Charlie

Director of Campaign & Concept Production at the LEGO® Agency. I joined the LEGO Group from BBC Studios in 2017 to lead the production team responsible for making TV commercials and campaign videos. Since then I have worked with a range of global production partners to bring brand campaigns, product TV ads and LEGO CON to life. It’s a hugely fun role with lots going on, and I get to work with a range of LEGO colleagues too.
Charlie a man in a blue t-shirt

Why is diversity and inclusion important?
We live in a world where talent exists everywhere but opportunity is limited to a privileged few, so it’s essential to take action and redress that balance. We have a great chance to do that here at the LEGO Group, not only by showing diverse people onscreen but by employing them to tell stories on our behalf, and by creating the space to hear more from minority groups.

Do you think companies can influence change through their own policies?
Yes, by being bold in their ambitions. Too often companies will assess this area in relation to where they currently stand, and this can make a small change seem ‘good, compared to where we used to be’. Those small changes will not resonate with employees or be remembered, and they certainly won’t help to attract talent, so I’m for companies and teams wanting to position themselves ahead of the curve rather than simply trying to keep up.

What is your individual contribution to diversity and inclusion at the LEGO Group?
I wrote and launched the Inclusion Rider for all our Production partners around the world, and that template has been adopted by other departments within the LEGO Group. It requests that our partners recruit and cast a diverse team of people when producing work on our behalf. However no contribution at this place is individual! It’s the sponsorship of Procurement, Legal and the LEGO Agency Leadership Team, plus the drive of my team to roll it out, that has made it noteworthy.

What has been your biggest learning moment, or moment of insight, when it comes to D&I?
Never to make assumptions. I’ve found myself doing this a lot in the past, and my assumptions were almost always wrong. In turn, this encourages me to spend more time listening.

a man sitting outside on hay with two dogs

Why is representation in play important?
Storytelling is a key part of play. If children can see and create representation in play then they will develop into storytellers with an inclusive mindset. That’s so important to our future.

How do you connect LEGO® play with unlocking creativity and confidence for both boys and girls?
For me, LEGO play is about being in a safe space where anything is possible and the extraordinary is fun. That’s a universal experience and one which builds creative confidence.