It’s The Way You Tell It: What Does Our Humour Say About Us?

Shappi explains how, despite what some may think, comedy is not just about telling jokes. It is about taking a risk and displaying a confidence which can help you in every area of your life, and build trust with those around you. Humour is a powerful way to show other people the world as you see it and build rapport with those who, on paper, you may not seem to have anything in common.

Of course, It can also massively misfire and do the opposite, so Shappi will outline the pitfalls and how to avoid them, too!.

“Inclusivity and Diversity …. ‘Where are you from originally?’

Shappi is a first generation woman of colour who quietly insisted on a career in standup comedy in the 90s when it was more male-dominated than the lumberjack trade and only slightly more diverse than a National Front meeting.

Speaking no English when she first arrived in the UK as a child (and later gaining refugee status) she knows what it feels like to be an outsider who wanted to be part of the gang. Often it’s the most well-meaning people who put her in a box, separate from the rest. She doesn’t think show business is unique in this so let’s talk about it!

Talking about race, gender, class, sexuality and age need not be an uncomfortable conversation. We want level playing fields but how can we be sure that’s what we have? Why is it crucial for business and our industries to actively seek diversity and widen our understanding of inclusivity? Most of us know these days that asking ‘where are you from originally?’ is not the way to be inclusive, but what CAN we do to be inclusive without ignoring differences? Well book Shappi and she shall tell you.”

Neuro-Divergence/Mental Health

Shappi was diagnosed with ADHD in her forties. She has learned how so many people, especially women, have gone undiagnosed, or been misdiagnosed and, like her, endured a lifetime of frustration, believing what is a neurological condition to be personal flaws and failings.

People with ADHD are often performers, CEOs and, erm, criminals. Following other people’s simple rules and methods is almost impossible for our brains so navigating the world of work and relationships can be bafflingly, maddeningly difficult when undiagnosed. Everything seems to be set up to accommodate neurotypicals only leaving us feeling inept and frustrated.

Since she began speaking publicly about ADHD, she has been inundated with people who relate. People from all walks of life have got in touch with her, desperate for information for themselves or a loved one.

We are only now starting to scratch the surface of ADHD and how many people it affects.

In her book, ‘Staying Sane With A Scattered Brain’ (Published by Penguin, out May 2023) she discusses how ADHD need not be an affliction. It is simply a different way the brain organises itself.

One size does not fit all and too much talent is being lost because so many with ADHD have been hopelessly trying to put square pegs in round holes. With a bit of understanding, we can accommodate those who might not be able to follow the thread of a social conversation and are constantly losing their keys, but who can hyperfocus and move an idea forward long after others have given up.

Let Shappi take you through her world of ADHD and the game changing diagnosis and treatment she received.

A Woman in a Man’s World: Uncovering Everyday Sexism

As one of just a handful of women in the 90s trying to break into a stand-up comedy industry dominated by bombastic men, Shappi knows all too well what it feels like to be a woman in a man’s world.

For every woman, in any sector, it can be a quiet, personal terrain to navigate. Sexism can be the hardest ‘ism’ to call out and challenge, because it can come from your closest quarters, and exist within your own family and friendship circle. In this honest and very personal talk, Shappi will examine the ways in which women and men can work together to remove the barriers constructed by past prejudice, and shine a hopeful light on changing the status quo.