The Power of Storytelling in shaping inclusive Higher Education

Alongside Monika’s work at the University, she has been working on a sector-wide project that focuses on diversity within university professional services (PS) departments. This project is called ‘Diversity in Leadership: The Power of Storytelling’ and is aimed at enhancing diversity in PS leadership roles within UK universities.

In recent years, the conversation around diversity and inclusion in UK higher education has gained momentum, yet there remains a crucial gap in the representation of racially minoritised leaders in senior positions. Increasing the diversity of senior leadership within PS is not just a matter of equity but a step towards creating a more inclusive, supportive, and enriching environment for all.

It benefits the entire academic community by fostering a culture of shared understanding and respect. However, it is essential to address the challenges faced by these leaders to bring awareness to the systemic barriers that persist. Highlighting their stories can play a transformative role in promoting equity, inspiring others, and encouraging institutions to implement fair treatment and equal opportunities for everyone.

The reality behind the data: Where are the leaders?

Let me provide some context. Despite efforts to close the attainment gap between white and Black, Asian, and minority ethnic students, there is a significant underrepresentation of ethnically diverse staff in senior leadership positions within PS. For academic staff, there has been some progress: in 2020, 18% of academics were from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, compared to 82% who were white.

Over the last decade, the proportion of white staff in UK higher education has decreased from 91.4% to 84.6%, while the proportion of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic staff has nearly doubled from 8.6% to 15.4%. Despite this progress, disparities remain in senior management, professorial roles and higher salary bands. For PS staff, the lack of comprehensive data makes it difficult to gauge representation accurately.

With assistance from Advance HE, I conducted an analysis of PS staff data based on contract type and salary scales. The findings were concerning – only 0.5% of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic staff hold senior leadership roles. Including directors and senior Managers, this number increases to just 5%. The push is to make data collection on PS staff by protected characteristics mandatory – a step that could help track progress and address these disparities.

Recognising the scale of the challenge, the Higher Diversity Coalition (HDC) was formed in 2022. We set out a plan focused on promoting diversity in PS leadership through recruitment, professional development and better data collection. As we progressed, it became clear to me that a new approach was needed – one that could connect with people on a deeper level.

Storytelling as a tool for change

Storytelling is a powerful way to foster understanding and empathy. Research from Princeton University shows that storytelling can synchronise brain wave patterns between the storyteller and the listener, creating a shared experience.

This inspired me to ask peers from the ‘global ethnic majority’ to share their professional journeys, candidly mapping their career aspirations and the obstacles they faced. While some found the process therapeutic, others warned that these stories might trigger suppressed emotions – a reality we often set aside in the workplace.

Common themes

 The shared experiences from their stories reveal several recurring themes:

1. Being Overlooked for Promotion: Many spoke about the frustration of being passed over for promotions despite strong qualifications and performance. This experience would damage self-esteem and make career progression seem unattainable.
2. Having to Be Twice as Good: The need to outperform white peers to achieve the same recognition is another common challenge. They said that constantly having to prove competence can lead to burnout and disengagement, making it hard to sustain momentum.
3. Lack of Role Models and Mentors: The absence of senior leaders from similar backgrounds is a significant barrier, making it difficult for to navigate our careers. One participant noted, ‘If you can see it, you can be it,’ which highlights the importance of representation.
4. The Pressure to Conform: The struggle between blending in to minimise differences and celebrating uniqueness by standing out to define your own brand is a persistent challenge. Both strategies bring their own pressures and can create self-doubt and a sense of isolation.
5. Microaggressions: Subtle yet pervasive microaggressions – such as mispronouncing names or mistaking one person for another – can have a corrosive impact. Nonverbal cues like eye-rolling during meetings exacerbate the feeling of being unwelcome, creating a hostile environment.
6. Feeling Invisible: Many described the frustration of having their ideas ignored until presented by someone else. The experience of being invisible in important discussions undermines confidence and diminishes their contributions.

The impact: Mental, emotional, and physiological

The consequences of these challenges are significant. Microaggressions and systemic biases lead to heightened stress, anxiety and physical symptoms like headaches and sleep disturbances. Over time, this emotional toll results in increased absenteeism, decreased productivity and a loss of self-esteem, affecting both individuals and the institution.

The path forward: Harnessing the Power of Storytelling

In building a truly inclusive higher education environment, storytelling can be a transformative tool. By sharing the narratives of racially minoritised leaders, we can shed light on the systemic barriers that exist and inspire actionable change. Institutions must listen and learn from these stories, using them as a foundation for implementing policies that promote equity and inclusiveness.

Through collective action driven by empathy, we can foster a higher education system where everyone feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. The journey towards inclusivity is shared, and it begins with a commitment to listen, learn and act together.

Find out more

• This blog was first published by the Association of Heads of University Administration. You can find out more about the project in a special post on the WONKHE website and as part of a recent blog authored by Dr Nangia for HEPI.
• The Power of Storytelling is part of the Higher Diversity Coalition, which has representation from the Academic Registrars Council, Association of Higher Education Professionals, Association of Head of University Administration, Universities Human Resources, Higher Education Planning Association, Association of Managers of Student Services in Higher Education, Society for College, National and University Libraries, Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, legal firm Shakespeare Martineau (Education), brought together by the recruitment firm, Gatenby Sanderson. Together they plan to deal with some of the issues around promoting diversity in PS leadership through recruitment, professional development and data-management.