EP272: Scarlett Lily Allen-Horton, Founder of Harper Fox -Why the secret to true leadership lies in being true about yourself

Lysha Holmes welcomes Scarlett Allen-Horton, founder of Harper Fox, to discuss the state of female leadership and diversity in the recruitment industry. Scarlett is also a business partner to Lord Sugar and an ambassador for several UK-based charities, including domestic abuse and women's employment initiatives.

In this powerful episode, conversation dives deep into the gender pay gap and the persistent disparities in hiring practices. Sharing Scarlett's observation that many women still ask for lower salaries than men, a habit often rooted in societal expectations. Which sparks an insightful exchange between the two, as Lysha contrasts that with her own experience placing senior female leaders.

Scarlett also highlights how unconscious bias influences hiring decisions, with people often gravitating toward those who resemble themselves - an instinct that can unintentionally hinder diversity efforts.

The episode takes a more personal turn as Scarlett opens up about her own journey of self discovery. She speaks candidly about the years she spent hiding her true circumstances in order to fit in professionally. It wasn’t until her appearance on The Apprentice that she felt empowered to share her story. Since then, she's embraced vulnerability and authenticity as strengths, using her platform to inspire others.

A major theme throughout the discussion is the importance of psychological safety in the workplace. Scarlett emphasises that real inclusion goes beyond surface level diversity and involves fostering environments where people feel safe to bring their full selves to work. She touches on the need for cognitive diversity and varied life experiences to drive innovation and success. Toward the end of the episode, she shares her plans for an upcoming podcast centered on conscious leadership, aiming to support businesses and individuals in creating more inclusive cultures.

This episode is a thoughtful, inspiring exploration of what it takes to lead with purpose and create space for others to thrive, both personally and professionally.

Connect with Scarlett here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scarlett-allen-horton/

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Diversity in Recruitment helps recruitment businesses understand diversity, equity, and inclusion in a way that makes sense. Our training and advisory work is designed anidence to attract diverse talent, recruit inclusively, improve your candidate journey and confidently partner with their clients. DE&I doesn’t have to be complicated and scary - it’s simply about fair, ethical and high-quality recruitment.

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