🌟 Legacy Isn’t a Ladder. It’s a Lighthouse.
Most New Year’s resolutions fade before February—not because we lack discipline, but because we start with goalsbefore building a foundation.
In this blog + podcast, I offer a different approach:
✨ Reflect on your impact across four domains
💬 Name your invisible work and inner growth
🌉 Reconnect by building bridges of empathy
🧭 Anchor your year with a single Power Statement
This is personal planning through the Six Stages Framework lens—where legacy shines from the top but is grounded in self-awareness, action, and connection.
🗺️ Review your impact in 2025
🌅 Set your Power Statement for 2026
🎧 Listen to the podcast: [insert Spotify link]
📝 Read the blog: [insert blog link]
📥 Download your reflection tools & posters: [insert link]
#SixStagesFramework #LeadershipDevelopment #PowerStatement #IntentionalLiving #PersonalGrowth #EquityAndInclusion #Legacy #SelfAwareness #EmpathyInAction #CoachingTools #NewYearReflection
🌱 Forget Resolutions. Plan for Impact.
Most new year goals are abandoned by February—not because we lack ambition, but because we’re using the wrong map.
In this new blog and podcast, I explore 4 counter-intuitive but powerful ways to plan your year:
🔁 Shift from ladders to inverted triangles
🧊 Honour the invisible work beneath the surface
🫶 Grow by building bridges, not just habits
💬 Replace your to-do list with a Power Statement
Let’s start 2026 by asking:
Did I shape the year, or did it shape me?
#SixStagesFramework #PowerStatement #NewYearsReflection #IntentionalLiving #LegacyBuilding
🎧 Listen to the podcast version here: [Insert link]
📝 Read the full blog here: [Insert link]
✨ The Quiet Moments After Christmas: Reflecting on Caves of Celebration
As the glitter settles and the noise softens, I find myself in that familiar stillness—the quiet moments after Christmas.
This year, I’ve been reflecting on the many caves of celebration I’ve seen and sensed around me. Some were full of light, laughter, and warmth. Others were quieter… sometimes painfully so.
What exactly did this festive season mean for you?
We don’t often speak about the unwritten rules that shape this time of year—the silent scripts we’re expected to follow:
On Christmas Eve, many of us retreat into our chosen or inherited caves—preparing for the big day, the ‘climax’ that is Christmas.
But what did your cave look like this year?
For some, it’s a cave of community—surrounded by family, friends, rituals, and joy.
For others, it’s a cave of isolation, where the absence of loved ones echoes louder than any carol.
For some, it’s a cave of grief, facing the first Christmas without someone they loved.
And for far too many, it’s a cave of war, violence, or displacement—where survival, not celebration, is the priority.
Some couldn’t wait for Christmas to be over. Others wish it could last a little longer.
So let me ask you:
🌀 If you had to describe the emotional space you inhabited this Christmas—your cave of celebration—what three words would you choose?
Was it joyful? Exhausting? Restorative? Lonely? Complicated?
🌙 If you found yourself in a cave of loneliness or loss—how did you cope? What got you through?
And when people ask “How was Christmas?”, how do you respond?
Would you say:
— “It was perfect.”
— “It was fine.”
— “Honestly? It was hard.”
— “I don’t know.”
And equally important:
👉 When you ask someone how their Christmas was, and they hesitate—or tell you they were lonely, sad, or grieving—how do you respond?
Can you hold that space with compassion?
Can you sit with their discomfort, or does it make you want to move on quickly?
Can you pause and truly listen?
💭 If there’s one thing that might have made Christmas better for you, what would it have been? A person? A moment of peace? A conversation? A hug?
This isn’t about guilt or comparison. Christmas is a time of celebration—and we all deserve that. But the unwritten rule to “keep things positive” can sometimes silence the full truth.
👉 Is there space in our culture for both joy and honesty?
👉 Can we allow ourselves to acknowledge the privilege of celebration, even as we protect it?
👉 Did you have the capacity this year to think about others in different caves—or did you need to shut those thoughts away for your own survival?
There’s no judgment here.
But perhaps the quiet moments after Christmas give us a chance—not for regret—but for reflection.
🔍 To pause.
💬 To be honest.
🌱 To grow.
So I’ll leave you with this question:
What cave did you inhabit this Christmas—and what will you carry forward from it into the new year?
#CavesOfCelebration #ReflectAndRenew #FestiveReflections #SixStagesFramework #EmpathyInAction #InclusionPsychologists #PostChristmasPause #UnspokenTruths #EmotionalSpaces #WhatChristmasMeant
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/unmasking-holidays-guide-understanding-silent-scripts-m-gadzah-gsq0e
🎄 Feeling More Fake Than Festive?
