Inclusion Beyond Compliance: What It Really Takes to Build Workplace Cultures Where People Feel Seen, Supported, and Free to Belong

Inclusion is often reduced to policies and checklists, but its true measure shows up in everyday experiences — in whether people feel seen, supported, and able to contribute without hiding parts of who they are. When organizations move beyond compliance and toward genuine understanding, they open the door to talent, perspective, and potential that too often go unnoticed. Creating spaces where difference is valued requires curiosity, intention, and a willingness to rethink what accessibility and belonging really mean.

In this episode of Professional Quotient, we meet with Becky Jackson Curran — a motivational speaker and disability inclusion advocate who has built a career helping organizations see and better utilize talent that’s too often underrecognized and underutilized.

Becky shares how her winding path through Hollywood and the Actors’ Union shaped her approach to inclusion, what real accessibility looks like beyond compliance, and why language, curiosity, and everyday choices at work matter more than we think.

Key highlights from the conversation…

• Inclusion goes beyond compliance. True accessibility isn’t just about meeting legal requirements — it’s about anticipating real human needs, listening to lived experience, and creating environments where people can participate fully without having to repeatedly advocate for themselves.

• Representation and advocacy carry both impact and weight. Being visible can open doors for others, but it also comes with pressure to represent an entire community. The conversation explores the courage it takes to speak up, the importance of self-care, and why advocacy helps shape more equitable systems for those who come next.

• Storytelling is a powerful tool for change. Sharing personal experiences — whether in the workplace, schools, or public forums — builds understanding, reduces stigma, and creates connection. When people tell their stories, they not only claim space for themselves but also help others feel less alone and more empowered.

Becky Curran is a disability inclusion advocate, international TEDx storyteller, and Senior Director of Stakeholder Engagement at Disability:IN, where she leads corporate partnerships and has helped grow participation in the Disability Index from 110 to 542 companies since 2017. With a background in marketing and entertainment, including roles at Creative Artists Agency, CBS Television Studios, and SAG-AFTRA, she brings deep expertise in media, representation, and equity strategy. Alongside her leadership work, Becky has built a global speaking career, presenting at more than 650 venues worldwide to advance disability inclusion across education, media, and the workplace.

Becky offers practical advice on sharing your story, building a speaking career, and creating cultures where people don’t have to hide parts of who they are to belong.