What does it really take to level the playing field, and is the system even designed to let that happen?

Nina Slingsby, founder of OAHA, shares her personal journey from a grant-funded school to leading meaningful change in workplace inclusion and social mobility. Her story is one of navigating systems not built with everyone in mind and choosing to rewrite the rules from the inside.

In this conversation, Nina unpacks:

🔹 Why the definition of "working class" is more personal than political and whether it still applies today

🔹 How diverse educational environments shape the way we see class, opportunity, and ourselves

🔹 The hidden role university plays in steering, or steering you away from the right career path

🔹 How mentorship and the right leadership can be the difference between stagnation and a breakthrough

🔹 The systemic barriers that quietly block career progression and how to spot them

🔹 Why location is one of the most underrated factors in access to opportunity

🔹 How organisations can work together to create change that actually sticks

This is a conversation about more than diversity initiatives and HR policy. It's about what fairness genuinely looks like in practice and why collaboration, not just intention, is what drives real systemic change.

💬 Have you experienced barriers in your career that others didn't seem to face? Share your story in the comments.

📌 Learn more about Nina's work at OAHA and the mission to create equitable workplaces for everyone.

🔔 Subscribe for more inspirational stories and insights into those from working class and low socioeconomic backgrounds!

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Thanks for listening!

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