Why Black History Month Is Important To Us

Spotlighting Achievement

"Black History Month is crucial for recognising the contribution of African and Caribbean descendants not just across the UK, but across the globe," says Leah.

"It is a really good opportunity for us to reflect on the contributions Black people have made to date, particularly when we are thinking about contributions that may have been overlooked or wiped out of the history books.

"The beauty of Black History Month is that it brings the opportunity to spotlight those achievements and contributions in more depth as well as allow others to learn more about the diverse cultures and experiences that 'Blackness' encompasses. We want to make sure that these conversations serve as a springboard for the rest of the year, and not just October."

Encouraging Openness

"This year we are focussing on embedding EDI across the team in its broadest sense, empowering our team to lean into conversations on a range of diversity topics, not just race and ethnicity," adds Leah.

"We are working with team members on launching an ethnic minority employee network, which will be similar to our already-established Women's, LGBTQ+ and Working Families' networks.

"We have not had certain conversations around experience of race and ethnicity within Mercedes before now and it's important we understand and address barriers to the industry for marginalised or minoritised talent. So, putting this group together and supporting them to create a safe space for broader conversations is - for me, as a Black woman in our EDI team - the icing on the cake.

"We will also host Dr Ollie Folayan, one of the Co-Founders of the AFBE-UK [Association For Black Engineers], for a team talk on the equity of ethnic diversity.

"The purpose of that will be to continue the conversation and build understanding of race and ethnicity in the workplace. We're also thinking of how we can make sure that we are creating equitable systems, processes, cultures, and environments that allow people from all walks of life to flourish and reach their full potential".

Being More Courageous

"This year's theme is 'Reclaiming Narratives' and centres on the idea that stories and experiences of those within the Black community should be led by those who live it. It is also an opportunity for us to celebrate all aspects of race, culture and identity by fostering conversation, generating interest and gaining insights into global Black culture," explains Leah.

"That might be an individual employee's experience or a story that highlights an aspect of the culture or the massive impact Black people have and continue to make.

"It enables us to create a platform that can lead to more courageous conversations around race and ethnicity."

The Journey So Far

"We have been open in having conversations and wanting to learn more as a team. We understand how a diverse and inclusive team drives our innovation, performance and competitive edge," says Leah.

"What I love about our collegiate culture is that people are not afraid to ask questions and want to learn more. We have evolved to be bolder and have started to lean into those difficult conversations.

"Thinking more long-term we want to continue to embed that culture of psychological safety and encourage team members to learn more and be active allies for those across all of our EDI categories."

There Should Be No Boundaries

"Our EDI programme has been immensely powerful and served as a great foundation for us as a team. There is a real strength in us celebrating awareness days or months like Black History Month, and that is why October is important because it ignites openness and learning," adds Leah.

"It doesn't end on the 31st of October, either. The beauty of the EDI space is that our work is never done and to truly embed a culture of inclusion we have to keep these themes top of our mind.

"There is immense untapped potential both among younger generations and experienced professionals, particularly those from underrepresented racial groups. They should feel encouraged, not deterred, from pursuing careers in motorsport and F1, as there are vast opportunities for them to thrive, break barriers and achieve a true sense of fulfilment."

"It is not about being the next Lewis Hamilton, James Allison or Toto Wolff. It's about opening the door for talent to be unlocked and developed across STEAM roles. There should be no boundaries."