Latest news with #MamoboOgoro
Irish Independent
a day ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Meet the Wexford woman empowering diverse voices in Irish business – ‘A lot of workplaces are still catching up to the reality of what Ireland is right now'
Growing up in Enniscorthy, Mamobo Ogoro admits to having feelings of 'not belonging'. Arriving in the Co Wexford town as a three-year-old she was part of the first wave of African immigrants to come to these shores, to attempt to integrate into communities which, up until that point, were almost exclusively white Catholic.
Irish Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish social enterprise Gorm launches Unified Business Programme
Irish social enterprise Gorm has launched its Unified Business Programme, with EY and PTSB signed up to pilot the scheme. The programme aims to support organisations to build inclusive, high-performing teams by equipping people with the skills to work effectively across cultures. Designed by social and cultural psychologists, the programme meets companies at every stage of their intercultural journey and offers tiered membership options from foundational awareness training to strategic transformation. EY and PTSB are early champions of the programme, demonstrating a commitment to inclusion as a strategic business priority. Their leadership offers a model for companies seeking to make a sustainable impact on workplace culture and community integration. 'At Gorm, our mission is to unify across cultural and social differences,' said Dr. Mamobo Ogoro, CEO and founder of Gorm. 'Businesses are not only economic engines; they are key pillars in building stronger, more inclusive communities. 'By embedding intercultural competence into their everyday practices, this programme equips organisations with the tools to recognise, value, and actively include the wide range of cultural perspectives within their teams. 'In doing so, we move from simply being diverse to truly harnessing the power of that diversity, to drive innovation, foster trust, and create cultures where everyone can belong.' The initiative marks a major step in advancing cultural diversity and intercultural competence in Irish organisations, not only aligning with national strategic efforts for migrant inclusion such as the National Action Plan Against Racism, but also positioning cultural diversity as a driver of innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth. Melissa Bosch, DEI lead in EY said: "As Ireland evolves into a more culturally diverse society and navigates a full employment market, the need for awareness, sensitivity, and intercultural competence has never been more critical. 'At EY Ireland, we are really proud to have over 100 different nationalities represented amongst our 5,200+ people on the island of Ireland. We know that diverse teams and an inclusive culture can lead to more innovation, better decision making and ultimately drive enhanced business outcomes for our clients and for society.'
Irish Independent
19-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘DEI is not just a trend' – How organisations can reframe the push back against diversity
Today at 21:30 'When it comes to DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), it's important to recognise that it's not just a trend, it's not a habit. It can't just be a one-off initiative,' said Dr Mamobo Ogoro, a psychologist as well as CEO and founder of GORM. Ms Ogoro set up GORM, a consultancy and social media platform, in order to help educate organisations about diversity in the workplace. She says businesses need to respond now against the new sentiment against DEI policies, given that Ireland has an increasingly diverse workforce. 'Rather than push back, businesses need to counter the growing scepticism around DEI. The first step is to acknowledge that the scepticism exists, and that it comes with fear, misconception, and sometimes even fatigue,' she said. 'DEI affects all of us. It shapes how we relate to each other in the workplace. It's important to understand that DEI isn't about taking anything away. It's about ensuring everyone has a fair chance to participate, thrive, and engage meaningfully in their work.' Ms Ogoro believes that businesses need to learn about 'intercultural competence' in order to maintain their DEI policies, following the global backlash against it, which started in America around the re-election of president Donald Trump. 'Intercultural competence is the ability to engage confidently across cultural differences. It strengthens organisational leadership, builds trust, and promotes cohesion in diverse work environments,' she said. 'We have to acknowledge the historical inequities that certain communities have faced – that's why the focus often sits there. The way to do this is strategically, through internal and external communication within the company and by building cultural competence between communities and groups within the organisation.' GORM has worked with companies including PTSB and EY to launch a Unified Business Programme (UBP) which aims to train companies to promote DEI policies. The company said it designed UBP as a response to anti-immigration protests in Ireland, and says it wants to build a sense of unity into daily processes, teams, and workspaces. 'It's important to identify the push back, and to reframe it. Reframing means understanding that DEI is fundamentally about fairness, not just for one group, but for everyone,' said Ms Ogoro. 'It's about creating a workplace where each person has an equal opportunity to participate, contribute, and do their best work. 'When businesses get this right, the results speak for themselves. Countless studies show the positive impact of DEI, not just on internal culture, but on market performance too.'
