Julia Fox and Board Diversity: What we miss when we don't ask why

I recently watched a TikTok from Julia Fox* where she highlighted everyday words and phrases – like bite the bullet, bikini, call the shots, and over the top – that stem from war and violence. Bikini comes from Bikini Atoll, where the U.S. tested atomic bombs in 1946.  

Now many of you older folk may know all of this, but this was news to me, and it got me thinking, not just about how interesting language is, but how we rarely question things that are culturally ingrained. Take war, for example, it’s so embedded in how we talk and think that we often don’t realise how dominant it is in everyday language. 

But what Julia Fox actually reminds us of is the value of questioning what we do by asking: why is that the case? Children naturally do this as they start making sense of the world, their persistent ‘but why’ is somewhat of an irritant for parents but also a fairly good instinct. 

That instinct to question is something we should be holding onto, especially if we want to unpick deep, systemic issues. 

Academics do this all the time. But this mindset needs to reach other sectors too, including charities. 

Take the lack of trustee diversity, for instance. It’s a persistent, systemic issue. The recent Pro Bono Economics and Charity Commission report reaffirmed this, revealing that Boards are still not representative of the people they serve. Ultimately, change won’t just happen. Like with inclusive language, it takes sustained, intentional work and a willingness to ask difficult questions. 

I worry the sector risks stagnation when it comes to diversity, not for lack of awareness, but because the why often gets overlooked and therefore true action fails to take place. The Charity Commission’s latest research has shown us very similar data to what we saw 8 years ago in the Taken on Trust report – ethnic minorities are still underrepresented on Boards and the average age is 65-69. Although this is important data to have, these reports need to be happening more frequently, with more of a focus on the why.  

If you’re trying to improve your own Board’s diversity, not just to tick a box, but because it will actually strengthen your organisation, then start by interrogating your own systems. Ask: Why are we struggling to recruit young people and those from diverse backgrounds? Are we using language that is unintentionally exclusive? Is our language sending messages that prevent more diverse groups from applying? These questions will lead you to the what and the how – what needs to change, and how you can make your Board more inclusive. 

Ultimately, as Malcolm John, Founder of Action for Trustee Racial Diversity (ATRD), pointed out in our Good Governance Matters conference a few years ago, “we need actions not words”. And in my opinion, before we act, we must first review the barriers we may unconsciously be creating. Malcolm has shared six key steps to achieving trustee racial diversity, take a look here. 

I don’t think Julia Fox can actually teach us about Board diversity, but she has reminded us to question the norm, so I hope this has prompted you to start looking deeper into your trustee recruitment process. And remember, DSC is here to help. Our in-house training and research team can help facilitate this process. Contact them on [email protected] or 020 4526 5995 for a chat. 

Otherwise, we do have a Diversity Conference coming up at the end of the year that we encourage you to attend. You can join the waitlist here. 

The other thing you can do is get the From Here to Diversity guide by Action for Trustee Racial Diversity and DSC, it’s a practical guide for recruiting Black and Asian Trustees. You can currently download it for free on ATRD’s website. Check it out here. 

*If you’re not familiar with her, Julia Fox is an actress and model, mainly known for her performance in the film Uncut Gems. She has a growing following and popularity on TikTok, and is somewhat of a Gen-Z icon, known for hanging out with Charli XCX, who references her on Brat with the phrase “That’s so Julia.”