Belonging Isn’t a Buzzword, It’s a Power Shift What starts as a conversation about birthdays, Robbie Williams, and rescue dogs quickly becomes something much deeper. In this episode, Max Horton, Global Head of Inclusion and Belonging at Smith & Nephew, joins the podcast to talk openly about how lived experience shapes leadership, culture, and the way organisations choose to show up for their people. Max shares his journey of living with Crohn’s disease, the moments that shaped his understanding of belonging, and the experiences that made it clear when a workplace wasn’t built with everyone in mind. From being challenged on what he wore after surgery, to recognising how deeply those moments affect confidence, performance, and identity, the conversation stays grounded in what inclusion actually feels like day to day. Alongside the personal stories, the episode gently unpacks why these experiences matter at scale. With around one in five working age adults identifying as disabled, inclusion is not a marginal issue. When people feel they belong, performance improves, engagement increases, and teams make better decisions. These aren’t abstract ideas, they are realities that show up in how people work, stay, and contribute. The conversation also explores how Max went on to found and grow a global disability employee network, why listening comes before fixing, and why belonging is not created through policy alone but through trust, relationships, and everyday behaviours. Thoughtful, honest, and at times light hearted, this episode is as much about people as it is about practice. It is for anyone interested in building cultures where people do not have to shrink themselves to succeed. SIGNPOSTING AND RESOURCES Max Horton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-horton-480933113/ Crohn’s & Colitis UK Support, guidance, and peer networks for people living with Crohn’s disease and colitis. Link: https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk McKinsey & Company – Diversity and Inclusion Research Evidence based research linking inclusion and belonging to performance, innovation, and business outcomes, including the Diversity Wins series. Link: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion Employee Inclusion Networks (EINs / ERGs) Workplace networks that create community, support, and collective voice for disabled and chronically ill employees. Self ID Campaigns Ethical and transparent approaches to inviting employees to disclose demographic information, including disability. Listening Sessions and Employee Voice Structured ways for organisations to hear directly from employees before designing solutions or interventions. Mindfulness and Mental Health Practices Approaches such as meditation, breathing exercises, or yoga to support mental wellbeing alongside disability or chronic illness. Peer and Community Support Condition specific groups, online communities, and informal networks that reduce isolation and build connection.