A Survival Guide to the 12 Stages of Christmas
For some, the holidays bring joy, celebration, and connection.
For others, it brings pressure, grief, numbness, or the exhausting task of pretending to be okay.
I’ve been thinking about how emotionally complex this season can be — especially when we assume everyone else is “feeling festive.” The truth is, we’re not all in the same place.
So I created something.
🌟 A gentle framework to help you find where you are this season — whether you’re in survival, stillness, or service.
✨ A guide to name what you’re feeling, without shame.
🕯️ And most importantly — to offer one small thing you can do to care for yourself or someone else.
👉 Read the article: Feeling More Fake Than Festive? A Survival Guide to the 12 Stages of Christmas
📌
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/feeling-more-fake-than-festive-dr-shungu-hilda-m-gadzah-k4kce
https://youtu.be/Q9WgTUWxacI
Even small ones.
Especially small ones.
Download the visual guide in the article or save it to share
💬 And let me know - what stage are you at this Christmas?
Visit our website:
https://www.sixstagesframework.com/survival/
#12StagesOfChristmas #MentalHealthAtChristmas #SixStagesFramework #Wellbeing #Reflection #Compassion #Inclusion #BuildingBridgesOfEmpathy #HolidayWellbeing #TraumaInformedCare
#FestiveReflection #InclusionAndEmpathy
#ChristmasGrief #EmotionalResilience
#MindfulHolidays #CompassionateLeadership
#BuildingBridgesOfEmpathy #SelfCareSeason
#QuietJoy #EvenSmallOnes #EspeciallySmallOnes
An honest reflection on masculinity, emotional intelligence, and why boys are taught to hide their feelings. This episode explores how emotional safety, tenderness, and connection are essential to boys’ and men’s mental health.
What if we taught boys that feeling is not failure — and that tenderness is strength?
Many boys grow up learning that emotions should be hidden, suppressed, or controlled…
Full description
An honest reflection on boys’ mental health, masculinity, and emotional intelligence — and why so many boys are taught to hide their feelings.
From an early age, many boys learn that showing emotion is a weakness and that strength means staying silent. Over time, this emotional suppression takes a heavy toll, contributing to anxiety, stress, anger, disconnection, and difficulty forming healthy relationships.
In this episode, Dr. Shungu H. M’gadzah explores how we can redefine masculinity by creating emotional safety for boys and men. Drawing on years of psychological practice and the Six Stages Framework, the reflection looks at how people move from emotional shutdown toward awareness, connection, and healthy emotional expression.
This is not just a conversation for fathers and sons. It is a conversation for all of us — parents, educators, professionals, and communities — who shape the messages boys receive about emotions, strength, and vulnerability.
Affection is not weakness.
Vulnerability is courage.
And emotional intelligence is essential to mental wellbeing.
Learn more about the Six Stages Framework
https://www.sixstagesframework.com
✨ NEW: The Six Stages Framework Individual Diversity Assessment Is Live
Because you can’t grow if you don’t know where you’re starting from.
For years, I’ve seen leaders, educators, and psychologists wanting to “do better” around equity and inclusion — but feeling unsure of where they really stand.
That’s why I’ve launched the Individual Diversity Assessment, a research-informed tool that helps you:
🔹 Understand where you are on the revised Six Stages Framework (from Stage -6 to +6)
🔹 Identify your strengths, blind spots, and emotional patterns
🔹 Reflect on how you respond to difference, bias, and inclusion
🔹 Discover the support you need to move to the next stage
🔹 Build confidence, empathy, and inclusive leadership habits
This isn’t about judgement.
It’s about clarity, compassion, and growth.
Inclusion isn’t a fixed identity—it’s a journey.
And every journey begins with naming your starting point.
If we want more equitable schools, workplaces, and communities, we must first be willing to look within.
The assessment is now live.
Take the first step.
👉 Link in the comments.
— Dr Shungu H. M’gadzah
Inclusion Psychologists Ltd | Six Stages Framework
A Call to Begin the Journey
Launching this assessment is not simply the release of a tool—it is an invitation.
An invitation for individuals to locate themselves honestly.
An invitation for organisations to support staff with nuance and empathy.
An invitation for all of us to understand that inclusion is a lifelong journey.
Wherever you are on that journey, this tool will meet you there.
If we want more equitable classrooms, workplaces, and communities, we must first be willing to look within—to name our stage, our fears, our habits, and our potential for growth.
I invite you to take this step with me.
The assessment is now live.
Click below to begin your journey.
— Dr Shungu H. M’gadzah
Inclusion Psychologists Ltd | Six Stages Framework
Click below to begin your journey.
