Thank you for joining us at our recent OpenSpace event as governance professional Samira Chambas-Yusuf shared her powerful journey navigating corporate governance through the lens of diversity and inclusion.

We loved hearing Samira’s story, particularly on how having the right support system can help you to be resilient, the importance of making your team feel seen, heard and valued and how better ideas and results come through hearing from those who think differently to us.

Tile image of The speaker’s stage at Computershare’s OpenSpace event
Tile image of The audience listens on to Computershare’s key speakers
Tile image of The entrance to our London OpenSpace event
Tile image of The speakers share thoughts on stage

What we covered

  • Samira’s story of resilience, growth and purpose deeply resonated with everyone who attended the event. Her talk reminded us that representation isn’t just about being seen, but about being heard, being valued and being part of the conversation.

  • Seeing someone who looks like you in leadership can be transformative, reinforcing the belief that success is achievable. Samira encouraged visibility, sponsorship and creating psychologically safe spaces where everyone feels seen. Representation gives confidence to others and helps them visualise their own career trajectory.

  • Creating truly inclusive governance spaces requires action beyond token gestures. Companies must build inclusion into their structures and recruitment processes to unlock fresh ideas and perspectives.

  • Different backgrounds create better ideas, and genuine diversity challenges groupthink. Organisations must ensure opportunities are accessible to everyone and that diverse talent is meaningfully represented at all levels.

  • For any leader in the governance space, empathy, listening deeply and recognising individual strengths and backgrounds is crucial. Leaders should make their teams feel valued and understand that how people were raised can shape how they show up at work. They also need to use their influence to create safe spaces and advocate for those whose voices are often overlooked. Being an ally means speaking up, even when you don’t fully understand someone’s experience.

  • Building the right support system is crucial for overcoming setbacks, but equally important is how you present yourself. Personal branding is about being authentic and visible. This means sharing who you are, what you stand for and engaging meaningfully. Using social media for personal branding can be a great tool, especially with platforms like LinkedIn. The way you present yourself shapes how others perceive you, and being visible ensures that opportunities find you.

  • There is a clear difference between mentorship and sponsorship, and both are important. Mentors provide guidance and advice, but sponsors have influence and a seat at the table. They can advocate for you in rooms you’re not in and help you gain recognition for your work. Samiar credited a sponsor who encouraged her to go for award recognition. This was someone who saw her strengths even when she doubted herself.

We were lucky enough to sit down with Samira ahead of the event. If you want to learn more about how her personal journey has shaped her career, check out our Q&A.

Read our Q&A

Interested in our next event?

We expect to host our next OpenSpace exploring what makes a modern governance professional early next year. However, Computershare host a range of governance events across the calendar year. Later in November, experts from across the world of governance will be joining us to explore what makes a great board, from strengthening governance frameworks to enhancing your strategic thinking.

Register for Industry Insights – How do you build a high-performing build in today’s evolving governance landscape?

Register for our other events.