  Jun 1, 202651 minS5

  Sport can foster connection and community, but for many 2SLGBTQIA+ people, it has also been a source of exclusion. In this episode of Leader Talks, we are excited to welcome guest host Pangus Kung, Director, Initiatives and Engagement at CCDI. Pangus is joined by Keph Senett, writer and trustee for Pride House International, and Kurt Weaver, Executive Director of You Can Play, for a timely conversation about inclusion, participation, and the future of sport. Together, they explore the role of sport in culture and community, the origins and impact of Pride House initiatives, and how organizations are working to create more welcoming environments at every level of participation. The conversation delves into the growing politicization of trans participation in sport, the realities behind exclusionary policies, and why grassroots participation and everyday inclusion are just as important as representation at the professional level. Keph and Kurt also reflect on their personal experiences in sport, the importance of community, and the ways coaches, leagues, and participants can help build safer, more inclusive spaces. Tune in for an honest conversation about sport, leadership, and the future of inclusion! Key Points From This Episode: Introducing today’s guests, Keph Senett and Kurt Weaver. The origins of You Can Play and its mission to build inclusive sport spaces. How Pride House International supports 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion at major sporting events. Why 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion in sport remains a pressing issue today. How anti-trans rhetoric is being used as a broader political wedge issue. Why trans inclusion in sport is not a one-size-fits-all conversation. The importance of separating grassroots participation from elite sport debates. How exclusion and bullying push many queer athletes out of sport. The value of queer recreational leagues and intentionally inclusive spaces. Why sport organizations need more creative and inclusive participation models. How small actions from coaches, leaders, and communities can create change. Answering the previous guests’ questions on personal sustainability and everyday DEIA work. What questions today’s guests want to leave for the next guests of Leader Talks. Keph and Kurt answer the question: What is one leadership habit you are carrying with you right now? Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Keph Senett Keph Senett on Instagram Pride House International Kurt Weaver on LinkedIn You Can Play Pangus Kung Pangus Kung on LinkedIn Pride House Toronto 2026 Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) Sartaj Sarkaria Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria

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  Episode #4

  Season 5, Episode 4 | Guests: Julia Santana Parrilla, Heather McCain

  May 20, 20261h 17mS5

  Many organizations and researchers have the best of intentions when it comes to DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility). But creating truly inclusive systems requires going further and embracing accountability. In this episode of Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria, Julia Santana Parrilla of Beyond the Binary and Heather McCain of Live Educate Transform Society (LETS) discuss how research, policy, and workplace systems can unintentionally exclude the people they are meant to support. Julia and Heather reflect on the personal experiences that shaped their commitment to DEIA work and explain how the Beyond the Binary Canada Guide examines cisnormative and heteronormative assumptions embedded in women’s health research. They explore the real-world impact of biased systems and research, from barriers to diagnosis and accommodation to inequitable workplace practices and inaccessible services. The conversation also examines why inclusion must go beyond representation and language to include accountability, community collaboration, and structural change. Along the way, Julia and Heather share practical insights on helping organizations move beyond feeling “stuck” in DEIA work, how small changes can create more accessible spaces, and the importance of self-compassion and ongoing learning. Listen in for a thoughtful conversation on how inclusive research can help create more equitable systems that respond to people’s actual needs. Key Points From This Episode: Introducing today’s guests, Julia Santana Parrilla and Heather McCain. How their personal experiences shaped their commitment to DEIA work. The origins of Beyond the Binary and its focus on inclusive health research. Harms caused by gaps in research and biased research design. How biased systems affect diagnosis, accommodations, and access to services. The importance of community collaboration in building equitable research practices. Why intersectionality, accountability, and structural change are crucial in DEIA work. Practical ways organizations can move beyond feeling “stuck” in DEIA work. How small accessibility changes can create wider community impact. Why curiosity, self-compassion, and ongoing learning are essential to DEIA work. Understanding DEIA as ever-evolving, not as something with a particular endpoint. The critical role of community support in sustaining DEIA work. Reflections on what hope, progress, and accessibility look like for future generations. Answering the previous guests’ questions about progress, privilege, and responsibility. What questions today’s guests want to leave for the next guest of Leader Talks. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Julia Santana Parrilla on LinkedIn Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI) Beyond the Binary in Canada | Guide Partnership for Women’s Health Research Canada (PWHR) Heather McCain Heather McCain on LinkedIn Live Educate Transform Society (LETS) Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion Sartaj Sarkaria Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria

