The Empathy Gap: Cultural Inequity with Alison Koslowski & Rama Gheerawo
In this episode of Fair Enough, Lauren Andres and Victoria Austin take a deep dive into the pressing issue of cultural inequity and explore innovative solutions for fostering empathy and inclusivity. They are joined by Alison Koslowski, Pro Provost for Equality and Inclusion at UCL, and Rama Gheerawo, a global authority on design for all and accessibility. Together, they discuss the challenges of inclusivity in corporate settings and the pitfalls of performative diversity initiatives.
The panel examines the empathy gap in society and the importance of recognising our shared humanity. Alison highlights the need to focus on commonalities rather than just differences, while Rama emphasises the role of design in addressing systemic inequalities.
In this episode:
- The Empathy Gap: Exploring how a lack of empathy can exacerbate societal inequalities and the importance of fostering connections.
- Designing for Humanity: Rama shares insights on how design can be reoriented towards inclusivity and empathy, moving beyond traditional metrics of success.
- Education and Creativity: The need for educational systems to nurture creativity and empathy, rather than stifling them through rigid structures.
- Cultural and Systemic Change: Discussing the importance of embedding inclusivity within core business strategies and the role of leadership in driving systemic change.
- Valuing Care Work: Understanding the significance of care work in both personal and professional contexts and how it relates to broader societal structures.
As always, this episode of Fair Enough encourages us to get curious about the complexities of cultural inequity, and reminds us that addressing inequalities requires not only awareness but also actionable change and a commitment to understanding the lived experiences of others.
Fair Enough is a podcast from UCL’s Grand Challenge of Inequalities, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to explore innovative ideas and solutions for delivering everyday justice.
Creators and Guests
Host
Lauren Andres
Lauren Andres is Pro-Vice-Provost for Inequalities at UCL Grand Challenges. She is also Professor of Planning and Urban Transformations at The Bartlett School of Planning, UCL, where she serves as Director of Research. An interdisciplinary urban scholar, Lauren explores how cities adapt and transform in times of crisis, from pandemics to emerging technologies. Her work focuses on resilience, sustainability and social justice, with a particular emphasis on the experiences of vulnerable groups, including children and young people. Her recent research spans pandemic recovery, future crisis preparedness, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in urban governance, with projects across the UK, China, and globally.
Host
Victoria Austin
Victoria Austin is Pro-Vice-Provost for Inequalities at UCL Grand Challenges. She is also Associate Professor of Social Justice and Innovation at UCL Engineering and co-founder of the Global Disability Innovation Hub, a global organisation working across 40+ countries to drive disability innovation for a fairer world. She now serves as Strategic Director, having stepped down as founding CEO in 2024. Victoria’s research sits at the intersection of disability justice, technology and urban development, with a strong focus on participatory, real-world solutions. She teaches on UCL East’s Innovation for a Fairer World and co-leads a Master’s on global disability and technology.
