Life after COVID-19 will never be the same... Neither should life after George Floyd.

As the world grapples with how to transition people back to offices, schools, shops, restaurants and life in general, there is no doubt that it will need to be done with a heightened awareness of "personal space". 2m social distancing has become a global concept that everyone should now understand. It will be observed because people are aware of the real threat of another "outbreak" if we ignore advice given by the medical experts.

The tragic incident of George Floyd is a stark reminder to the world that police brutality and institutional racism is still one of the greatest threats facing the black community and society. This for me was reinforced by the fake tears of #AmyCooper who called the police and lied that an ‘African American man threatened her life’ because she knew that by using the word African American could cause the police to take quick and lethal action. She was also a leader in the corporate world. The global outcry of injustice that has brought us to this point in history cannot be swept under the carpet. We should not think these problems are isolated to the U.S and the world is simply standing in solidarity but understand that institutional racism and white privilege acts as an oppressive force to the black community everywhere. So just like COVID-19, intentional measures will need to be taken going forward.

Like COVID-19, the fight against racism will have to be a global effort: everybody doing their part to eradicate this virus from their communities. As companies decide upon optimal office configurations to adhere to social distancing rules, I urge individuals and companies to also consider what they will do in the fight against racism too.

Going into lockdown and during the height of pandemic, we heard a strong, clear message from the U.K. government that the single most important action families and individuals could take (irrespective of whether we had the virus or not) was to:

Stay at home - protect the NHS - save lives

The global outcry in the face of injustice following the death of George Floyd feels different this time. And for his death not to be in vain, there is an equally strong message that I believe can lead to lasting change:

Stay informed - stand against racism - build a better future

1. Educate yourself (and your children)

Company statements are welcomed but what is more effective and long lasting is the commitment to self education. White supremacy and privilege has been built on generational education where from a young age, white children were taught that they were superior because of the colour of their skin. This is often being reinforced by societal norms and institutions. Unless, people start engaging in conversations openly about race (despite the discomfort) and behind closed doors (most importantly), this moment in history will come and go. Over the last few weeks, people have taken the opportunity to share their personal lived experiences as well as flag resources that can help white people understand and educate themselves in this area.

2. Challenge and speak out against overt (and covert) racism

The truth is, this point is often the hardest and most difficult. How many times have you been in a group conversation (in the workplace or behind closed doors) and someone within the team says or does something deemed racially offensive but it goes unchallenged because of their position or because more harrowingly the environment welcomes and encourages such abhorrent behaviour?

For black people on the receiving end, such encounters can be demoralizing and debilitating. We are left thinking, "do we really deserve to be treated like this just because of our skin colour?"

I'm hoping with the widespread personal stories on social media and authentic conversations, white people will be able to see things from our perspective and start speaking out against such things.

3. Build a better future for our firm by truly embracing diversity

Diversity and Inclusion has become a buzz word in many organisations. Empirical studies have confirmed the benefits of having D&I as an integral part of company strategy. Building a better future implies that we must be intentional about this and allocate resources to ensuring that we have the desired outcomes required. However, in order for the benefits of diversity to be truly felt from both a business and societal perspective, it’s crucial that the voices represented around the table are welcomed to speak and are heard. This is really important for companies where diversity of thought is crucial to remain competitive. Embedding D&I into business strategy will yield better outcomes for clients and will be important as we move to a new normal.

In addition to these three points raised, I think it's important that I share with you my personal anxieties that have emerged during these troubling times.

These are my beautiful children.

Over the last two weeks, I've been battling with the truth that if our world doesn't change, one day I will have to explain certain truths to my son that simply don’t make sense. For example:

1.      His "skin colour" alone deems him a threat to society. Everyday, he is approaching that line where he transitions from being a "cute black boy" to a "scary black man"

2.      He is not allowed to wear a hooded jumper (which in normal circumstances, such items of clothing will keep him warm) for fear of being labelled "a thug" or “a threat”

In addition:

·      I pray that my children will never come home and utter the words "I don't want to be black" because they realise it is still associated with a deep mistrust from the outside world.

·      I pray that they never have "an encounter" outside our home (be it school, parks, shops and when they grow..the workplace) where they resent a core part of their identity... their beautiful skin.

On Monday 8th June, we reached a historic point in the fight against COVID-19 in the U.K. with only 77 deaths recorded. This was the lowest since the lockdown began. It is no doubt that the national effort has contributed to fighting this virus. Similarly, a national (and global) effort is required to tackle racism which is why I continue to urge us all to:

Stay informed - stand against racism - build a better future