STEPH EDUSEI
Steph Edusei is the Chief Executive of St. Oswald’s Hospice, a large children and adult’s hospice based in Newcastle Upon Tyne. She is also a Non-Executive Director of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is a Director of the North East England Chamber of Commerce.
Steph has been an integral part of her local community. She has been a leader with Girlguiding UK for over 30 years and holds the position of Chair at Eliot Smith Dance Company. Previously, she served as co-chair of The Angelou Centre, based in Newcastle. This is a black-led women’s charity that offers training, counselling, and refuge support.
As the founder of the ‘Black All Year’ podcast and associated events, Steph uses the platform to amplify black voices. She highlights the challenges faced by Black people, as well as celebrate their successes and achievements.
In 2022, Steph was named Transformational Leader at the Northern Power Women Awards.
SPEAKER TOPICS
LEADERSHIP: EMBRACING THE BENEFITS OF COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP
With a career in management spanning over 20 years — and many high-level, executive roles — Steph Edusei has a wealth of experience to share. She talks about Leadership, and in particular Compassionate Leadership.
Compassionate Leadership is a doctrine that builds strong relationships with employees by making them feel valued and cared for. It means listening to the needs of the people who make up your organisation; empathising with them and finding solutions that suit all parties. Benefits include, stronger connections with employees, improved collaboration, Better engagement and Increased productivity
But it’s not just about Leadership. Steph has refined her key leadership lessons into a few main points.
ATTENDEES WILL LEARN:
Why listening with empathy is key to organisational success.
How to create the right environment for people to thrive and excel.
The role of authenticity to build trust and strengthen team dynamics.
Actionable strategies you can use to develop compassionate leadership.
As one door closes, another opens – Keeping your eyes open for opportunities.
STEPH’S JOURNEY: BUILDING SUCCESS IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY
Growing up in 1980s Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, the daughter of a black African Ashanti Dad, and a white, ginger, English Mum — Steph Edusei knows what it is to be in a minority. Choosing a career in executive leadership in an almost exclusively white and male industry did little to alleviate this...
Steph navigated many challenges and overcame a great deal of obstacles to get where she is today.
Through these experiences, she’s learned the importance of challenging racism and sexism head-on. Steph understands what it takes to bring about institutional change, and how to navigate resistance from within.
She knows how to build success in the face of adversity and can offer guidance on thriving as a Leader, a single mother, a mixed-race woman, AND a woman in general.
Steph talks with a great deal of authority and eloquence about her heritage; her life growing up, and — as much as one person can —what it means to be black and British in 2024.
With Steph's immense warmth and extensive knowledge, attendees will leave with genuine insights, and perhaps a different outlook from the one they came in with.
ATTENDEES WILL LEARN:
A first-person perspective on workplace and cultural issues that impact minorities and people from different backgrounds.
Tips and best practices for improving diversity and inclusion at all levels.
Valuable context and case studies, exploring why equity matters.
Important lifestyle advice, and how to find the right balance.
OTHER SPEAKER TOPICS
Imposter Syndrome: What it means, and how to cope with it.
Burnout: How to recognise the warning signs, and what actions to take.
How to push boundaries and not alienate yourself in the process.
HERE’S WHAT PREVIOUS ATTENDEES SAID…
““The wealth of insights shared by Steph were not only enlightening but extremely impactful. The real-world perspective will not only enrich our discussions but undoubtedly influence the way we approach our work and our mission to serve patients.
Steph was superb, not only her level of knowledge and experience, but her personal story was truly inspiring!” ”
“Steph spoke about the challenges of trauma and racism, and she was incredibly engaging. The workshop had a huge attendance, with people sharing their experiences but also acknowledging their own biases. The talk made people think and challenge themselves to support our ethnically minoritised colleagues better. For our frontline staff, it gave them food for thought and things to consider when treating patients.
The session was really interesting, challenging and thought-provoking. I took a lot from it and would recommend it to others.”
“Steph carried out a virtual session titled ‘Our voices being heard’ for the Black Workers Network. How engaging she was!
Steph is relatable and had lived experiences to share with members which made the session impactful. Steph put the audience at ease, and Members felt safe in sharing personal stories. We received nothing but excellent feedback, and members really enjoyed hearing what Steph had to say.”