Sheetal Deo

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Workshops & Training

Building Literacy, Not Just Language.
Creating Change, Not Just Compliance

“The tool Sheetal has developed for identifying your opportunity to make social change is a fantastic launchpad.”

— Frances Dunn, Special Counsel, HIVE Legal

Through The Diversity Collective and as an independent consultant, Sheetal delivers bespoke training sessions facilitated by community members with relevant lived experience, to help organisations move beyond tick-box compliance to create meaningful, sustainable change. 

Echoed in her message and delivery is: “It’s not our fault, but it is our responsibility. We didn’t create these systems, but we can make them better.”

Sheetal works as a preferred supplier for Diversity Council Australia (race and anti-racism training), with Elevate Consulting Partners (Respect@Work training), and through Our Race (ethical storytelling workshops). Her approach centers lived experience, amplifying underrepresented voices and stories while ensuring remuneration for lived expertise.

Training Areas & Topics

Core Workshop Series

Sheetal offers customised training across the following areas. All programs are designed to meet your organisation’s specific needs and can be delivered in-person or virtually.

1. Foundations: Cultural Diversity & Inclusion

Understanding the difference between language and literacy

What we’ll explore:

  • The distinction between race, ethnicity, and culture
  • Diversity dimensions and intersectionality in practice
  • Why “if it’s not intersectional, it’s not inclusive”
  • The difference between racism and racial discrimination
  • Systems we work within: colonialism, capitalism, patriarchy

 

Best for: Teams beginning their DEI journey, organisations wanting to establish shared understanding

2. Finding Your Shakti: a model for Social Change

Discovering your sustainable path to driving inclusive change

What we’ll explore:

  • What brings you joy in this work
  • Your strengths and how to leverage them
  • The identities you hold and communities you’re part of
  • What needs to be changed
  • Your unique intersection of passion, mission, influence, opportunity, and identity

 

Best for: DEI practitioners, employee resource group leaders, change agents, community advocates

3. Racial Literacy For Leaders & Boards

Why being “not racist” isn’t enough – and what anti-racism looks like in governance

What we’ll explore:

  • Social capital, power, and board representation
  • Cultural and colonial load
  • From critical mass to critical influence
  • Racism as systemic risk and governance responsibility
  • Embedding anti-racism in strategy, not just HR
  • Movement lawyering principles

 

Best for: Board members, executive leadership teams, governance professionals

4. Legal & Social Responsibility

A new model for social change through legal practice

What you’ll discover:

  • Understanding the socio-legal gap
  • How to apply Shakti’s model in professional practice
  • The role of privilege, identity, and community in creating change
  • Systems analysis: colonialism, capitalism, patriarchy
  • Practical actions for immediate impact

 

Best for: Legal professionals, in-house counsel, law students, social justice advocates

5. Custom Training Programs

Need something specific? We design custom training programs tailored to your organisation’s unique challenges, goals, and culture.

Sheetal offers:

  • Tailored Content: Adapted to your sector, challenges, and goals
  • Multi-Session Programs: Building literacy over time with ongoing support
  • Train-the-Trainer: Equipping your internal champions
  • Board Advisory: Ongoing governance support and racial literacy building
  • Reverse Mentoring Programs: Centering voice sessions with your leadership

“Sheetal brings candour, authenticity and excellent communication skills to the stage”


 — Janhavi Kale, Automation Engineer & Co-Founder of Pride in Power, Powerlink Queensland

What Makes Sheetal's Workshops So Different:

  • Practical tools, not just concepts
  • Culturally responsive facilitation
  • Action-oriented, with clear next steps
  • Grounded in lived experience, not just theory
  • Challenge and support in equal measure

Approach & Philosophy

We Believe In:

Literacy over Language

It’s not enough to know the word; you need to know when and how to use it

Intersection-ality as non-negotiable

If we want space for our whole selves, why prioritise parts of us?