The Six Stages Framework is more than a tool; it is an invitation. An invitation to look within, to name our stage honestly and without shame, and to walk forward with the courage required to build more equitable, compassionate, and deeply human workplaces.
To access the assessment: follow this link Cost: £1.99 per assessment
Access Form: https://www.sixstagesframework.com/ssf-individual-inclusion-assessment-acess-request/
Visit my website to read the article and download the infographic.
Dr Shungu H. M’gadzah: Inclusion Psychologists Ltd. Copyright: © 2025
www.sixstagesframework.com | www.inclusionpsychologists.com
— Dr Shungu H. M’gadzah
Inclusion Psychologists Ltd | Six Stages Framework
#IndividualDiversityAssessment #SixStagesFramework #InclusionJourney #KnowYourStage #EquityInAction #DEITraining #InclusivePractice #LeadershipTools #SelfAwareness #EmpathyBuilding #DEIGrowth #InclusionStartsWithYou
#ExecutiveLeadership #BoardGovernance #StrategicLeadership #LeadershipInsight #CultureChange #InclusiveStrategy #TransformationalLeadership #SystemsThinking #EquityLeadership #OrganisationalDevelopment #LeadershipAccountability
#LeadershipPodcast #DEIPodcast #ThroughTheSSFLens #InclusiveLeadership #BuildingBridgesOfEmpathy #LeadershipDialogue #LearningAndUnlearning #ReflectiveLeadership #DEIConversation #HumanCentredLeadership
#InclusionPsychology #DevelopmentalFramework #EmotionalIntelligence #CognitiveAwareness #BiasInterruption #EmpathySkills #BehaviourChange #InclusiveMindset #LearningCulture #GrowthMindset
🌿 When a “Joke” Isn’t Just a Joke
Through the SSF Lens – What Do You Do If…?
Have you ever been in a meeting where someone makes a “joke”…
and suddenly the room changes?
A joke about someone being too emotional.
A jab about hormones.
A comment about someone being foreign.
Or any remark that targets multiple parts of someone’s identity at once.
Everyone hears it.
Everyone feels the shift.
But not everyone knows what to do.
This week, I’m launching a new SSF podcast series exploring these very moments:
“What Do You Do If…? Responding to Real-World Bias Through an Intersectional Lens.”
Our first episode dives into a scenario many people recognise but struggle to navigate:
👉 What do you do if someone makes a ‘joke’ that targets gender, age, and culture all at the same time?
Inside the episode, we explore:
✨ The intersectional harm behind layered microaggressions
✨ Why these moments cut deeper than we realise
✨ How the Six Stages Framework helps us map what’s happening in the room
✨ What different responses look like at various SSF stages
✨ How to support the person affected
✨ And how to move the conversation toward courage, clarity, and change
This is not about calling people out for the sake of it.
It’s about understanding what lies beneath these comments, recognising the caves people are operating from, and choosing responses that build empathy, safety, and transformation.
If you’ve ever frozen in a moment like this…
If you’ve ever wondered whether to speak up…
If you’ve ever replayed a comment long after the meeting ended…
this episode is for you.
🎙️ Series Title: Through the SSF Lens – What Do You Do If…?
📌 Episode: Someone Makes a “Joke” About Multiple Aspects of Someone’s Identity
Let’s keep building bridges of empathy — one moment, one insight, one stage at a time.
Message me to get the full infographic
Shungu@SixStagesFramework.com
www.sixstagesframework.com
#SixStagesFramework #Intersectionality #InclusionMatters #EquityInAction #BiasAwareness #EverydayBias #Microaggressions #IntentVsImpact #PsychologicalSafety #InclusiveLeadership #EmpathyInLeadership
#DEI #InclusionMatters #WorkplaceCulture #RepresentationMatters #BelongingAtWork #CallItOut #LeadershipDevelopment #ReflectivePractice #SocialJustice #EquityInAction
#LearningTogether #ChallengingConversations #HumanBehaviour #EquityInEducation #SchoolCulture #BiasAwareness #EmpathyInAction #SixStagesFramework
#SixStagesFramework #DEI #Intersectionality #InclusiveLeadership #Leadership #SocialJustice #ThinkDeeply #EverydayBias #EmpathyInLeadership #PodcastSeries
Through the SSF Lens: Nigel Farage, Denial, and the Spectrum of Racism
“Have I ever misspoken? Probably… but never in a hurtful or insulting way… not with intent.”
These were Nigel Farage’s recent words when asked about allegations of racist abuse during his school years. He added:
“I’ve never directly racially abused anybody… not in a way that took it out on an individual because of who they are.”
