One of the things that fascinates me is the relationship between neuroscience and leadership. Our brains are remarkable, but they were shaped for a world very different from the one we live in today. For much of human history, we lived in relatively small social groups where quickly distinguishing between what was familiar and what was unfamiliar had survival value. When we encounter something unexpected, our brains often generate an automatic emotional response before our rational thinking has had time to engage. Evolutionarily older brain structures, including the amygdala, help us detect novelty and potential threat, while the prefrontal cortex allows us to slow down, reflect, and make more considered decisions.

I think this has important implications for the diversity conversation. Feeling a moment of uncertainty when we encounter someone or something unfamiliar does not make us bad people. It makes us human. The question is not whether we experience these automatic responses, the question is what we do next. Do we allow our first reaction to determine our behaviour, or do we become curious enough to question it?