Mr Irfaan Arif
Irfaan Arif is a Behavioural Scientist, DEI expert and founder of Develop Minds and Behaviour Labs, specialising in designing workplace cultures that balance performance and equity. As an adjunct professor at Hult Business School in Dubai, Irfaan teaches on topics like leadership, inclusion, and change management, integrating neuroscience and psychology into practical workplace solutions.
With over two decades of experience, Irfaan has collaborated with multinational corporations, educational institutions, and frontline organisations to address disparities in wellbeing and inclusion. His approach generally critiques the tokenistic nature of many workplace initiatives and offers practical, systemic solutions to promote equity and wellbeing. He has led programs across the UK and GCC, where the interplay between race, class, and status creates unique challenges for workplace wellbeing.
Known for his engaging, reflective approach, Irfaan encourages organisations and individuals to challenge conventional narratives and embrace sustainable change.
Irfaan has an MA in HRD, an Executive MBA and a MSc in Psychology. He is also currently finalising his MSc in Business Psychology at Arden University.
He has contributed the chapter Mindset in the Book ‘The Key to Inclusion’ and regularly writes and speaks about the application of behavioural science to inclusion and wellbeing.
Moving beyond the superficial: Reimagining Equity and Wellbeing in Organisational DEI Strategies.
Despite progress in addressing interpersonal racism and promoting inclusion and wellbeing, many organisations fail to address the deeper, systemic legacies of inequality that shape today’s workplaces. Historical ideologies, such as colonialism and racial hierarchies, continue to perpetuate inequities in hiring, pay structures, access to opportunities, and belonging.
While concepts like imposter syndrome are widely discussed, they are often applied as universal challenges, ignoring how they uniquely manifest for marginalised employees who face stereotypes and systemic barriers.
This presentation introduces a multi-level framework for equity-led transformation, guiding organisations from Equality 101 (legislative compliance) through Diversity 2.0 (marketing-led strategies) to Inclusion 3.0 (systemic, equity-driven change). We will explore:
1. The legacy of historical ideologies in modern workplaces and their impact on systemic and interpersonal racism.
2. How stereotype threat and imposter syndrome disproportionately affect marginalized groups and perpetuate exclusion.
3. The role of power networks in reinforcing privilege and exclusion in organisational wellbeing and DEI strategies.
Using behavioural science and systems mapping, the presentation will demonstrate how to address inequities by analysing the interaction of organisational actors, structures, and processes. The session concludes with a practical case study illustrating how systemic interventions create sustainable change.