58. Fixing The Foundations with Kat Parsons

In this episode of Why Care?, host Nadia Nagamootoo is joined by Kat Parsons, Group Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Centrica and co-founder of the All Female Design & Build Project, which she launched in 2023 with her wife. Kat reflects on her career across male-dominated industries, her passion for fairness and justice, and her drive to transform workplace cultures through empathy and education. She shares how her lived experiences as a lesbian, wife, and mother have shaped her approach to leadership, and why psychological safety and authenticity are central to inclusion.Recently named Head of DEI of the Year and Inspirational Role Model of the Year at the British Diversity Awards 2025, Kat also discusses the importance of representation, being a visible LGBTQ+ role model, and the power of breaking barriers in construction and beyond. Her story is one of resilience, courage, and leadership that inspires change across industries and cultures.Key Takeaways:True inclusion requires systemic cultural change, not token gestures.Representation and visibility of role models are crucial to inspire others.Psychological safety is a cornerstone of thriving, inclusive workplaces.Human-centric leadership, built on empathy, fairness, and storytelling, creates lasting impact.Breaking barriers in male-dominated industries takes resilience and vision, but also sparks progress for future generations.Highlights:Kat’s journey from construction and oil & gas into DEI leadership at Centrica.Founding the All Female Design & Build Project with her wife to advance gender equity.The importance of psychological safety and empathy in workplace culture.Experiences navigating biases, stereotypes, and microaggressions in male-dominated environments.Her role as a visible LGBTQ+ role model, inspiring courage and authenticity.Redefining leadership as unapologetic, human-centric, and values-driven.Guest BioKat Parsons is Group Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Centrica and Co-founder of the All Female Design & Build Project, which she set up in 2023 together with her wife. A Fellow of the Leadership Society, she is a multi-award-winning leader, recently named Head of DEI of the Year and Inspirational Role Model of the Year at the British Diversity Awards 2025. Kat champions human-centric leadership, underpinned by empathy, education, and storytelling, to create inclusive cultures where people thrive.  In particular, she is an LGBTQ+ role model, having been named in the Power Pride List and British LGBT Awards’ Top 10 Diversity Trailblazers. By being a visible and vocal advocate, Kat inspires others to be more courageous and confident in embracing their identities. Beyond corporate leadership, her work with the All Female Design & Build Project highlights her passion for breaking barriers and advancing gender equity in traditionally male-dominated sectors.LinksKat Parsons : LinkedIn | InstagramAll Female Design & Build Project: https://www.all-female-build.co.uk/Nadia Nagamootoo: LinkedIn | InstagramAvenir Consulting: https://linktr.ee/avenirconsultingservicesPurchase Beyond Discomfort using the discount code shared in the episode: https://practicalinspiration.com/book/beyond-discomfort