Talk by Saloni Seth-Watkins
LeSS Conference Amsterdam 2026
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs are increasingly debated in politics and business. Some argue that meritocracy alone should determine success. Others highlight the strong evidence that diverse teams deliver better outcomes, innovation, and performance.
In this thought-provoking talk, Saloni Seth-Watkins explores what happens when organizations stop actively looking at inclusion — and what that means for product development and organizational design.
At first glance, LeSS (Large-Scale Scrum) appears naturally aligned with inclusive principles. Its structures and practices — feature teams, flat organizations, communities of practice, systems thinking, transparency, and whole-product focus — create environments where collaboration, shared learning, and contribution matter more than hierarchy.
But Saloni challenges a critical assumption.
Even systems that aim to be fair and meritocratic can unintentionally reproduce bias if we fail to examine the data and the structures behind them. Drawing inspiration from the book Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez, she highlights how “neutral” systems often reflect unseen data gaps that exclude voices without anyone intending harm.
Using examples from the tech industry and reflections on the LeSS community itself, Saloni shows how inclusion can unintentionally be left to chance.
Ultimately, the message is not about adding new frameworks or initiatives. Instead, it is about applying core LeSS thinking — systems thinking, transparency, inspection, and adaptation — to inclusion itself.
In lean thinking, unused talent is waste.
And when voices, perspectives, or ideas are missing, organizations lose value they never even realize existed.
LeSS Conference Amsterdam 2026
https://less.works
