Leadership and Inclusion Consultant, Flipside Consulting
Christchurch, New Zealand
This conversation was originally published in 2018 as part of the original Careering Conversations series.
We've lightly edited it for readability while preserving the original conversation and advice, and added an update on what Suran has been doing since we first spoke.
It's not difficult to work out what motivates Suran Dickson. Throughout her career she's consistently chosen work that creates meaningful social change.
While teaching in London, an incident prompted her to leave the classroom and establish Diversity Role Models, an anti-bullying charity focused on reducing prejudice and creating more inclusive schools. As Chief Executive, she led the organisation for six years, raising more than £1.5 million before returning home to New Zealand and establishing Flipside Consulting.
One of the biggest shifts Suran described was her definition of success.
When she was younger, success looked like many of the traditional milestones: owning a home, having a particular job and building a family. Over time, she realised those expectations reflected society's definition of success rather than her own. Today, success is measured by impact, purpose and making a genuine difference in people's lives.
That perspective has shaped much of her work.
Whether she's talking about gender stereotypes in schools, unconscious bias in recruitment or creating more inclusive workplaces, Suran consistently encourages people to question assumptions rather than simply accepting them. She believes leadership begins with empathy, curiosity and a willingness to challenge the status quo.
When we asked which skills she'd most like people to develop earlier in life, her answer was immediate: resilience, mindfulness and stress management. They're skills that benefit every part of our lives and become increasingly valuable as work and life become more demanding.
Suran also challenged the idea that work and life should be viewed as separate. Instead, she sees them as deeply connected. Looking after your wellbeing, making time for exercise, putting your phone away and creating space for the people and activities you love aren't distractions from success—they're essential ingredients for it.
Since we first spoke
Flipside Consulting is still running, now focused on equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging work. Suran delivers culture reviews, leadership workshops and keynotes for organisations including Christchurch Airport, Google, RNZ and the Police, and has held a board seat with the former South Canterbury DHB.
What Suran taught us
Success isn't measured by titles or possessions. It's measured by the impact you have on other people and the courage to create environments where everyone feels they belong.
