You've run the awareness session. The feedback was strong. People were nodding. And then... nothing changed. If that sounds familiar, it's not because your programme was wrong. It's because awareness alone doesn't change behaviour. Conditions do.

Brigid sits down with Shannon Rivers, organisational development strategist, consultant and Director of Social Enterprise, Social Responsibility and Change. With over 12 years of experience helping organisations move beyond tick-box exercises, Shannon applies a Black, queer, and womanist liberatory lens to embed anti-oppressive practices into how organisations operate.

Starting her career in marketing, she quickly realised that if you want to change what shows up externally, you have to address the internal culture first.

Shannon argues that EDI and L&D are working towards the same goal: behaviour change. Keeping them in separate silos limits the impact of both. She explores why many EDI initiatives stall, what actually drives culture change and how L&D leaders can secure buy-in from senior stakeholders without compromising their values.

If you're trying to make learning stick or embed inclusion beyond a one-off programme, this episode will change how you think about both.

What you'll learn:

1. Why EDI is scaffolding, not a separate workstream and what happens when it's treated as one
2. The real reason learning sessions generate great feedback but little behaviour change
3. What actually works: line managers, action learning sets, accountability and designing for how people engage
4. How to build the business case for EDI and L&D investment, including the often-overlooked social return
5. Why organisations mirror the external world and what that means for learning culture design
6. Shannon's marketing-inspired internal communications framework: problem, position, proposal
7. One mindset shift for L&D and EDI professionals who feel they need to do more

🔗 Connect with Shannon

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonbethanyrivers/

📮 The Assembly Debrief

A short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise. https://www.assembleyou.com/the-assembly/newsletter

👋 Come and connect with us

We’re always keen to hear what’s resonating or what you’re seeing in your world.

Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/

Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/

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