But what does “directly” mean? And why is intent positioned as the measure of whether something is racist?
Through the Six Stages Framework, we can see what is being said - and what is being avoided.
The Politics of Denial
Farage’s wording distances him from the impact of past behaviour by emphasising intent. This aligns with Stage -2: Denial and Deflection, where individuals minimise harm, rewrite history, or reframe actions as harmless misunderstandings.
At these stages, the conversation shifts from impact to self‑image - from “How did this affect others?” to “What did I mean?”
What the SSF Teaches Us
Racism is harmful whether subtle or overt.
Intent does not erase impact.
Accountability begins with acknowledging harm -even from the past.
When public figures minimise racism, they create permission structures that allow others to do the same.
Moving Forward
The Six Stages Framework asks us to recognise and name these subtle forms of denial and move toward reflection, responsibility, and growth.
A Question for All of Us
What does real accountability look like for public figures today - and how do we shift the focus from intent to impact?
🎧 From the “Through the SSF Lens” series by Dr. Shungu M’gadzah.
Learn more at www.sixstagesframework.com
#ThroughTheSSFLens #SixStagesFramework #IntentVsImpact #DenialAndDeflection #Accountability #InclusiveLeadership #AntiRacism #SocialJustice #EquityInAction #SSFLens #NigelFarage
What if unlearning prejudice—racism, sexism, homophobia—was treated less like a test to pass and more like a recovery journey?
That’s the heart of Becoming Less and Less, a framework I’ve developed through Inclusive Psychologists Ltd., inspired by the 12-step recovery structure and grounded in the Six Stages Framework (SSF).
This approach invites us to move beyond perfectionism and shame by asking one powerful daily question:
“What am I becoming less and less of?”
Not overnight. Not performatively. But slowly. Honestly.
With sustained effort, accountability, and reflection.
The idea is brought to life in our new podcast episode, Conversations Around the Dinner Table, which draws on the real-life story of Robbie Mullen—former neo-Nazi turned informant—as portrayed in ITV’s The Walk-In. When asked in court if he was still a racist, he replied simply:
“Less so.”
That response stays with me.
Because it reminds us: progress is possible—even for those stuck at Stage -1 or -2 of the SSF.
But it doesn't happen by accident. It happens through daily commitment, support, and the courage to stay in difficult conversations.
🌀 This isn’t about making excuses.
It’s about telling the truth: change takes time.
And we all have a role to play in helping one another grow.
✨ Explore the guide.
🎧 Listen to the podcast.
🔁 Share with someone starting their journey.
Let’s make space for imperfection—and keep becoming less and less of the problem, and more and more of the solution.
🎧 Listen to the 5 minute podcast: Conversations Around the Dinner Table
YouTube
TikTok video
🎧 Listen to the 16 minute podcast: Becoming Less and Less: 12 Step Journey to Inclusion
YouTube
The 12 Steps: Your Reflection Guide
The following 12 steps are not a checklist for perfection. They are a reflection guide for those committed to the ongoing journey of growth, one step at a time.
1. I acknowledge that I have internalized bias and prejudice.
2. I commit to becoming less and less of a racist, sexist, homophobe, ableist, or discriminator.
3. I listen to voices I’ve ignored or silenced.
4. I reflect on the impact of my words and actions.
5. I accept discomfort as part of growth.
6. I notice when I want to shut down or walk away.
7. I speak up when I hear harm—even when it’s uncomfortable.
8. I surround myself with people and spaces that challenge me to grow.
9. I apologize when I get it wrong—and learn from it.
10. I support others on their journey without expecting perfection.
11. I understand this is lifelong work.
12. I engage in a daily check-in, asking myself: What am I becoming less and less of, and what am I becoming more and more of?
Conclusion: Your First Step Is Today
Meaningful change doesn't come from perfect performance, but from consistent practice. By reframing the work of unlearning bias as a recovery journey, we are freed from the paralysis of perfectionism and empowered to take small, meaningful steps every day. The goal is not a final destination but a continuous process of becoming better. So, the only question left to ask is the one that starts the journey: Today, what will you become less and less of?
And to be clear-this isn’t about making excuses for racism, sexism, or any form of harm.
It’s about recognising that deep change doesn’t happen overnight.
We don’t leap from denial to liberation in a day. We take small, consistent steps-and those steps matter.
This is about doing the work, not avoiding it.
Because growth is possible, especially when it’s personal.