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  Episode #3

  Season 5, Episode 3 | Guests: Barry Alexander and Gavin Barrett

  Apr 28, 202652 minS5

  In this episode of Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria, we sit down with, Barry Alexander and Gavin Barrett, two trailblazers in Canadian marketing, to discuss the power of embracing DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibilities) as a growth strategy. Rather than treating DEIA as a box to check or a defense measure, our guests share how DEIA can become a driving force behind business success. Tune in for inspiring stories from Barry and Gavin as they reflect on their personal journeys and experiences that shaped their DEIA views. Learn from their insights on the state of diversity in marketing and the importance of moving past representation and into inclusion. They also share actionable strategies marketing leaders can use to foster belonging, drive meaningful change, and create workplaces where everyone thrives. Tune in to hear how inclusive leadership in marketing can dismantle systemic barriers and build lasting, transformative change. Key Points From This Episode: Introducing today’s guests, Barry Alexander and Gavin Barrett. Their lives and how those experiences have shaped their views on EDI. Why brands that see EDI as a growth strategy have a competitive advantage. The impact POCAM has had and the need it fulfills. Where the marketing industry stands in terms of embedding diversity within its teams. What marketing leaders can do that’s truly impactful in terms of EDI. How our guests approach the concept of inclusion and belonging in their lives. Why there is no ‘end’ to EDI and why it’s an ongoing investment. They answer the previous guest’s question about handling incredibly hard times. What question today’s guests want to leave for the next guest of Leader Talks. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Barry Alexander on LinkedIn Gavin Barrett Gavin Barrett on LinkedIn ‘EDI Is a Growth Strategy. Brands That Treat It as Defence Are Already Losing.’ POCAM Creativity with a Conscience Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion Sartaj Sarkaria Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham

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  Episode #2

  Season 5, Episode 2 | Guest: Matt Kenny

  Apr 10, 202635 minS5

  Sharing your story has the power to save the lives of iindividuals experiencing similar hardships. In this episode of Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria, we welcome Matt Kenny, the self-described ‘recovering hockey player’, marathon runner, and 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate, to discuss how he navigates life as a disabled, queer immigrant. Hear all about his experience playing hockey, why he decided to leave the sport, and navigating life in the United States. as a gay immigrant with a disability. Matt speaks candidly about the challenges following his multiple sclerosis diagnosis, including a deeply personal and emotional moment of crisis. He sdiscusses the changes that helped him return to running despite his disability, and his journey to the NHL Unites Pride Cup, where he found inspiration to uplift fellow queer athletes. He also reflects on the importance of representation and how embracing both “hockey Matt” and “gay Matt” helped to advance inclusion within the sport. Listener discretion advised: This episode contains a brief discussion of Matt Kenny’s personal story, which touches on sensitive topics including attempted suicide. Listeners who wish to avoid these references may do so at timestamps 06:47 and 29:58. We encourage you to pause, skip these sections, or seek professional support as needed. Thank you for listening, and we hope you find this episode valuable. Key Points From This Episode: Introducing Matt Kenny to the show. Why he calls himself a ‘recovering hockey player.’ What Matt is doing today and how his diagnosis has affected his life. TW: For listeners who wish to avoid Matt’s account of attempted suicide, please skip audio between [00:06:47] and [00:08:28]. The changes Matt made and how he started running again. His experience attending the NHL Unites Pride Cup and why he was invited. What Matt wishes he had been told as a young, gay athlete. How LGBTQ+ representation in media builds confidence within the community. The impact the You Can Play project is having on young hockey players. How Matt has improved equity and inclusion in hockey and the resistance he’s faced. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Matt Kenny Linktree Matt Kenny on Instagram You Can Play Pride Tape Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion Sartaj Sarkaria Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham

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