Self-awareness before action

Understanding privilege, power, and positionality

Kindness not contingent on UNDERSTANDING

Your curiosity doesn’t trump someone else’s comfort

Sustainable, strengths-based change:

Finding your shakti for the long haul

"Not our fault, but our responsibility"

This stuff isn’t easy, but it’s important

Trusted Across all Sectors

Organisations Sheetal Has Worked With

Sheetal has delivered training and workshops for: 

Corporate Sector

  • Major ASX companies
  • Professional services firms
  • Technology companies
  • Financial institutions

 

Government

  • Department of Premier and Cabinet (Queensland)
  • Multicultural Affairs Queensland
  • State and local government bodies

Not-For-Profit

  • Diversity Council Australia
  • Queensland Law Society
  • Multicultural Professional Network
  • Community organisations

 

Education

  • Universities and educational institutions
  • Professional associations
  • College of Law (Queensland)
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Testimonials

What Participants are saying

“Sheetal brings candour, authenticity and excellent communication skills to the stage. The vulnerability in the personal stories that were shared by attendees speaks to her abilities of building trust and creating spaces where people feel comfortable and safe to bring their authentic selves forward. She provided some valuable insights for leaders and staff and actionable advice/tips that resonated with the values of the organisation. I would highly recommend her!”

— Janhavi Kale, Automation Engineer & Co-Founder of Pride in Power, Powerlink Queensland

“Fabulous initiative. Having been privileged to attend the inaugural event by The Diversity Collective, I urge everyone who has an interest in equity, diversity and inclusion to register for this thought provoking program.”

— Ann-Maree David, Executive Director, College of Law (Queensland)

“Sheetal somehow unpacks heavy topics (systemic oppression, racism… today the descriptor ‘supremacist’ came up) with grace and good humour. Her approach uncovers the work that can be done to dismantle barriers, and who is best placed to do it. …if you haven’t had Sheetal deliver training in your workplace, I recommend you remedy that immediately. Her ability to educate on the topic of privilege is second to none. You could have heard a pin drop in her session today.

The tool Sheetal has developed for identifying your opportunity to make social change is a fantastic launchpad.”

— Frances Dunn, Special Counsel, HIVE Legal

“We were blown away by your insight and courage to speak to ‘taboo’ topics of privilege, diversity, and equity. The session encouraged us to recognise and understand our privileges, acknowledging their impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. Sheetal inspired the room to leverage privileges responsibly, aligning with individual strengths and values for social change.”

— Brand Partners Commercial Talent

“I found Sheetal to be compelling and appreciated her ability to engage with the topic and challenge our idea of privilege. Her passion for equity and diversity is impactful, and many attendees have shared how they will be changing their mindsets and striving to be proactively anti-racist. One of the attendees shared the following feedback, ‘This has been one of the most important things I’ve heard in many years. It is without doubt, the most important thing I have heard in my entire time working in government (more than 7 years). Thank you.'”

— Nevena Hamzic, Chief People & Culture Officer, Department of Premier and Cabinet (Queensland Government)

“I’ve been lucky enough to attend several events facilitated by Sheetal and every session has left me inspired, energised and purpose-filled. Sheetal is a leading change-maker within the Australian legal profession, challenging all of us to think differently and more diversely, and enabling us to become ‘comfortable with the uncomfortable’ discussions that are vital to creating a more diverse and inclusive profession.”

— Karen Finch, Founder and CEO of Legally Yours, Committee Chair of WALTA

FAQs

A few common Questions

How is this training different from standard DEI workshops?

Our training is facilitated by Sheetal & other community members with actual lived experience, not just consultants with academic knowledge. Participants learn directly from those most impacted, and facilitators are fairly compensated for their expertise.

How do you ensure psychological safety in training?

We establish clear ground rules, model vulnerability, create space for all voices, and use a ‘calling in’ rather than ‘calling out’ approach. Participants consistently report feeling safe to ask questions and share.

What size groups do you work with?

We can accommodate groups from small leadership teams (8-12 people) to large all-staff sessions (100+ people). The ideal size depends on the topic and format.

What if our organisation is just starting its DEI journey?

We meet organisations where they are. We can design foundational training for those just beginning, or advanced programs for organisations further along their journey.

Can training be delivered virtually?

Yes, we’re experienced in delivering engaging, impactful virtual training that maintains connection and psychological safety.

Do you provide post-training support?

Yes, we provide resources, recommendations, and can design follow-up sessions or ongoing support to sustain learning and embed change.

How do you measure training effectiveness?

We use pre- and post-training surveys, qualitative feedback, and work with you to identify meaningful metrics aligned with your organisational goals.

Lets Create Lasting Change

ready to book Sheetal for a workshop within your organisation?

Whether you’re just beginning your diversity and inclusion journey or looking to deepen existing work, we can design training that meets your organisation where it is – and moves it forward with authenticity, impact, and care.

Inquire about Training & Workshops