Christmas has always been a season rich with symbolism. A star in the sky. A manger. A fragile newborn who would go on to shape history. Yet the power of the Christmas story has never been about the symbolism alone. It is the meaning beneath it, the purpose, the compassion and the transformation that followed.

This season has made me reflect on how often, in public life and in the world of DEI, we confuse symbolic milestones with genuine progress. Across politics, business and academia in the UK, we have witnessed historic firsts. Leaders from underrepresented backgrounds have taken on roles that, for much of our history, would have been unthinkable. These milestones matter. They inspire, shift expectations and tell younger generations that certain doors are no longer locked.

But symbolism is not the whole story.

When Barack Obama was elected President in 2008, his victory carried both symbolic and substantive weight. He was not only the first black President of the United States. He was elected by millions of people, at a moment when his message of hope resonated deeply with a country weary of division. He campaigned on addressing inequality, and once in office he delivered measurable progress on issues ranging from civil rights to LGBTQ+ protections to safeguards for minority communities. Whether one agreed with his politics or not, the symbolism had substance behind it.

In the UK, we sometimes rush to draw parallels with our own political milestones. But context matters. Pathways into leadership differ. Mandates differ. Historical moments differ. A person can break a barrier and still inherit a system that has not yet shifted beneath the surface. A government can be more diverse in its composition, which is positive and worth recognising, while still operating within structures and narratives that have not fully embraced inclusion in practice. Representation is necessary, but it is not sufficient.

Christmas reminds us of the difference between moments that look significant and moments that actually change things. The nativity was not grand. It did not involve the powerful. By all external measures it was ordinary and easily dismissed. Yet it represented a profound shift in how we understand dignity, compassion and justice. Christmas teaches us that the quiet beginnings often carry the most transformative potential.

So when we think about progress, perhaps the question is not only who occupies a particular role, but what they do with it. Do they use their platform to serve others. Do their decisions widen the circle of belonging. Do they acknowledge the lived realities of those who are often unheard. Do they embody the heart for service that authentic leadership requires.

True progress demands more than a headline. It needs honest acknowledgment of the inequalities that persist. It needs policies and choices that lift people up. It needs a commitment to making the whole system more fair, not simply more symbolic. It needs leaders who understand that competence, empathy and integrity do more for a nation than any superficial milestone ever will.

Christmas is a reminder that purpose has more weight than optics. A simple birth in a quiet place reshaped the world not because it looked impressive but because it carried meaning that endured.

If we want our institutions, our society and our politics to move from symbolism to substance, then we must champion leaders who bring courage, compassion and credibility to the roles they hold. And we must recognise that real change is rarely glamorous. It happens slowly, often quietly and often in the hearts of ordinary people long before it appears on any national stage.

May this season remind us that what truly transforms the world is not who stands in the spotlight, but how they choose to lead when they get there. And may we all have the courage to move beyond symbols and into something deeper, fuller and more real.

Merry Christmas.

If these reflections resonate with you, you might enjoy my book DEI and Me: What Grinds My Gears – From Frustration to Function. It explores how we move from surface level diversity to authentic inclusion, and why substance matters more than symbolism in the places we work and lead.
You can find the paperback and Kindle editions here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1919279601

Written by David Otudeko, Founder of Maison de Madaci