#BecomingLessAndLess #12StepsToInclusion #SixStagesFramework #AntiracismWork #DEITruths #UnlearningBias #PsychologyOfInclusion #DrShungu #DailyPractice #TransformNotPerform #EquityInPractice #EmpathyAndAccountability #SelfReflection #BuildingBridgesOfEmpathy
🟪 Six Stages Framework for Understanding and Dealing with Gender Discrimination
Using the SSF to reflect on how people respond to sexism, gender diversity, and equity.
🟡 What stage are you on the Gender Equity journey?
The Six Stages Framework helps us understand the different ways people respond to gender and sexism - from outright hostility to inclusive leadership.
🎙️ In my latest 6 minute podcast episode, I explore how gender bias shows up in everyday life - and how we can move from silence and denial to allyship, advocacy, and transformation.
We talk about bias, backlash, and how to challenge systems without losing hope.
💡 Whether you’re just beginning to notice injustice or already leading change, there's a stage for you.
📍 Which one do you recognise in yourself — or those around you?
#GenderEquity #SixStagesFramework #Inclusion #Allyship #Sexism #Feminism #TransRights #Leadership #EquityLens #misogyny
For more videos visit: follow me on:
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@inclusionpsychologistslimi6897
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/3wchvGsekFQhoVflgj3bWE?si=ac14922077064e4b
TikTok
Psychologist | DEI Expert | Creator of Six Stages Framework 🌱 Unlearn bias
https://www.tiktok.com/@sixstagesframework
Dr Shungu H. M’gadzah: Inclusion Psychologists Ltd. Copyright: © 2025
🧘🏽♀️ Introducing: Dr. Shungu’s 8 minute Equity Meditation
It’s the end of a long week. Before you switch off for the night, let’s release the weight and choose compassion. Exhale bias. Inhale empathy. In the quiet moments after a busy week, there's often a desire to be a kinder, more present person in the world, but the path forward can feel overwhelming. Where do you even begin?
The answer might come from an unlikely place: a quiet evening equity meditation by Dr. Shungu Hilda M’gadzah, part of her Training the Brain for Equity series. This reflective practice offers profound and actionable lessons for anyone looking to build a more equitable mindset. It teaches that the most significant work begins not with a grand gesture, but with a quiet, internal shift.
Introduction: The Journey from Awareness to Action
Take a breath. Tonight, we release the weight… and choose compassion. Exhale bias. Inhale empathy.
This simple, powerful reflection sits at the heart of the Six Stages Framework, a set of guiding principles from Dr. Shungu Hilda M’gadzah's "Training the Brain for Equity" series. It is not a rigid set of rules, but an invitation to a shared journey—one that helps us reflect on our mindset and interactions to foster greater equity, empathy, and inclusion in our daily lives.
This guide is created for all of us who are beginning this work, offering a clear and gentle path to transform these foundational concepts from abstract ideas into meaningful practice.
In a world that often moves too fast, healing starts with intention.
This new meditation series is designed to support you in rewiring your brain for empathy, equity, and everyday courage. Whether you're a leader, educator, therapist, or simply someone seeking rest with purpose — this practice is for you.
✨ Rest with intention. Wake with purpose.
Let this be your daily anchor. A gentle space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the values that matter most.
Download the Zoom background to stay grounded during your meetings — and let it serve as a visual reminder of the equity journey we're all called to take.
🌐 Learn more: sixstagesframework.com
#EquityMeditation #RestWithIntention #WakeWithPurpose #SixStagesFramework #DrShungu #MindfulLeadership #InclusionMatters #NeurodiversityAndEquity #EmpathyInAction #MeditationForJustice #EquityInEducation #SocialHealing #AntiRacismWork #LeadershipThroughTheSSF #DEI #MentalWellbeing #RewireForEmpathy
Visit my website
Why do those in power sometimes seem emotionally detached or insulated from the consequences of their decisions? Why does success so often go hand-in-hand with a shrinking sense of empathy?
This week, I’m diving into The Neurology of Power — a powerful and unsettling body of research that reveals how privilege and power don’t just shape our opportunities… they rewire our brains.
From the science of neuroplasticity to the concept of body budgeting, we explore how:
✅ Privilege rewires the brain toward egocentric thinking and biased self-perception
✅ Power decreases empathy — not morally, but metabolically
✅ The myth of meritocracy hides the truth about elite access and parental investment
✅ Powerlessness isn’t just emotional — it’s a chronic biological burden
This is more than a discussion about social inequality. It’s about how power changes the brain, creating feedback loops that entrench injustice and disconnect us from one another.
🔍 If you work in leadership, education, health, policy, or activism — this episode is for you.
🎧 Listen now and ask yourself:
How is your brain shaped by the power you hold (or lack)?
And what would it mean to retrain our brains for equity?
