Black History Month runs until the end of October. Karlene Greenland, Head of People Partnering at Bellrock, shares her positive experience of growing up in multicultural South London.
Bellrock Group are proud to celebrate the cultural heritage of our people. We honour a variety of cultural and religious observances throughout the year as part of our ‘Belonging at Bellrock’ series, aligning with our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy.
As part of our Black History Month celebrations, we caught up with Karlene Greenland to hear her story…
I’m a rich mix of Jamaican and Irish descent. My mother is half Jamaican, half Irish and my father was Jamaican. My paternal grandparents, were part of the Windrush generation who came to the UK from the Caribbean in the 1960’s and my maternal grandmother came to the UK in the 1950’s.
Growing up in South London, specifically in multicultural Brixton, I didn’t ever consider my colour was an issue. Both my primary and secondary schools were diverse, with children from all backgrounds and faiths, so ethnicity was never a barrier. I didn’t really think anything of the colour of my skin. It was a positive experience.
As an adult, the shift came when entering the workplace and becoming a minority. Culturally a lot of people of colour tend to code switch in the workplace due to being a minority and possibly less relatable. Being Black in the workplace can present unique challenges, from facing stereotypes to dealing with microaggressions. I’ve only ever felt uncomfortable, or conscious of my colour, when entering a boardroom and I find I’m the only Black person in the meeting, which has happened more times than not throughout my career. But, looking at it positively, it’s an opportunity to contribute unique perspectives and experiences.
So far at Bellrock I’ve not experienced challenges based on the colour of my skin. It’s a culturally diverse company and my manager, who’s a white man, speaks openly about diversity and its refreshing that it is a topic of conversation. I feel extremely comfortable speaking freely with him, there’s no judgement, there’s encouragement. And I feel this across the business too.
Find out more about Bellrock's culture”My belief is your ethnicity doesn't define you, who you are as a person does. Keep speaking about your experiences, let people understand where you're coming from. It's important to remember that our identities are complex and multifaceted. While race can be a significant part of who we are, it doesn't define our entire worth or potential.
Karlene Greenland, Head of People Partnering at Bellrock Group.
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