For more than 25 years, Laks Mann MBE has worked across corporate, charitable and public sectors, building a reputation as a respected diversity, equity and inclusion expert, LGBTQ+ advocate and public speaker. But despite the many titles attached to his name, he prefers a description he created for himself: “creative strategist.”
The phrase reflects what he calls “the two sides of my brain coming together”: strategy and creativity.
At the heart of Laks’ work lies a deeply personal understanding of exclusion, class and social mobility. His leadership, he explains, has been shaped by “being the underdog”, of being someone who wasn’t automatically given opportunities or welcomed through open doors.
“There were moments when I was effectively told, ‘Don’t even approach that door. It’s not for people like you or from your background,’” he recalls.
Starting his career nearly three decades ago, Laks encountered multiple layers of discrimination; from assumptions about his ethnicity and education to judgments based on his accent and where he grew up. Rather than conforming to expectations, those experiences pushed him to create his own pathways while helping others find theirs too.
“I’ve always tried to keep doors open for others, and where necessary, create entirely new doors, avenues and pathways for people to come through,” he says.
While diversity conversations have expanded significantly in recent years, Laks believes one important issue still remains largely overlooked: class. “Particularly working-class backgrounds and social mobility,” he says.
Although discussions around race, gender, sexuality and faith have become more mainstream, class continues to sit uncomfortably beneath the surface. “What’s powerful is how class cuts across so many other conversations,” he explains. “Yet it remains a deeply uncomfortable subject in this country because many people still feel the need to mask their backgrounds and heritage.”
At a time when diversity and inclusion initiatives face increasing political and cultural backlash, Laks remains realistic but hopeful. He acknowledges that progress can feel fragile and, at times, even reversed. Yet he believes much of the resistance stems from fear.
“What gives me hope is that much of the backlash we are seeing comes from people who feel scared; people who feel a loss of power, privilege or control,” he says.
Despite the challenges ahead, Laks rejects the idea that progress is a zero-sum game. “I’m still standing in the same place with the same values and purpose,” he says. “Someone else’s perception of gaining an advantage doesn’t change that reality.”
Central to Laks’ philosophy is the idea of responsible storytelling — not simply speaking for communities, but creating space for others to speak for themselves.
“Ultimately, if it’s not your story to tell, your responsibility is to create space for others,” he says. “Be the ally or comrade who helps amplify voices rather than speaking over them.”
That belief has shaped initiatives such as Gaysians and his work with the South Asian Heritage Trust and South Asian Heritage Month, where he serves as LGBTQ+ lead. Whether advising on inclusion, supporting community projects or speaking publicly, Laks says his mission remains consistent, “If I have access to a space, I want to help others access it too. And if necessary, I will step back so others can step forward.”
