Social Mobility in the Workplace

Social mobility is one of those topics that comes up more and more, but often feels hard to pin down in practice or talk about openly. For lawyers, it can show up in subtle ways, from who feels confident speaking up, to how careers progress and whose potential gets recognised.

In this session, we were joined by Toni Kent, who brought a refreshingly honest and human perspective to the conversation. Toni grew up on a council estate in Basingstoke and experienced a period of real instability after losing her dad at 14, before finding a different path through education and building a long career in technology, including 10 years at Microsoft.

Drawing on her own experiences, along with a healthy dose of humour, Toni explored what social mobility really looks like day to day, including within professional environments such as the legal industry.

During the session, we covered:

• What social mobility really means in practice
• Why it can feel uncomfortable to talk about
• How social mobility can influence workplace experiences and career progression
• Where individuals and organisations can start to make a difference

Watch the recording to hear Toni's insights and practical reflections on creating more inclusive workplaces and better understanding the realities of social mobility.