👇
https://youtu.be/5pU-NfqhNFo
#Neuroscience #Inclusion #Equity #Leadership #SocialJustice #Neurodiversity #PowerAndPrivilege #SixStagesFramework #Empathy #Psychology #MeritocracyMyth #Education
Dr Shungu H. M’gadzah: Inclusion Psychologists Ltd. Copyright: © 2025
Evening Mindset: Equity Meditation
By Dr. Shungu M’gadzah
Take a breath.
Tonight, we release the weight… and choose compassion. Exhale bias. Inhale empathy.
This meditation is part of my Training the Brain for Equity series.
It's designed to help you reflect, release tension, and reset your mindset before bed — with empathy, courage, and compassion.
By reflecting on your day… and reflecting on your identity… I invite you to go deep within.
Think of the people you’ve met on your journey today. How did you connect with them?
How did you engage with their differences? Where did you find common ground?
Were there moments where you stepped outside your cave of comfort… or your cave of privilege… and truly connected?
What held you back?
What would you like to do differently tomorrow?
I forgive myself for what I didn’t yet know.
I notice the stories I tell — and challenge them with love. I make space for voices not heard today.
I let go of perfection… and choose progress.
Tomorrow, I lead with empathy.
I open my eyes to suffering.
I see others suffering and not just my own.
I open my heart to those who are struggling and having a difficult time. I am there for others and I speak up when I need to.
I do not let silence be my armour. I am authentic in my compassion.
I do not wear masks of tolerance to shield who I am and what I really think. Where I find fault in my thinkingand in my behaviours, I work hard to correct this. I recognise my faults and my limitations.
The first step is awareness. The next step is intention. The next step is action.
And I take each step carefully and with purpose.
For some of us, this may have been a really difficult week. What challenged you? What upset you?
Who failed to see you? Who failed to hear you?
Now that you’re reflecting — if they were next to you now, what would you say to them?
How would you help them understand your truth, your pain, your experience? Perhaps for you, this weekend is a time for healing — a time to regroup.
To think about how a stronger you will step into the week to come. What would you need to feel supported, seen, and safe?
As you step into the weekend, ask yourself:
How am I going to recuperate?
How will I restore my strength and resilience?
How can I prepare my mind and spirit to step into the week ahead — as the person I want to be… the person living their purpose?
As you approach the coming week:
What will you do differently? What will you focus on?
What will you build on? Ask yourself:
What do I need from myself to achieve the things I want to achieve? What do I need from those around me?
And how can I shine a light — even a small one — for others who may not have the same privilege, opportunity, or voice?
Take a moment to write down three goals — three intentions — for your new week ahead.
Reflect on the Six Stages Framework and its guiding principles.
If I were to spend the week with you, what would I see that shows you are walking in purpose — committed to equity, empathy, and inclusion?
The Six Stages Framework encourages us to:
- Act with compassion, even when it’s uncomfortable.
- Build bridges instead of walls.
- Recognise bias in ourselves and others.
- Speak up with courage when we see injustice.
- Embrace differences rather than shy away from them.
- Move from passive awareness to active inclusion.
What one principle or value from the framework will guide your steps next week? Let it be your compass.
Enjoy your weekend.
Take time to rest, to recharge, and to reconnect with yourself. Spend time with loved ones, with friends, with family.
Be kind to yourself.
Be compassionate — to yourself and to others.
Refocus, recharge, and get ready for another week of purpose, empathy, and growth.
#FridayReflection #EveningMindset #UnwindAndReset
#TrainingTheBrainForEquity #SixStagesFramework
#BuildingBridgesOfEmpathy #WalkInPurpose
#InclusiveLeadership #CompassionInAction
#NeurodiversityAwareness #RacialEquity #ReflectAndRecharge
✍️
My latest poem, “A Friendship Lost,” explores how even the strongest connections can fracture under the weight of a difficult conversation about racism.
What begins as curiosity — “Have you ever experienced racism?” — slowly unravels into discomfort, fragility, and silence.
It’s a deeply personal reflection on how love and friendship can be tested when empathy gives way to defensiveness. The poem asks:
What happens when someone’s need to be heard meets another’s inability to listen?
Even as an expert in the field of anti-racism, I’ve learned how hard it can be to stay emotionally regulated in those moments — to hold space for discomfort without letting hurt take over. These conversations ask us to balance compassion with truth, even when the cost feels deeply personal.
💭 Sometimes, it isn’t hate that ends a friendship — it’s discomfort that goes unexamined.
👉 Read The Poem “A Friendship Lost” .
https://www.sixstagesframework.com/zg9l
Read the article analysing the poem on my website
www.sixstagesframework.com
Listen to the podcast
https://youtu.be/2x2gjad9TxI?si=l1pyn-S08D4fb1Iz
What do you think helps us keep the door open when conversations on race get hard?
