Sunaina Kohli, founder of The Human Difference, returned to DELIVER Europe 2025 with a message of transformation: real innovation starts with inclusive culture. As moderator of the Women in Retail session, she helped lead an intimate, industry-wide discussion on how to build space for honesty, equity, and progress.

“We built a safe space very, very quickly — and that tells you something,” said Kohli. “There is appetite for this conversation. People want to hear from each other about what it means to disrupt and bring DEI to the forefront.”

CULTURE FIRST, PERFORMANCE FOLLOWS

Kohli connected the dots between inclusion and operational success. In an industry constantly shaped by disruption, the strength of a company’s people culture determines its ability to stay relevant.

“Organisations need to lead sustainable, high-performing teams,” she said. “But you can’t do that if the culture doesn’t support your people.”

That applies directly to logistics and supply chain, where diversity, agility, and trust-based leadership are increasingly seen as essential capabilities — not just internal policies.

“Cultures need to change,” Kohli added. “And events like DELIVER show that there is momentum.”

INTENTIONAL SPACES CREATE REAL DIALOGUE

Reflecting on the Women in Retail session, Kohli emphasised that the vulnerability and openness shown in the room didn’t happen by accident.

“We intentionally created a safe and trusted environment,” she explained. “Those attendees wouldn’t have opened up if the culture of the room hadn’t supported it.”

Her closing message was direct: organisations must take ownership of the environments they shape — because honest conversations can’t happen without trust.

“That’s why culture matters,” she said. “Because when you support your people the right way, they speak. And that’s where change begins.”