Tina Varughese

Diversity & Inclusion Expert

Tina Varughese is an Indo-Canadian daughter of first-generation East Indian parents, which allows her to find ‘the best of both worlds’ and shed light, knowledge and most importantly universal humour into the intercultural workplace. She draws from her experiences as an entrepreneur, mother, daughter, wife, sister and friend when delivering keynotes on work-life balance and diversity and inclusion topics, which resonate with her audiences professionally and personally.

For fifteen years Tina Varughese worked with immigrants in her roles with the Province of Alberta’s immigration office. A successful entrepreneur, she also ran her own relocation and settlement firm. Additionally, Tina was the President of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (Calgary).

Tina is a contributing writer fo the Human Resources Institute of Alberta’s Network magazine, Calgary Real Estate News, as well as Home to Home. She was profiled in Alberta’s Venture Magazine. She was profiled in Alberta’s Venture Magazine. 

Named one of Canada’s 10 Notable Speakers by Ignite magazine, audiences describe Tina as ‘dynamic, highly energetic, relevant and hilarious’. She consistently rates as the ‘the best speaker of the conference’. Her interactive approach is insightful and her delivery is highly entertaining. She breaks down barriers to create a comfortable and fun space where people ask the questions they might otherwise be afraid to ask.

Tina, her five fish, two children and one husband reside in Calgary.

50 Shades of Beige: Communicate with the Cross-Cultural Advantage

Successful organizations understand that being able to communicate cross-culturally in the workplace leads to enhanced productivity, performance and employee engagement. Managing diversity drives profitability, leads to innovation and promotes an inspiring workplace culture.

Gen Zen: Communicate, Collaborate, and Cooperate in the Changing Workplace

Successful leaders understand today’s increasingly multigenerational, multicultural and multifaceted workforce brings both opportunities and challenges if not managed effectively. To create trust, collaboration and creative work environments, inclusive leaders need to effectively communicate, understand and listen to their fellow employees. Everybody wants to be seen, wants to be heard and wants to be acknowledged. Learning how to communicate and cooperate in the workplace leads to a healthier, happier, motivating and inspiring workplace where everybody benefits.

Inclusive Leadership: From Silos to Solutions

Creating a great organization isn’t just about breaking down cultural barriers. It’s about building a workplace where everyone works towards a common purpose and feels included despite title, rank or position. Successful leaders understand people do not leave jobs. People leave people. Today’s successful leaders believe not only in investing in themselves, but encouraging others to grow, to learn and to develop in order to build inclusivity and trust, breakdown silos, foster employee engagement, encourage open lines of communication, promote creativity and create a healthy, happy and inspiring workplace.

Ctrl-Alt-Del: Give the (Re)Boot to Work-Life Balance

Only 23% of working Canadians are highly satisfied with life. In fact, one-third of Canadians feel they have more work to do than time permits. Work-life balance is not a gender issue. Men have the same issues balancing career and family as women do and also struggle with obtaining work-life balance. With technological advances coupled with more women entering the workforce due to economic pressures, work-life balance can seem evasive and unobtainable. But with essential tools, tips and strategies, employees can minimize stress, maximize efficiency, improve productivity and boost positivity both at work and at home. Increased work-life balance leads to lower employee absenteeism and turnover rates and higher levels of employee engagement.

What is Unconscious Bias? Making a First Impression in Seven Seconds or Less

First impressions, positive or negative, are made in seven seconds or less. We all make quick assessments of others without even realizing it. We are not born with bias. Biases are formed by past situations, experiences, backgrounds and cultures. Unconscious biases typically exist towards gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability (both physical and mental), and weight. Most of us will say “I see people for who they are” but do we? Unconscious biases affect and impact decision making both professionally and personally with real impact. Recognizing, managing and mitigating unconscious bias promotes diversity and inclusion. Diversity and inclusion drive innovation increases productivity and stimulates creativity while promoting a healthy, happy, engaging workplace culture.

What Attendees Will Learn

• The Neuroscience behind Unconscious Bias (“No blame, no shame”)
• Managing and Mitigating Unconscious Bias in Recruitment, Retention and Employee Engagement
• Breaking Bias – Strategies for Gender, Maternal, Affinity and Ageism
• Sesame Street 2.0 – One of these things is not like the other, one of these things just doesn’t belong… or does it? How Diversity Drives Innovation, Creativity and Productivity
• Why Creating a Culture of Inclusion affects Positivity, Profits and Purpose