BELONGING Beyond the Job Titles
Earlier this month, I had a long-overdue catch-up with Roshni, my original co-founder of Other Box. We reminisced about the early days from running around London, scaling across the Europe, and eventually jetsetting around the world with our work. We shared where we are now and about our wildest dreams for what's to come next. It struck me just how much our lives have changed since we first launched Other Box back in 2016.
Leyya Sattar and Roshni Goyate, 2025
When Roshni moved to Oman in 2021, our in-person moments became rare. And then she left the business in 2022 to pursue other passions, including launching her writing consultancy, so I actually can’t even remember the last time we spent quality time together.
So this reunion was different. It wasn’t a meeting, a brainstorm, or a strategy session. It was simply two people reconnecting. No titles. No agendas. Just two old friends catching up over dinner.
We spend so much time in workplaces talking about creating inclusive cultures, focusing on belonging, yet we often overlook the foundation of what belonging actually requires: presence, listening, and space. Real connection doesn’t happen through job titles or team structures, it happens in the small, human moments. The ones we often rush past.
Especially in entrepreneurial or high-growth environments, it’s easy to keep moving forward without ever pausing to acknowledge what we’ve built or who we’ve become along the way. But those pauses matter. They allow us to honour the journey, the growth, and the people who helped shape it.
Here are some suggestions for Leaders and Managers on how to build belonging in everyday moments.
Create intentional pause points. Make time throughout the year for your team to reflect, not just on performance but on growth, relationships, and the shared journey.
Encourage non-work connections. Whether it's informal check-ins or off-sites that aren't just about KPIs, create opportunities for people to see each other beyond their roles.
Model presence. When someone is speaking to you, listen with your full attention. Ask questions that show curiosity about who they are, not just what they do.
Honour transitions. When a teammate leaves or changes roles, take a moment to acknowledge their contributions. These rituals can help build collective memory and sense of community.
Celebrate growth. Highlight not just career achievements, but personal milestones and transformations. These are the things that remind us we are human first.
This catch-up with Roshni reminded me that belonging isn’t a strategy. It’s a practice. And sometimes the most meaningful culture-building we can do is to show up, listen, and make space for people to be seen in all their past, present, and future versions.
Don’t underestimate the power of presence. Especially in a world that moves so fast, sometimes the most radical thing you can do is slow down and connect.
