Kaye Nicholson Inspires Future Leaders to ‘Move Beyond Bias’

On Wednesday 15 October, we hosted Future Connect: Embracing Diversity – Moving Beyond Bias with expert speaker Kaye Nicholson, Chief Executive Officer of Liberate Jersey. The event explored how we can recognise and move beyond unconscious bias to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces.

15 October 2025

Admit you are biased. Get out more. Diversify your social media feeds. Accept you have a personal responsibility for diversity and inclusion. Give yourself time to respond. Question what you do and why you are doing it. Don’t assume.
Kaye NicholsonCEO, Liberate Jersey

Understanding unconscious bias

Our brains are hard-wired to categorise – it’s how we simplify the world and make decisions quickly.

Categorisation, while natural, creates “ingroup” and “outgroup” dynamics that shape how we see and treat others.

Everyone has unconscious biases – acknowledging them is the first step to managing their impact.

Bias isn’t always negative; sometimes it appears in subtle preferences or assumptions that go unnoticed.

The impact of stereotypes

Stereotypes are rarely formed from personal experience – they’re learned second-hand through media, culture and upbringing.
These mental shortcuts can limit opportunity and reinforce exclusion, even unintentionally.
People who value diversity can still act on stereotypes unconsciously when not self-aware.
True inclusion means recognising these thought patterns and actively challenging them.

Moving beyond bias

Admit and accept

Your own biases – awareness is key to change.

Expand your perspective:

Diversify your social media feeds, networks, and experiences.

Pause before reacting:

Give yourself time to question assumptions and decisions.

Take responsibility

For creating inclusive environments — everyone plays a role.

Recategorise, don’t decategorise:

Don’t erase difference; appreciate and celebrate it.

Takeaway for Future Connect Members

For Future Connect Members, this session was a reminder that embracing diversity isn’t just about awareness – it’s about action. Kaye Nicholson challenged attendees to recognise their own unconscious biases and take personal responsibility for fostering inclusion in their teams and workplaces.

Members left the event with a deeper understanding of how bias shapes behaviour and decision-making, along with practical steps to:

Build more inclusive habits in everyday interactions
Challenge stereotypes and question assumptions
Encourage open, respectful dialogue around diversity
Lead by example – creating environments where everyone feels seen, valued, and supported.

Ultimately, Future Connect Members were encouraged to become advocates for positive change, helping shape a more equitable and innovative finance industry.

Event photos

Thank You to our Event Series Sponsor

Grant Thornton Limited is a leading Channel Islands practice with offices in Guernsey and Jersey with a combined staffing strength of over 250 people. We are the Channel Island member of Grant Thornton International, one of the world’s leading international organisations of independently owned and managed accounting and consulting firms.

We have been offering practical and strategic advice to all the key sectors in the Channel Islands for many years, and work closely with our clients to understand the specific issues that they face, evidenced by the many long-standing client relationships that we have developed.

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