19. From Tick-Box to Heartbeat: Natalie Alberta Dusey's Blueprint for Businesses Where Everyone Belongs

What if inclusion wasn't a corporate program or a half-hearted policy​—but the beating heart of every decision you make? In this intimate and candid conversation, leadership coach Sylvana Rochet sits down with Natalie Alberta Dusey, co-founder and Global Chief of Staff at the independent agency collective Meet the People. Natalie traces the single off-site invitation that propelled her from a safe, established role into co-founding a fast-growing, people-first holding company that now spans a dozen agencies across North America and Europe. This conversation explores why most organizations unintentionally sabotage their diversity efforts, how to keep hope alive during today's DEI backlash, and why empathy-driven rituals (whether a dawn walk or a candid team survey) can transform both business results and everyday life. If you're tired of "performative inclusion" and ready for practical, soul-level change, this episode is your permission slip to stop ticking boxes and start building space that was never meant to be exclusive at all. Tune in for the following: The Power of One "YES." Natalie's story shows how a single courageous decision can launch an entire movement—and why risk often looks smaller in the rear-view mirror. DEI Dies in Silos. When diversity work gets dumped on HR or an isolated task force, it turns into paperwork. Embed inclusion into every role, from interns to the boardroom, or watch momentum evaporate. Talk—Especially When It's Uncomfortable. Silence fuels the backlash. Honest, cross-level dialogue is the most underrated tool for turning resistance into renewed purpose. Resources & Links Meet the People – https://meet-the-people.com/ Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/nataliealbertadusey Follow @duseynatalie on Instagram Books mentioned The Person You Mean to Be — Dolly Chugh The Courage to Be Disliked — Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga The Power of Intention — Dr. Wayne Dyer