#Racism #AntiRacism #WhiteFragility #Empathy #Inclusion #SixStagesFramework #EmotionalIntelligence #Equity #SocialJustice #ConversationsThatMatter #Relationships
🌍 Introducing the Racism SURVIVAL Spectrum: From Harm to Healing
For too long, conversations about racism have been limited to one question — “Am I racist or not?”
But this binary view hides the truth: racism isn’t just an attitude; it’s an experience — one that can wound, silence, or transform, depending on how it’s met.
That’s why I developed the Prejudice Racism SURVIVAL Spectrum — a psychological response model that explores how people survive racism, and how support (or the lack of it) shapes our journey from pain to power.
The model maps two divergent paths:
🔹 The Path of Harm (Stages -1 to -6) — where denial, isolation, and internalised racism erode wellbeing, leading to crisis and despair.
🔹 The Path of Healing (Stages +1 to +6) — where awareness, validation, and empowerment lead to resilience, advocacy, and leadership.
This isn’t just theory.
It’s a lived framework — rooted in real experiences of exclusion, resilience, and recovery.
It helps us recognise that:
🎥 I invite you to watch the short video below and reflect:
Where are you — or someone you know — on this spectrum right now?
https://www.sixstagesframework.com/survival/
#RacismSurvivalSpectrum #SixStagesFramework #InclusionPsychologists #AntiRacism #PsychologicalSafety #HealingFromRacism #Empowerment #Leadership #Equity #diversityandinclusion
🟡 “When Safety Becomes Optional: Taking the SSF Lens to TikTok’s Moderator Cuts”
What happens when a global tech giant decides to prioritise automation and efficiency over human safety?
In this episode and reflective post, I take the SSF lens - the Six Stages Framework- to TikTok’s recent decision to cut over 400 UK-based content moderator roles. As the company leans more heavily on AI and off-shore solutions, we’re left to ask:
This story isn’t just about one company.
It’s about the systems we build, the people we silence, and the moments we normalise harm.
👓 Put on your SSF lenses with me—and let’s explore what we’re really seeing when safety becomes optional.
Clip
https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxfoEoyOPDgpecvcdBX3pV2tDj65A6SST5?si=TIY7vbAI00r8bci4
https://www.tiktok.com/@sixstagesframework/video/7562632679896681750
SSF & Inclusion Themes:
#SixStagesFramework #ThroughTheSSFLens #EquityLens #InclusionMatters #SocialJusticeLens #BiasAwareness
Tech + Ethics Focus:
#DigitalSafety #AIandEthics #TechAccountability #ContentModeration #AIandBias #PlatformResponsibility
Reflective + Reach:
#YouCantUnseeIt #LeadershipReflection #ConsciousLeadership #EmpathyInTech #VoicesThatMatter#equityinpsychology #AI #Technology #TikTok
🌍 Are you seeing clearly—or just comfortably?
Today I’m launching a brand new podcast episode:
“Are You Wearing Your SSF Lenses?”
🎧 www.sixstagesframework.com
What if we had lenses that helped us see bias, exclusion, and systemic patterns just as clearly as we see with prescription glasses?
The Six Stages Framework (SSF) is more than a model—
It’s a way of seeing.
A lens for equity.
A tool for clarity.
👓 This episode explores:
Once you see the world through the SSF lens…
✨ you can’t unsee it.
📢 Listen now and ask yourself:
What are you looking at—and how does it look through the SSF lens?
#SixStagesFramework #ThroughTheSSFLens #Inclusion #EquityLens #BiasAwareness #LeadershipDevelopment #ConsciousLeadership #SocialJustice #EmpathyInAction #YouCantUnseeIt
Core Framework
#SixStagesFramework
#SSF #ThroughTheSSFLens
#EquityLens #InclusionLens
#BiasAwareness
#PsychologyOfChange
#EquityAndInclusion
#LeadershipDevelopment
#SocialJustice
#ConsciousLeadership
#NeuropsychologyOfBias
#MindfulLeadership
#TransformativeThinking
#SeeDifferently
#YouCantUnseeIt
🔊 NEW ARTICLE & PODCAST OUT NOW
“Case Study: The Professional Cost of Whistleblowing on Racism in Elite Sport”
What happens when you speak the truth in a system built to deny it?
Luther Burrell, a former England international rugby player, courageously spoke out about the racism he endured within elite rugby. His reward? Validation from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) — but also professional exile and forced retirement.
In this article and podcast, I unpack the true cost of whistleblowing using the Prejudice Racism SURVIVAL Spectrum, a framework I developed to understand the psychological journey of confronting systemic discrimination.
