A Day in the Life of Leyla Okhai: Culture and Mental Health

235: A Day in the Life of Leyla Okhai: Bridging Culture, Race and Mental Health

In this Episode

Where does mental health meet culture and race equity? Coach, trainer and TedX speaker Leyla Okhai joins host Maxine Bell to answer this question. This honest and insightful conversation is part of our Day in the Life series where we talk to real coaches about their real lives. Listen to be inspired, pick up top tips and feel less alone in your coaching journey.

Leyla shares her insights from her coaching practice, emphasising the importance of culturally appropriate approaches to mental well-being. They discuss Leyla’s experiences at school, working at the University of Oxford, the intersection of race and class and the challenges of navigating a predominantly white spaces and models. This episode challenges societal norms and highlights the need for inclusive approach to mental health and coaching.

You Will Learn

• Why and how Leyla found her passion and shaped it into her current business
• How race, class, and cultural backgrounds influence mental well-being
• The importance of fostering equity in personal and professional spaces

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Guest Bio

As the founder and CEO of Diverse Minds, Leyla enables organisations to create mentally healthy and equal workplaces through coaching, training, speaking and consultancy, focussing on practical mental health strategies, cultural awareness and race equality to facilitate a positively productive workplace. Leyla has over 18 years' experience in equity, diversity and inclusion, gained as the Head of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Centre at Imperial College London and the University of Oxford.

 

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