Reach your brands full potential through the incorporation of diversity | Perspectives with Nathalie Lam (Philips)
Perspectives with Nathalie Lam
Head of Global Sponsorship and Lead Inclusion and Diversity marketing transformation at Philips
In this week’s episode, we chat with a champion of diversity, Nathalie Lam. Nathalie is the head of global sponsorship at Philips, as well as the company’s Lead Inclusion and Diversity marketing transformation. With a wealth of experience in marketing behind her, she helps direct Philips’ output to embody the values that align with her intrinsic motivations.
As a bi-cultural woman in a leadership role in tech, Nathalie is familiar with board rooms that are in need of more diversity - and she has fought her whole life to make that happen, breaking paradigms that have long reigned in corporate culture and introducing new perspectives:
“Everyone has a different perspective or a different background and therefore, a different lens.”
Governance in writing is not enough to ensure representation in the workplace, so Nathalie advocates always keeping conversations going. We discuss how companies like Philips can be the change we need to see by bringing the conversation to the fore.
“In society, we tend to work and have discussions in a homogeneous kind of vacuum. In the end, if you have a cross-functional, cross-cultural, cross-gender type of conversation, I think it’s very important.”
It is equally important to have spaces that encourage open exchanges, something that we touch upon when discussing how 2020 and the work of the Black Lives Matter movement were invaluable in pushing workplaces to change for the better. She reflects on how at Philips, the movement helped foster an environment where she feels comfortable to share her emotions and thoughts with her colleagues, and where they can reciprocate.
“Before when people had struggles, people wanted to talk about it, but the platform wasn’t really there, especially not in corporate organizations. And now suddenly there is a natural platform where people can share their thoughts, their fears.”
Through sponsorships such as Pride, and now a marketing clinic inviting experts in inclusion and diversity marketing to help with briefings and campaigns, Nathalie has heralded an era of support and inclusivity at Philips. The overall aim is to have all of society reflected in Philips’ team and output, and to ensure employees feel comfortable being themselves and speaking their mind, something Nathalie feels passionate about.
“I always say speak up, even if you feel uncomfortable. Make little steps to speak up because only if you have your voice heard, you can make that change.”
Tune in to the podcast where we discuss coming into your purpose through COVID-19, realising our intrinsic motivations, and how individuals, movements, and companies all play a role in accelerating change.