Mohsin Zaidi.
Mohsin Zaidi is an author and social commentator.
Mohsin’s critically acclaimed memoir A Dutiful Boy (2020) won both the American Lambda Literary Award and the British Polari First Book Prize, and was named Book of the Year by The Guardian, GQ, New Statesman, and Attitude. Described by The Guardian as “a profound meditation on the power of the human heart” and by The Times as “a book that will save lives,” it explores identity, family, and the courage to live authentically.
Currently a Director at Hakluyt, the global strategic advisory firm, Mohsin was the first person from his school to attend Oxford University. A trained lawyer, he began his legal career at Linklaters before becoming a criminal barrister, and has worked at both the UN War Crimes Tribunal and the UK Supreme Court. An advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and social mobility, he has served on the boards of Stonewall and London Pride, and is listed by The Financial Times as a top future LGBTQ leader. A regular commentator on Sky News, he writes for The Guardian, The New York Times, GQ, and Newsweek.
keynote speeches.
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Through eye opening stories in a professional and personal context, Mohsin explains how diverse representation in key roles doesn’t just demonstrate a commitment to being an inclusive organisation but adds value to it.
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None of us are just one thing and Mohsin is the personification of an intersectional life. On race, Mohsin has the facts and figures to back up the experiences of ethnic minorities we so often hear about in the news. On class, he speaks candidly about the difference between the world he came from and the world he now lives in. On sexuality, he describes the struggle to accept yourself in the face of cultural stigma. But the strength in his experience lies in the intersectional tale it tells.
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Mohsin addresses the stigma around mental health within ethnic minority communities and draws a parallel between it and a cultural stigma around discussing mental wellbeing in the workplace. Through very personal and at times harrowing tales, Mohsin articulates the case for honesty in personal identity within yourself but also at work and amongst colleagues.
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Mohsin speaks passionately about being a minority within a minority, intersectionality and what pride means to him. Subjects include racism and sexism within the queer community, how to combat it and the positive impact that living as one, rather than dividing yourself into parts, can have on your wellbeing. He also articulates the power of allyship and what workplaces can do to build more inclusive environments for their LGBTQ+ employees.
videos.
Showreel
Speaking Highlight
books.
in the news.
