Mo Kanjilal
Founder & Director at Edge Of Difference
Mo Kanjilal is a TEDx speaker, entrepreneur and author with 25+ years leading diverse teams in the tech world. Known for championing bold inclusion, Mo brings sharp insight and real-world experience to every stage she steps on. She helps audiences rethink how they communicate, work and lead, by truly including different perspectives, people and lives.
Biography
Mo Kanjilal is a powerful voice for inclusion, equity, and leadership. As a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion expert, TEDx speaker, author, and entrepreneur, she combines her experience with decades of business expertise to challenge, inspire, and guide audiences toward meaningful change.
With over 25 years in the corporate world, Mo climbed the leadership ladder in multinational technology companies. She was often the only woman, person of colour, or person from a different background in the room. Along the way, she encountered the barriers that many people face. Mo used those experiences to fuel her mission: to make workplaces more inclusive, equitable, and human.
Mo led global teams in high-pressure tech environments, learning how to build high-performing, diverse teams across cultures, languages and time zones. Her leadership style focused on empathy, innovation, and truly listening to different voices. But after years of navigating traditional corporate structures, she chose to walk away from her executive role and work on diversity, equity and inclusion for people in business. She is Founder & Director of Edge Of Difference, a diversity and inclusion consultancy.
Her work is focused on helping people through bold training to include people through evolving cultures, systems, and communication to be more inclusive and engaging for everyone. Their approach is practical, bold, and unapologetically focused on real change.
Mo is co-author of The Inclusion Journey, published by Kogan Page. The book gives businesses a roadmap for embedding inclusion into every part of their work, from hiring and team dynamics to leadership and customer experience. Her storytelling draws on personal experience, professional insight, and real-world strategies that audiences can apply immediately.
As a sought-after speaker, Mo brings insight to stages, screens and boardrooms. She has delivered keynote talks and workshops at major conferences, spoken on TEDx stages, appeared on TV and radio, and featured in corporate and campaign videos. Her talks inspire audiences to think differently, about how we communicate, how we build teams, and how we lead.
Mo also contributes her time and expertise to causes close to her heart. She is a Trustee for The Clock Tower Sanctuary, a charity supporting young people experiencing homelessness. She mentors teenage girls through The Girls’ Network and serves as a Non-Executive Director for a healthcare social enterprise. Her South Asian heritage and personal journey inform her work around anti-racism, intersectionality, and the power of difference.
She translates concepts into stories and actionable steps. She speaks with authenticity, depth, and clarity, inviting people to reflect, rethink, and reframe how they see the world around them.
Whether you are looking for a keynote speaker, panelist, or workshop leader, Mo delivers powerful insights.
Speaking
Workshops
Broadcast
Topics
Mo’s talks explore how inclusion, equity, and empathy can transform leadership, teams, and culture. Drawing on her global business experience and work in diversity and inclusion strategy, she delivers thought-provoking, actionable sessions that challenge audiences to see difference as a strength and inclusion as the foundation of better business.
Valuing Differences
If we can understand our differences and value them, then we can truly build diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Edges to inclusion
Change comes from those at the edges who are marginalised, instead of leading from the centre, we need to look to the people at the edges.
Example Videos
Publications
Mo is the co-writer of The Inclusion Journey, a practical roadmap for creating workplaces where diversity, equity and inclusion are woven into the fabric of everyday business. Aimed at HR professionals, leaders and change-makers, the book shows how to assess where your organisation is now, identify what needs to change, and take meaningful, measurable action. Through real-world examples, interviews and exercises, it offers step-by-step guidance on building inclusive cultures that drive engagement, innovation and long-term business success, turning good intentions into tangible impact.
What do you get when you book Mo to speak?
Mo is most commonly asked to keynote but she is happy to chair panels or interview other speakers on stage, while she is at the event. Mo is an experienced speaker with an audience of his own who is happy to work with you to help you promote your event.
This can include:
Pre-event video
Co-operation in pre-event PR and media interviews
Contributed articles for event blogs or programmes
Promotion on social media
Feedback
“I had the pleasure of witnessing Mo Kanjilal speak at TEDx Brighton, and it was truly inspiring. Her ability to engage the audience with her story, highlighting the importance of inclusion and diversity, was thought-provoking and impactful. Mo's approach is 100% authentic and she connected with the audience in the way that makes TEDxBrighton a really special event for our community. I would highly recommend her as a speaker for any event where you're looking to inspire and challenge the audience with meaningful discussions. She will add a dimension to your line up that isn't just as a great speaker, but as someone who can connect with your community.”
Vicki Jakes, TEDx Brighton Organiser
“Mo was an interviewee at our annual conference, LeaderFest. Her passion for diversity and inclusion alongside her measured and informative answers to both the interview questions and from the floor was incredibly well received by the 140 business leaders in attendance and was confirmed by the outstanding feedback received.”
Emma Phipps, Managing Director - MD2MD
“Brighton Chamber invited Mo to be our guest speaker for our flagship monthly networking breakfast in June 2024. Our guest speakers are invited to tell their personal and business story - the highs, lows, and the lessons learnt a long the way. Mo delivered on the brief in bucketloads. She really took the time to construct her talk for the audience in the room. She delivered it with confidence, humility, empathy, humour and in her own style. If you're looking for a speaker for your event - Mo has so much she can talk about - from starting a business in Covid, to her personal story of inclusion and belonging, to practical advice for businesses looking to start their inclusion journey. Mo is brilliant to work with - she asks the right questions and is generally just a brilliant communicator. An event manager's dream!”
Amy Lishman, Deputy CEO - Brighton Chamber
