In episode #220 of The Grant, I have Jakob Feldtfos Christensen, director of Diverse Unity and co-host of the Diversity in Research Podcast, to talk about his new book: Diversity Leadership in Research Management: A Practical Guide. The conversation starts with the obvious question: why write this book now? Jakob explains that research management has matured into a stronger profession, while diversity work in research has also become much harder to ignore - not least because it is now firmly embedded in funding practice, especially in European programmes. At the same time, he argues that too much of the public debate is still shallow, polarised or disconnected from the day-to-day reality of research projects. The book is his attempt to offer something more useful: a practical tool for research managers working in real institutions, real proposals and real international collaborations.

What makes the episode especially rich is the way Jakob unpacks the book’s core idea: diversity literacy as a practical professional skill. Rather than reducing diversity work to representation, good intentions or institutional policy documents, he argues that research managers need tools, vocabulary and judgement to navigate very concrete challenges inside projects and partnerships. We talk about leadership, inclusive research support offices, the role of the individual research manager, global differences in how diversity is understood, and why these skills are becoming even more important in a world shaped by AI, geopolitical tension and increasingly global research funding. This is a conversation not just about a book, but about where research management as a profession is heading.

Time codes:

01:32 Guest introduction and fly in