INvolve is a consultancy and global network that enables leaders and change-makers to build more successful and empowering organizations where everyone can thrive.

Founded in 2013 by Suki Sandhu OBE, a globally recognized expert in talent, diversity, and inclusion, INvolve transforms workplaces and mindsets through strategy development and the delivery of training, development programs, and other solutions to help firms drive cultural change.

Since 2013 we have also created global Role Model Lists, currently supported by YouTube, to recognize those working to progress inclusion.

There is no cost to take part and Role Models will not be asked for money at any stage in relation to their appearance on our Lists.

After appearing on our Lists, Role Models will receive information about our Role Model Gala Dinners in London and New York where they can buy tickets if they would like to attend.

Becoming an Empower Role Model is an opportunity to inspire others to succeed in their chosen fields while supporting the movement towards a more inclusive and diverse business world. Being featured as a Empower Role Model can provide a higher profile platform to support your current work for inclusion and help facilitate new relationships for support and collaboration. Being a visible Role Model can also invite new speaking opportunities on the topic of DEI in business.

As a demonstration of your work supporting inclusion, the recognition of being an Empower Role Model may also assist with your overall career progression.

Yes. We accept submissions by Role Models from any country and usually around 40 different countries are represented across our Lists.

Please note that at the current time we only accept submissions in English, however, we do not allocate any marks to style, spelling, or grammar in the selection process.

Yes, although it is not necessary. Anyone can send in a submission directly to be a Role Model without the need of a nomination. If you do nominate yourself first then you will receive email reminders for submission deadlines.

Yes. However please be aware that our judging process takes into account the work for inclusion undertaken by Role Models for the benefit of employees within their own organization. This means that the impact of internal work for inclusion may be less significant than for larger organizations. It is therefore necessary for those from smaller organizations to clearly demonstrate and evidence the size of impact they have made external from their own organization in order to be included on our Role Model Lists.  

Individuals working for smaller businesses exclusively providing DEI-related services will be considered DEI professionals and therefore will not be eligible for our Role Model Lists.

Yes, as long as you have permission from the potential Role Model.

The Empower Role Model Lists provide employers with the opportunity to showcase the great work being done within their organization for diversity and inclusion and publicly recognize the individuals who are dedicating their time and energy to making the workplace more inclusive. We therefore encourage all employers to get involved in the promotion of their Role Models and provide a media pack with key information and graphics for a communications team to successfully celebrate the Role Models from their organization.

No – unless you have only recently become a DEI professional and telling us about work undertaken prior to starting your new role. Our Role Model Lists are specifically aimed to provide visible and relatable Role Models for inclusion across the huge range of roles and industries beyond just DEI – recognizing that everyone can make an impact and has a role to play in making businesses and society more diverse and inclusive. We are also aware that making any comparisons between the work and impact of those who work full time professionally in DEI, with those who are progressing DEI alongside their full time role within a judging process would not be fair.

Therefore individuals who work professionally in DEI or are in a role where the majority of their work is focused on DEI activity are not eligible to take part.

Those who have DEI as part of a much wider remit within their role, such as HR professionals or those within ESG, can participate.

Yes. However please be aware that our judging process takes into account the work for inclusion undertaken by Role Models for the benefit of employees within their own organization. This means that the impact of internal work for inclusion may be less significant than for larger organizations. It is therefore necessary for those from smaller organizations to clearly demonstrate and evidence the size of impact they have made external from their own organization in order to be included on our Role Model Lists.

Individuals working for smaller businesses exclusively providing DEI-related services will be considered DEI professionals and therefore will not be eligible for our Role Model Lists.

Yes. We welcome Role Models from all types of organizations as long as they don’t provide professional DEI services to businesses.

Yes. We welcome Role Models from all types of organizations.

No. The number of nominations received does not influence the judging process.

The submissions guide provides more detail about each category to help but these definitions may not be appropriate to every organizational structure or size of company. If in doubt we recommend reviewing our previous Executive and Future Leader Role Model Lists to see the job titles and work of those included.

If the judges believe that you have entered into an inappropriate category for your job level, then we will contact you regarding a potential change of category.

Once you have completed a nomination form an automatic email will be sent to your potential Role Model notifying them that they have been nominated. This email will feature your personal message if you’ve included one. It will also provide them with details on the submission form they will need to complete in order to be considered for the Role Model Lists along with the relevant deadlines.

As deadline dates approach we will also send them email reminders on how to take part.

Occasionally, notification emails end up in spam so after completing the nomination form you may also want to reach out directly to your Role Model to ensure they know you nominated them.

The submissions guide provides more details on the criteria used during the judging process and we highly recommend reading this prior to taking part. We do not release the exact criteria we use to ensure that potential Role Models do not focus their inclusion efforts around appearing on our Role Model Lists.

All submissions are read and scored by an internal team, before going to our senior judging panel for the final selection.

Please note that we receive a very high volume of submissions for our Role Model Lists from around the world and aim to represent the depth, breadth and diversity of work being undertaken for inclusion within the Lists. The standard of submissions is very high and all those involved in the selection process have to make very difficult decisions. Due to the high level of submissions received each year we do not provide personal feedback on why an individual did or did not make our Role Model Lists.

You must submit a headshot to be considered for the Heroes Role Model Lists. Without a headshot, we cannot include you in the Lists. Please note that your headshot will not be a part of the judging process, and will only be used on our website should you be successful as a Role Model.

Although we do our best to ensure they are received, it is possible that our notification emails can go into a junk folder or could be blocked by a company’s IT security system. This is unfortunately out of our control and if your Role Model has not received a notification, we recommend emailing them directly yourself. We have provided the text below to use as a guide:

I would like to nominate you as a potential Role Model for the upcoming Empower Role Model Lists supported by YouTube. The Lists showcase leaders who are breaking down barriers at work and supporting inclusion for people of color within global businesses. Becoming an Empower Role Model would be an amazing opportunity for your great work to be recognized and to inspire others “to be what they can see”.

To take part you can make an application at empower.involverolemodels.org where there is also more information about the Empower Lists and the different categories for entry.

Please ensure that your headshot meets the following requirements:

• 246×500 pixels
• vertical orientation
• PNG or JPG file type
• maximum 50MB

If you still cannot upload a headshot through the submission form, please email it to us at emnominations@involvepeople.org.

Please contact emnominations@involvepeople.org and a member of our team will send a Word version of the form you can use.