DEI Day 2025: culture, conversation, and a dash of comedy

One standout moment came from Roksana Bak, our Marketing Manager from Poland, who embraced her heritage in style:

“Wearing the traditional Lasowiak costume from the Sandomierz Forest region was a way for me to share a piece of my heritage. It felt special to bring the culture I grew up with to Unite, especially with the support of my local Municipal Cultural Centre in Stalowa Wola, that kindly lent me the outfit,” said Roksana.

DEI is no laughing matter (but we laughed anyway)

In a bold twist, we opened this year’s DEI Day with a set by stand-up comic Tim Whelan, whose clever, thoughtful humour tackled identity, bias, and the quirks of corporate life.

“I'm happy I could be a part of Unite’s celebrations and bring humour to a topic that matters deeply,” said Tim, who, through wit and real-world moments of his experiences working in both the UK and Germany, helped create space for honest, relatable moments. Truly! Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.

DEI pulse check: where do we stand?

A live Mentimeter quiz offered a quick, anonymous pulse check to understand how Unitees perceive DEI in the workplace.  With an average score of 3.3 out of 5, here’s what it means:

3.1 – 4.0: DEI is progressing, but gaps remain:
many DEI practices are in place and visible, but experiences may differ across teams or identities. Continued focus is needed to deepen inclusion, eliminate disparities, and sustain momentum through leadership accountability.

During the Q&A, Board Member Peter Ledermann reflected on this result:

“That score aligns with what I perceive. We’re not at the finish line, but we're moving in the right direction. The rollout of the DEI mandatory training by the Unite Academy and the DEI Policy launched last year are all steps forward. What matters now is consistency and accountability.”

Peter also addressed questions sent in by Unitees, one of which was: “Overall, there are more women than men at Unite. In leadership positions, it's the other way around. What are we as a company doing to achieve a balance?”

Peter mentioned, “In July 2022 - there were only 34 women in leadership positions at Unite and In May 2025: there are 53 women in leadership positions and so...there is a quantitative jump: A notable increase of approximately 56% in the number of women occupying leadership positions, underscoring our commitment to promoting gender diversity at all levels of the organisation.”

DEI in action

Rachit Gurung, member of Unite’s DEI (Employee Resource Group), reflected on the day’s impact: “DEI Day is a reminder that inclusion doesn’t happen by accident; it takes intention. Events like this create space for real conversations, shared learning, and a sense of belonging that extends beyond the day itself.”

Sangeetha Nair, member of the DEI Employee Resource Group, closed the evening with gratitude: “Buy-in isn’t just about enthusiasm. It meant a lot to see our leadership Board not just attend, but also answer tough questions and share in the laughs. Navigating an inclusive culture takes commitment. That kind of presence goes a long way. And we must carry that energy forward, not just on DEI Day, but in the everyday moments where inclusion, empathy, and understanding truly matter.”

The event came together with the support of various teams - Organisation, Culture and Learning, Digital Media Creation, and Events.

Until next time…