Why Diverse Teams Make Better Decisions - And Hire Better Talent

Great managers do not clone their teams - they unlock them. Robert Baker reveals why the real path to higher performance starts with curiosity, authenticity, and the courage to lead people who are not just like you. If you manage people, build teams, or care about inclusive leadership, this conversation will change how you think about potential. Robert unpacks what it takes to lead diverse talent well. After 40 years at Mercer and a career spent advising global organizations on DEI, Robert has seen first hand how stereotypes, “ideal worker” myths, and cookie-cutter hiring practices hold teams back. He explains why the best leaders build trust by being open first, owning mistakes, and creating psychological safety where people can grow. You’ll discover: - Why curiosity is the fastest way to become a better manager - How sharing your own experience can make your team more open and honest - The hidden cost of hiring for “team fit” instead of real difference - Why diverse teams make better decisions, spot more risk, and find more creative solutions - How to support people’s strengths without forcing them into a single leadership template Robert also shares the career lesson that changed how he leads forever, after a team member left because their ambitions were not being fully seen. From there, the conversation opens into practical advice for new managers, including how to get to know your team quickly, stay humble, and lead in a way that is actually your own.  The stakes are real. If you keep hiring and managing for sameness, you miss out on talent, limit performance, and build teams that are less resilient in a changing world. If you lead with openness and flexibility, you create the conditions for people to thrive and the organization to grow. Robert is a leadership and inclusion expert, trustee of One Loud Voice for Women, the Sister Sister Global Network, and UN Women UK, and vice chair of European Women on Boards. He brings deep global experience and a clear message: inclusive leadership is not a trend - it is how you build stronger teams. Essential listening for managers, leaders, and anyone trying to turn talent into performance without falling into the trap of “more of the same.” **Timestamps** (12:14) Robert joins and sets up the conversation (21:03) Robert’s background at Mercer and founding Potential Talent Consulting (24:48) Why curiosity about others is the starting point for inclusive leadership (26:12) Robert’s management style and leading through empathy (28:13) Building trust by being open (30:42) Learning from failure and creating psychological safety (31:37) Building teams around strengths rather than one template (35:06) Why stereotypes and the “ideal worker” mindset block diversity (36:30) Hiring, qualifications, and return-to-office mandates (40:05) A management lesson about missing a team member’s ambitions (43:10) Why optimistic leadership matters amid AI-driven change (44:20) Advice for new managers: know your team and be vulnerable (46:57) Succession planning, talent development, and leaving the team stronger (48:41) How men can support women’s networks and learn through discomfort (51:12) What Robert would say to his six-year-old self (53:06) Robert’s question for the next guest on neurodiversity (54:26) Book recommendations on gender, bias, and literature (55:16) People to follow for inclusion, allyship, and algorithmic bias (55:54) Gloria Steinem quote on gender roles and allyship (56:53) Interview question about changing your mind (58:16) Songs that reflect Robert’s energy and worldview The Authority Gap, Mary Ann Sieghart The New Age of Sexism, Laura Bates Forty Rules of Love, Elif Shafik LinkedIn connections - Cindy Gallop, Dorothy Dalton, Lee Chambers, Daniele Fiandaca