Leila McKenzie-Delis

Leila McKenzie-Delis is a passionate and dynamic voice in the global conversation on racial equality and inclusive leadership. A British-Chinese, neurodiverse entrepreneur, she currently serves as Strategic Advisor & Partner at August Leadership, and is also the Founder & CEO of DIAL Global, a global inclusion accelerator. Adopted by white British parents, Leila is Chinese, dyslexic, a millennial female leader, and a proud working mum—lived experiences that have given her a profound understanding of intersectionality and what it means to be different. She was passionate about diversity and inclusion long before she even knew what those terms meant, and now channels this personal insight into her work as a racial equality speaker. Her vision is of a world where all are welcome in the boardroom and beyond, a world that truly harnesses the power of difference. Leila regularly speaks on racial equity in leadership, intersectional inclusion, the power of lived experience, and the urgent role of business in driving systemic change.

Leila’s early career was marked by an entrepreneurial drive and a clear talent for connecting people and ideas. She began in events and promotions with major global brands such as Nestlé, Coca-Cola and Unilever, before moving into specialist recruitment roles. In 2013, she launched LOFT Talent Acquisition Ltd, followed by Leila McKenzie Associates Limited in 2018. That same year, she became a Founding Member and Director (UK North) at Winmark, later taking on a Strategic Advisor role. These foundations enabled her to gain firsthand insight into the exclusion many individuals face in corporate environments—especially across race, gender, and neurodiversity—which further ignited her mission. Alongside her professional journey, she graduated with First Class Honours in Business & Management and later earned a certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University, deepening her expertise in bias, inclusive culture, and equity-driven leadership.

Leila’s influence has expanded significantly in recent years. She is the founder of the McKenzie-Delis Packer Review, a trailblazing review into D&I across ten key facets, and a two-time published author, including The CEO Activist – Putting the S in ESG and Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging. She’s a Fast Company Impact Council Member, Advisory Member of the Inclusion Think Tank at Co-op, and a seasoned media voice featured on Sky News and CNBC. As a speaker, she’s delivered impactful sessions for organisations such as Barclays, AstraZeneca, Accenture, KPMG, and Yahoo. Under her leadership, DIAL Global has launched a suite of platforms including hybrid summits, lounges and webinars, the DIAL Academy, a research division, quarterly magazine, and a thriving online member hub—tools that empower business leaders to embed inclusion at scale.

When Leila speaks, she brings a unique blend of authenticity, strategic insight, and compelling storytelling. Her speaking topics—ranging from racial equity and intersectionality to inclusive governance and the business case for belonging—resonate with diverse audiences and senior leaders alike. Her unwavering belief that “talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not” shapes every engagement she leads. Leila is hired not just for her deep expertise, but because she embodies the change she advocates. She empowers organisations to move beyond box-ticking and make bold, lasting commitments to equity, creating environments where people from all backgrounds can truly thrive.