Inclusive Workplaces

Who Is Believed at Work? How Identity Shapes Credibility and Trust

Understanding how identity influences whose voices are heard and trusted

In every workplace, decisions are made about whose ideas are trusted, whose expertise is recognised and whose concerns are taken seriously. Yet these judgments are not always based on evidence alone.

This webinar explores intersectionality and how race, gender, class, age and disability can shape whose voices are believed, supported and acted upon at work. Join us for an insightful discussion on credibility, trust and the workplace systems that influence whose experiences are accepted as truth.

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A woman with curly hair, wearing a blue patterned jumper and black dungarees, sits cross-legged and smiles warmly at the camera against a neutral-toned background, radiating workplace trust and credibility at work.
Inclusive Workplaces

Why are some voices trusted more than others?

  • Online
  • Thursday, 1st October
  • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM BST

Why are some people repeatedly asked to prove themselves, while others are assumed to be credible from the outset?

Why do some concerns lead to action, while others are questioned, minimised or overlooked?

In workplaces across every sector, credibility is often treated as neutral and objective. Yet identity can influence who is trusted, who is supported and whose perspectives are given weight.

In this thought-provoking session, Warda Farah will explore how race, gender, class, age and disability intersect to shape workplace experiences of credibility and trust. Together, we’ll examine why being believed often depends on more than evidence alone, how perceived authority can influence whose voices are heard, and what happens when speaking up, sharing expertise or reporting harm comes with a credibility penalty.

The session will also explore how workplace cultures and systems determine whose voices are trusted, supported and acted upon, helping attendees develop a deeper understanding of the often-unseen dynamics that shape inclusion, belonging and equity at work.

Whether you are seeking to better understand your own experiences, support colleagues more effectively, or build a workplace culture where everyone can thrive, this webinar will provide valuable insight into one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of workplace inclusion.

And the biggest takeaway? You’ll leave with a new perspective on how identity influences whose expertise is recognised, whose concerns are taken seriously and whose experiences are accepted as truth.

A woman with curly black hair and brown eyes smiles softly at the camera, radiating credibility at work. She wears a tan top and is photographed against a light background, reflecting confidence in her workplace identity.
Warda Farah
Rounded
Warda Farah is a Speech and Language Therapist, author, and co-founder of Rounded. As an autistic Black woman, Warda brings a unique perspective to understanding how race, language, and disability intersect, combining lived experience with professional expertise to advance more inclusive and equitable spaces. Working at the intersection of language, race, and disability, Warda focuses on bridging neurodiversity research and racial justice. She challenges conventional frameworks within speech and language therapy, advocating for linguistic justice, decolonised practices, and equitable access for marginalised communities. Through her work, Warda encourages a deeper understanding of how systems, identities, and communication shape experiences of inclusion and belonging.

Inclusive Workplaces

Questions we’ll tackle:

Two overlapping speech bubbles, one outlined in blue and the other shaded light grey, symbolising conversation or communication and highlighting the overlap of experiences such as neurodiversity or chronic health conditions.

What happens when speaking up, sharing expertise or reporting harm comes with a credibility penalty?

How do race, gender, class, age and disability shape whose experiences are accepted as truth?

Why does being believed often depend more on identity and perceived authority than evidence?

How do workplace cultures and systems determine whose voices are trusted, supported and acted upon?

Who should attend?

This event is for anyone who has ever questioned why some voices seem to carry more weight than others in the workplace.

You may find this session particularly valuable if:

  • You’ve felt that your expertise, ideas or contributions have been overlooked, challenged or taken less seriously than those of others.
  • You’ve found yourself having to repeatedly prove your knowledge, credibility or competence at work.
  • You’ve experienced barriers to being heard, believed or supported when raising concerns or sharing your experiences.
  • You want to better understand how your own identities and lived experiences may shape your experience of work.
  • You’re interested in learning more about intersectionality and how it influences workplace culture, opportunity and inclusion.
  • You manage people and want to better understand how credibility, trust and support can be experienced differently across your team.
  • You work in HR, DEI, leadership or organisational development and want to create workplace cultures where all voices have the opportunity to be heard and valued.
  • You are committed to building fairer, more inclusive workplaces and want to deepen your understanding of the systems that shape workplace experiences.

This session welcomes individuals with lived experience, allies, managers, leaders and anyone interested in creating workplaces where people are recognised, respected and supported.