It’s our favorite time of year again! The time when we get to meet the fantastic winners of the Digital Revolution Awards and find out how they’re making a positive impact on our world through the power of technology.
In this Meet the Winners blog, we’re getting to know the champion in our UK Diversity Ally of the Year category, Tokeer Ahmed.
Every year, our Diversity Ally of the Year Award shines a light on an exceptional individual who has made a profound impact on fostering inclusivity within the tech community. We’ve had several incredible people take home the prize over the past few years, each with their own unique story, but always with a record of exemplifying allyship, championing underrepresented groups, and creating a more welcoming environment for everyone.
This year, we celebrate someone who has gone above and beyond to nurture and support diverse talent, driving positive change in the tech industry: Tokeer Ahmed.
Tokeer has been a driving force behind diversity and inclusion at Capgemini UK since taking the helm of the Race and Equality Network (REN) in 2021.
Balancing his role as REN Chair with a demanding career as an Applications Consultant, Tokeer’s unwavering commitment to creating a more equitable workplace is evident in his numerous achievements. His tenure has been studded with innovative initiatives, such as the creation of REN Champion roles, which have significantly expanded the network’s reach and impact.
Empowering employees to act as diversity and inclusion advocates within their respective departments, the implementation of these positions has proven immensely successful. With 30 REN Champions onboarded since 2022, the REN’s membership surged from 600 in 2021 to over 1,500 in 2023.
Tokeer also developed an anti-racism toolkit for company leaders, designed to educate managers on racism in the workplace. Since its launch in 2022, the kit has been completed by 700 people managers and has enjoyed overwhelmingly positive feedback. And thanks to Tokeer’s representation of the REN at Capgemini’s 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility event, awareness of not only the toolkit but the issues it tackles has been boosted across 50 countries.
Tokeer’s leadership has led to the hiring of 70 team members within his practice since late 2021—a hiring drive that has achieved a balanced gender ratio and significant ethnic minority representation. With 39 of these hires from ethnic minority backgrounds, Tokeer’s team has contributed to the overall increase in ethnic minority representation across Capgemini UK, from 21.0% in 2021 to 27.1% in 2023.
But Tokeer’s influence extends beyond Capgemini. He has been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in the wider tech industry, participating in panel discussions, workshops, and mentoring programs. His dedication to empowering young people, particularly those from underrepresented groups, is exemplified by his involvement with The Prince’s Trust and his consultation for organizations like Niyo Enterprises and Cambridge Consultants.
Last year, Tokeer was part of a panel discussion titled ”Why Diversity Matters” with Bright Network, where he shared his journey and offered advice to over 200 graduates, primarily from ethnic minority backgrounds.
He has also been part of ”The Bolder Leadership” reception, hosted by Business in the Community (BITC), and developed and facilitated an interactive workshop for Tech Industry Gold Live! This workshop’s main objective was to improve awareness of diversity, inclusion, and personal branding for over 500 higher education students, with a particular focus on female and ethnic minority talent. And in January 2023, he hosted the Salesforce Women in Tech community meet-up, spotlighting success stories from black women in tech.
Noted for his ability to build bridges and foster collaboration, Tokeer’s commitment to intersectionality has further solidified his position as a leader in the field.
Part of this work has seen him initiate intersectionality workshops for Capgemini’s LGBTQ+ network members who also identify as ethnic minorities, bringing together shared experiences as well as providing a viewpoint for allies.
In addition, Tokeer has worked to address the often-overlooked issue of mental health stigma within ethnic minority families by connecting members of the caring and disability network in Capgemini with mental health advocates from an ethnic minority background. This initiative provided a platform for sharing experiences, fostering empathy, and developing solutions to the unique challenges faced by young caregivers within these families.
He has also been a vocal supporter of Black business leaders, attending events like the UK Black Business Show and actively participating in Capgemini-sponsored initiatives such as Black Women Business Talks. His involvement has helped amplify the voices of underrepresented entrepreneurs and contribute to a more inclusive business landscape.
And this latest gong is far from the first time he’s been recognised for his efforts: throughout his career, Tokeer has received several awards for his work on furthering equity. As well as being named among the Top 100 global role models on the Involve Empower Role Model List, he was also part of the team that picked up three RAD awards in 2023, and was recently nominated as an Inspirational Role Model at the 2023 European Diversity Awards.
Tokeer’s work exemplifies the potential of individuals to create a lasting impact on their organizations and communities. His legacy will undoubtedly inspire future generations of diversity and inclusion champions to drive systemic change.
“I think if I were to tell the 15-year-old me that one day I would be up here winning this award, he would have never believed me,” said Tokeer.
“Capgemini has empowered me to channel my passion for diversity and inclusion. It just feels amazing, and it’s a great validation of the work that I’ve been doing for the past eight to nine years. So it’s just fantastic to receive this recognition.”
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