Burrell’s story isn’t just about sport. It’s about every workplace where “banter” hides bias, and truth-tellers are left unprotected.
🧠 For leaders, HR teams, and DEI professionals — this is essential listening and reading. It offers:
Let’s talk about the price of progress — and who’s too often left paying the bill.
📖 Read the case study
🎧 Listen to the podcast
👇 Comment below with your reflections.
Newpaper report
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cdr61plm727o
#LutherBurrell #Whistleblowing #AntiRacism #RugbyUnion #SURVIVALSpectrum #DEI #Leadership #Inclusion #WorkplaceCulture #BanterIsNotInnocent #PsychologicalSafety #DrShunguMgadzah #SixStagesFramework #RaceEquity #SpeakUp #InclusiveLeadership #TruthTelling #SportsPsychology
🎧 A Million Little Cuts – Racism and Resilience
What does it mean to endure a lifetime of microaggressions?
What happens when silence, bias, and betrayal leave invisible scars?
In this reflective episode, I explore the emotional toll of racism through the metaphor of A Million Little Cuts—a phrase drawn from my book If Racism Was a Virus. Each cut tells a story: of pain, of strength, and of the resilience it takes to rise again.
🔗 Listen now and join me in building bridges of empathy, healing, and courageous action.
📘 Based on Chapter 1 and the prelude of If Racism Was a Virus
🛠 Featuring insights from the Six Stages Framework
❤️ For those who’ve been hurt, and those ready to help heal
Check out the book on Amazon
#AMillionLittleCuts #Podcast #AntiRacism #Microaggressions #EmotionalResilience #PsychologicalSafety #InclusionPsychologists #DrShungu #SixStagesFramework #DEI #RacialEquity #HealingJustice #SocialChange #Empathy #Allyship
In the podcast episode "Charlotte Meets Emily — When Politeness Meets Resistance", we explored a familiar workplace moment: a joke that lands poorly, an awkward silence, and two colleagues — one who speaks without thinking, and one who thinks deeply but says nothing.
Charlotte and Emily represent two common, yet contrasting, stages of bias awareness within the Six Stages Framework:
While their motivations differ, both responses — silence and resistance — enable harm to continue unchecked. This follow-up article and podcast dig deeper into the tailored support each character needs to progress.
It’s not enough to name the stage. We must ask:
🛠️ What tools does Charlotte need to find her voice?
🪞 What kind of mirror does Emily need to reflect on her impact?
This episode offers compassionate but clear insights into how we move people from politeness to participation, and from resistance to responsibility.
Read the article
https://www.sixstagesframework.com/i4ck
#ConversationsFromTheCave #sixstagesframework #BiasAwareness #CourageousConversations #WorkplaceInclusion
#SilenceIsComplicity #UnconsciousBias #PsychologicalSafety #ChallengingBias #DEIReflection #FromAwarenessToAction
#BuildingBridgesOfEmpathy #LeadershipGrowth #InclusiveLeadership #inclusionpsychologists #TransformingWorkplaces
🌍 Understanding Anti-Racism in Our Schools: A Guide for New Parent Advocates
Watch the video
Talking about racism in education can be uncomfortable — but silence sustains inequality.
This guide invites **parents, educators, and community members** to take a closer look at how racism operates within our schools — not just in personal interactions, but in the systems, structures, and “invisible lessons” that shape students’ daily experiences.
It’s written for **new parent advocates** — those who are beginning to explore how systemic racism affects Black children and families, and who want to learn how to engage schools with confidence, understanding, and purpose.
The article explores:
📘 How racism shows up in everyday school life
📘 The hidden and null curriculum that shape belonging
📘 The principles of Critical Race Theory and Racial Realism
📘 The emotional labour of Black parents advocating for their children
📘 Practical steps educators can take to build anti-racist classrooms
Change begins when we choose to see, listen, and act — together.
✨ Read the full article below to begin your journey as a more informed, empowered advocate for equity in education.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/understanding-anti-racism-our-schools-guide-new-parent-m-gadzah-p4ode
💬 **Join the Conversation:**
How have you seen bias or inequity show up in schools — and what strategies have helped you advocate for your child or students effectively?
Share your experiences, reflections, or ideas below. Together, we can learn and lead change.
#AntiRacismEducation #ParentAdvocacy #EquityInSchools #ParentsOfBlackChildren #InclusiveEducation #SystemicChange #CriticalRaceTheory #BlackExcellence #DiversityAndInclusion #DecolonizeEducation #RacialJustice #SchoolEquity #AntiOppression #RepresentationMatters