Irish Examiner
16-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Ireland can be a global leader in cultural intelligence, says expert
Diverse, inclusive and culturally intelligent employers broaden their potential markets and their ability to recruit and retain top talent, says a respected industry thought leader. Mamobo Ogoro is a social psychologist and multi-award-winning social entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Gorm, an award-winning social enterprise bringing about belonging through Intercultural media and education. Based in Ireland, Mamobo hosts 'Younified' on Newstalk and was chosen as the first Irish person to win the Echoing Green Fellowship for her impactful work. 'People are familiar with the term emotional intelligence, or emotional quotient (EQ), the ability to empathise with people. Similarly, with cultural intelligence, it's about being able to empathise and engage with people who are from different cultural backgrounds,' said Mamobo. 'Every organisation needs a leader who can create a more inclusive work environment. When you want your company to appeal to diverse audiences, you need to put people in forward roles who can support and understand people's need for psychological safety. That need has a cultural component, a cultural quotient, or CQ.' Mamobo gained a PhD in Social and Cultural Psychology for her research work on systems of inclusion and exclusion within second-generation immigrant communities living in Ireland. The study looked at the intersection of EQ and CQ, notably areas where these are lacking in Ireland. This is one of the areas where Mamobo and her colleagues at Gorm help companies to integrate intercultural competence into their DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) strategies. 'DEI equips organisations with the ability to effectively navigate and embrace differences across cultures, backgrounds, beliefs, and behaviours,' she said. 'When I talk with companies, of course, I don't use so much academic language.' Indeed, while backed by a wealth of research, the tiered approach to Gorm's new Unified Business Programme is very practical in the way it helps to support businesses at all stages of their DEI journey. PTSB and EY are among those currently using the programme. The programme is structured around a three-tier membership system (Awareness, Sensitivity, and Competence Streams), each designed to support organisations regardless of where they stand on their DEI journey. The Awareness Stream offers foundational online tools and intercultural training to kickstart inclusive practices. The Sensitivity Stream provides in-depth, tailored support from a dedicated cultural psychologist to embed learning and development programmes. And the Competence Stream targets senior leadership and system-wide transformation through immersive experiences, cultural assessment, and strategic implementation. 'Managers are the unifiers in any organisation, and they need cultural competency. The programme enhances participants' cultural competency, and helps them in the way they communicate across the organisation. 'We are currently working with PTSB, who are creating a bespoke programme for managers to engage across cultural difference. Their managers are looking at a range of questions around culture in the workplace. 'We are also working with EY, who are looking at ways that their managers can impact the way their staff engage with cultural intelligence. They're building a team that will deliver cultural competency across their organisation.' Mamobo says that effective progress involves changing systems and bringing people forward. For this aspect of her philosophy, Mamobo credits Prof John A Powell, director of Otherness and Belonging, UC Berkeley, California. 'Professor Powell says we need to be hard on systems and soft on people,' she said. 'We need to treat everybody with empathy and understanding. With our cultural competency work, we go deep with ethnicity. 'For instance, we might be working with a manager who is 50 or 60 years of age. They have experienced a very different kind of Ireland. You could say that the programme 'holds their hand' and helps them to deliver the programme to their teams. 'The Gen Zs tend to have heightened awareness around wellbeing. They're normally more alert to questions around gender and ethnicity. The younger generations are very open to these conversations, which gives me a lot of hope in terms of the future for the communities that we are working with.' Key features of Gorm's Unified Business Programme include: Access to research-based frameworks and best practices; Peer-to-peer and expert-led training; Custom reviews and assessments; Community and networking opportunities. This staged model means businesses can scale their commitment as capacity and internal readiness evolve, making cultural transformation manageable and impactful. 'Integrating intercultural competence into DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) strategies equips organisations with the ability to effectively navigate and embrace differences across cultures, backgrounds, beliefs and behaviours. 'The benefits are substantial. Culturally competent teams are better at resolving misunderstandings and collaborating across diverse viewpoints. Culturally inclusive businesses are more attractive to top talent from diverse backgrounds. They foster higher employee satisfaction and retention rates. They also enjoy improved customer relations.' Mamobo also welcomes initiatives like the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, led by UNESCO, taking place on Wednesday, May 21. 'These are moments when we can put a spotlight on issues around cultural diversity,' she said. 'Let's face it, social justice is not sexy. That's why there is a great benefit in creating a space like this where people can stop and take time to see the value and the beauty and the humour in it. 'These days bring laughter and a lot of good humour. For instance, Irish culture can sometimes use a lot of phrases and idioms and still leaves a lot of things unsaid. I know one manager who was appraising a member of staff. 'He used the phrase 'If I put a gun to your head' when asking for a definitive answer to a question. She reported him to HR, who then had to talk with him about cultural competency.' Read More Business movers: People starting new jobs in Ireland Mamobo believes that Ireland is already taking steps towards improving its DEI commitments and can in time be a leader when it comes to cultural competency. 'I absolutely believe that Ireland is uniquely positioned to be a global beacon for diversity and inclusion,' she said. 'One in eight people in Ireland are now of ethnically diverse backgrounds, and Gen Z is even more diverse. This demographic evolution offers a vibrant talent pool and new cultural perspectives. 'Global markets, investors and talent are increasingly valuing inclusion. Irish businesses that lead on D&I can significantly strengthen Ireland's reputation on the world stage. As the EU and global institutions emphasise social responsibility and inclusion, Irish firms aligned with these values will enjoy regulatory favour and international support.'
