Twenty years ago, I held onto a painting. Now, it holds a lesson for us all.
Today was special.
After nine years in storage since we returned from the US to Melbourne, we finally hung it up.
This is my favourite. It’s called Aurora Borealis.
It was painted by a group of kids—including our daughter—at their preschool in Thailand.
They were given a light table, plenty of paint, some guidance—and total creative freedom.
The result? Pure magic.
A group of children—almost like a mini United Nations—gathered around that light table like happy bees, creating something extraordinary together.
No targets.
No forced participation.
No one feeling excluded.
Just an open, natural, thriving system where everyone had a say.
Now imagine if some kids were told they couldn’t have a turn—even if they were great at art.
I can just imagine the pushback that would create… and kids rarely stay quiet about it.
With all the recent headlines, it’s clear why DEI is facing pushback.
Push too hard, and resistance is inevitable.
Just like the real Aurora Borealis, no one can manipulate how the northern lights appear—they show up, shift, and form a spectacular display together, naturally.
Maybe we’ve pushed DEI too hard, too narrowly.
It’s time to zoom out, rethink the system, and integrate it with business strategy, people, and community impact.
So that everyone—regardless of gender, race, or background—gets to shine as brightly as the northern lights and do their best work.
Maybe, as C-Suite Leaders and Board Members, we need to clear our binoculars—challenge our own biases—to see the full brilliance of the northern lights.
What’s Your Take? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
📩 If you want to address this issue in a systemic way, check out my guide:
"Closing the Gender Pay Gap & Accelerating Women into Leadership Positions" by emailing me for a copy!
For senior leaders navigating transformation and business-critical challenges, the path to high-impact leadership isn’t always clear. With 30+ years across three continents, Anoop has built leadership pipelines in Fortune 10 environments, shaping future-ready businesses. A former Board member and CPO of a Fortune 10 company in Australia, and winner of the 2022 HR Leader of the Year award, Anoop helps C-suite leaders turn complexity into clarity and strategy into action. 🚀 Let’s talk.