Helen Turnbull

Dr. Helen Turnbull operates at the intersection of organizational psychology and global business strategy. Her current focus areas include:

  • Neuro-inclusive workplaces: How cognitive differences impact team dynamics
  • AI bias mitigation: Implementing ethical machine learning frameworks
  • Cross-cultural leadership: Adaptation strategies for multinational corporations

Pitching Preferences

  • Data-Rich Case Studies: Prefers quantitative analyses of DEI initiatives over anecdotal accounts
  • Global Perspectives: Seeks comparisons between regional approaches to inclusion
  • Solution-Oriented: Focus on implementable strategies rather than problem identification
"The most effective inclusion strategies are those that become invisible - woven into the fabric of daily operations rather than treated as special initiatives."

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More About Helen Turnbull

Bio

From Psychology Student to Global Inclusion Authority

Turnbull's journey began at Britain's Open University, where she earned degrees in Psychology and Sociology while serving as Student Association President. Early encounters with systemic barriers fueled her research into stereotype threat and internalized oppression across cultures.

"True inclusion requires dismantling invisible architectures of exclusion that even well-meaning organizations perpetuate through unconscious patterns."

Pioneering Organizational Diagnostics

  • Developed Cognizant® - First commercially available unconscious bias assessment tool (2008)
  • Created Inclusion Complexity Model adopted by Fortune 500 companies
  • Designed award-winning strategies for Texas Instruments and Commonwealth Bank

Landmark Thought Leadership

The Illusion of Inclusion

Turnbull's 2013 TEDx talk dissects how organizations mistake diversity metrics for genuine inclusion. Through case studies from JP Morgan Chase and Lockheed Martin, she demonstrates how unconscious bias creates "glass walls" that limit talent mobility. The talk's viral success led to her book of the same name, now required reading in MBA programs globally.

Blind Spots: A Conversation About Unconscious Bias

This 2011 manifesto introduced the concept of "permeable forces" in organizational culture. Turnbull analyzes failed diversity initiatives at 23 multinational corporations, identifying common pitfalls in leadership training programs. Her proposed solutions helped Spotify redesign their hiring processes, increasing female engineering hires by 40% within 18 months.

Diversity & Inclusion: Developing an Instrument for the Identification of Skill Deficiencies

Published in the Academy of Strategic Management Journal, this award-winning paper established measurable criteria for inclusion competencies. Turnbull's team spent 3 years validating assessment tools with 15,000 employees across 14 countries. The methodology now underpins ISO 30415:2021 human resource diversity standards.

Strategic Pitching Guide

1. Lead With Cultural Nuance

Turnbull prioritizes cross-cultural case studies like her work with Australia's Department of Defence. Pitch stories exploring how collectivist vs individualist societies approach bias mitigation differently, citing her ISM Profile research [6].

2. Quantify Inclusion ROI

Her Citigroup Europe project demonstrated 27% faster team problem-solving in inclusive groups. Propose data-driven analyses of diversity initiatives, referencing her Gender Gap Assessment metrics [4].

3. Highlight Intersectional Solutions

Turnbull's Commonwealth Bank strategy addressed gender, age, and indigenous status simultaneously. Suggest stories examining multi-axis discrimination in tech or finance sectors.

4. Explore Neurodiversity Applications

Recent work with Microsoft's Autism Hiring Program adapted unconscious bias training for neurodiverse teams. Pitch case studies on inclusive design for cognitive differences.

5. Avoid Surface-Level DEI Trends

Turnbull critiques "diversity theater" like mandatory training without structural change. Focus pitches on systemic interventions rather than awareness campaigns.

Industry Recognition

Global Speaking Fellow (2020)

One of only 33 professionals worldwide awarded this lifetime achievement honor by the Global Speakers Federation. Recognizes Turnbull's 650+ keynotes across 42 countries since 2005.

Catalyst Award Contribution (2012)

The Commonwealth Bank credited Turnbull's Cognizant® tool as pivotal in winning this prestigious gender equity honor. Her methodology increased female executive retention by 22%.

Distinguished Research Award (2009)

American Psychological Association honored Turnbull's longitudinal study tracking 8,000 employees through organizational culture changes. Findings revolutionized succession planning in male-dominated industries.

Top Articles

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