Something I haven’t quite mastered is closing the countless tabs running in my mind. But do I truly want to? My weeks are a blend of managing my consultancy, Blue Moon & Partners, alongside my various non-executive director and trustee roles. These include being a Civil Service Commissioner and a City of London Common Councillor. While a portfolio career can feel chaotic to some, I’ve designed mine to share my expertise in equity, people and culture across multiple industries.  

Yet, like most people, I need moments that are just for me. That’s reformer pilates four times a week and a hack through the woods with the horses I ride regularly - Tom, Celt or Myles. It’s during this time of personal reflection that I recharge and refocus. I’m writing this after my Friday night pilates session, which is always a bit different. Imagine club classics, disco lights and a room full of people using the last of their weekly energy to invest in their wellbeing. It’s a moment of joy before the weekend sweeps in and flies by.

My weeks are always productive, but never the same. I recently visited the mental health charity Mind in Tower Hamlets, Newham and Redbridge to explore how I could support them in their vital work. It was moving, and I’m excited about the opportunities we discussed.

Later I had lunch with Marcus Ryder, CEO of the Film and TV Charity. We talked about ways to honour the legacy of my dear friend Simon Albury, who passed away last month [read our appreciation of the former RTS CEO here]. He was a special man, and his absence is deeply felt. Marcus and I exchanged ideas on how to preserve Simon’s profound contributions to broadcasting and equality.

After an emotional day, I shifted gears at a meeting with JP Morgan Chase. We finalised plans for an equity and inclusion initiative that I’m delivering through Blue Moon. Then I headed to The Telegraph newspaper to conclude some executive coaching work I’d been doing and discuss the next steps. It has been rewarding to witness progress in this space.

Earlier this year, I contributed to the Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity’s review of the BBC’s £112m diversity commitment. As the former Head of Creative Diversity at the BBC, I’m proud of the work we did. The review’s publication provided valuable insights for the industry, although it’s important to note that the BBC’s new financial commitment, announced the same day, wasn’t co-designed with our team.

Just as I thought the day was winding down, I received a LinkedIn message announcing that the Labour government had recognised the Creative Diversity All-Party Parliamentary Group’s report as essential reading. This was a huge win for me and my team, and our group chat quickly lit up with celebratory messages. I then jumped on a call with the founder of SkillStack, a Dublin-based agency I’ve been working with to develop inclusive hiring content. We reviewed some feedback and were thrilled to learn that Nasa is using the content we created.

As the new Chair of the RTS’s IDEA Committee [Inclusion, Diversity, Equality and Accessibility], I’m excited about the work ahead. RTS Futures was instrumental in my early career, helping me understand and learn about TV when I was new to the industry. I am pleased to be able to contribute formally to a charity that is dedicated to making a difference.

Dr Joanna Abeyie MBE is the founder and CEO of Blue Moon & Partners, author of Inclusion Needs You, RTS IDEA Committee Chair and a Civil Service Commissioner.