Inclusive Leadership Lessons from Kamran Razmdoost, Dean of ESCP London Campus

Kamran Razmdoost, Dean of ESCP London Campus

In the context of today’s ever-evolving and dynamic business landscape, inclusive leadership has never been more important. At its core, inclusive leadership isn’t just about avoiding discrimination or bias (although that’s clearly essential), it’s also a mindset that prioritises authenticity, empowerment, and innovation. Inclusive leadership goes beyond isolated initiatives; it concerns every moment a leader makes a decision or interacts with others. Business leaders increasingly recognise that this approach isn’t just better for your employees—it’s critical for building resilient, high-performing businesses.

Fostering inclusive leadership promotes diversity and produces tangible business results. Zheng et al. (2023) found that teams led by inclusive leaders are 17% more likely to report high performance, 20% more likely to make high-quality decisions, and 29% more likely to collaborate effectively. These numbers speak for themselves.

Inclusion is a priority for the next generation of employees. Gen Z is the most diverse generation in the workforce, and they are demanding greater diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In fact, more than half of Gen Z employees would not accept a job without diverse leadership and for good reason. Inclusive teams make better decisions 87% of the time and are up to 36% more likely to have above-average profitability. Gen Z reject top-down decision-making, instead welcoming diverse approaches and ways of thinking. They look for leadership approaches that value all opinions.

This raises an important question: if the evidence that inclusive leadership attracts top talent and drives better business results is so strong, how can we develop more inclusive leaders?

As Dean of ESCP Business School in London, the challenge for me is clear—to create environments where our students not only learn about inclusive leadership but also practice it in ways that prepare them for the realities of the modern business world. Every year, ESCP welcomes 11,000+ students from 136 different nationalities. A diverse international community is an essential part of our education. By embedding diversity and inclusivity into our curriculum and ways of learning, we actively empower the next generation to lead with full awareness, confidence, compassion, and competence.

I believe business schools also have a responsibility to work with current leaders and to co-create inclusive leadership practices. Lifelong learning should be a priority for everyone, and business schools are a great place to start. While it might be difficult for those with more traditional leadership styles to change and transform their practices, we need to continue educating leaders and showcasing success stories of leadership transformation. Even small changes in behaviour, such as improving how to listen or chair a meeting, are a great achievement and serve as a starting point for a more significant transformation.

The traits of an inclusive leadership style that we prioritise at ESCP are humility, authenticity and mindfulness. Today’s workforce wants leaders who prioritise relationships over hierarchy. Younger generations of workers crave authenticity and collaboration, and they’re inspired by those who lead with purpose rather than hard power.

A great example of this leadership in action is Andreas Utermann, former CEO of Allianz Global Investors, who recently visited our campus and shared that authenticity is one of his top strategies for success. For Andreas, effective leadership is not rooted in rank but in mindset, cultivated through continuous personal and professional growth, fostering trust, and inspiring others to strive for a common goal. Such a leadership approach requires bravery that goes beyond having full control of what is happening and is closely associated with developing trust.

Inclusive leadership is also about empowerment. The best leaders don’t just guide their team, they lift them up and create environments where everyone feels valued and motivated to do their best work. Business schools have an important role in developing this mindset in the next generation of leaders. At ESCP, we place a lot of value on student voices but also make it clear that leadership isn’t about being the loudest in the room—it’s about enabling others to contribute and excel.

Gwendoline Cazenave, CEO of Eurostar and another business leader I had the pleasure of discussing this topic with, highlighted the power of inclusive leadership in driving innovation. Reflecting on her approach, Gwendoline emphasised that innovation thrives in diverse environments. Research supports this. Companies with above average diversity report up to a 20% higher rate of innovation and 19% higher innovation revenues. Being a great leader means ensuring everyone in your organisation understands your values, mission, and vision and their role in realising it. This collaborative mindset will help you think bigger, innovate, and grow.

At ESCP, we’ve long recognised the value of diverse perspectives and champion a global education. With six campuses across Europe in Paris, Berlin, London, Madrid, Turin, and Warsaw, our students gain first-hand experience working with peers from different cultures and backgrounds. This exposure doesn’t just broaden their perspectives, it prepares them to lead in an increasingly interconnected world.

We know it is important to align your actions with words, which is why ESCP has invested €5 million in impact research accelerators, including the Inclusive Leadership Accelerator, which is dedicated to exploring the future of leadership in a rapidly changing world. From transformational leadership to new forms of work and feminist practices, students and executive participants will benefit from this cutting-edge research that will shape the leaders of tomorrow for the better.

As we look to the future, one thing is clear: the leaders who will thrive are those who embrace inclusivity. Business schools have a unique responsibility to prepare the next generation for this reality. It is essential to nurture leaders who not only excel in their careers but also make the world a better, fairer place.

Inclusive leadership is not just a strategy—it’s a mindset, a movement, and a mission. Fundamentally, it’s an approach that can create a world where every voice is heard, every perspective is valued, and every individual has the opportunity to succeed.

Kamran Razmdoost is Dean of ESCP Business School London Campus