Inclusion is usually treated as a strategy of task forces, statements and trainings, but Zay argues the most powerful tool is far simpler: respectful curiosity. Opening with the one question that made him feel seen, he shows how curiosity interrupts bias, builds psychological safety and lifts team performance, and teaches the art of asking questions that open people up instead of shutting them down. Audiences leave with a five-question framework they can use in meetings, 1:1s, conflicts and at home.

Preferred length: 45 minutes (keynote or breakout; can be adapted). Audiences: Corporate DEI and HR events; leadership and team offsites; educators; community organizers; conflict-resolution and mediation groups. Key takeaways: (1) Curiosity about a person's experience — not labels — is what creates belonging, and it interrupts bias in the moment. (2) The difference between questions that open people up and questions that shut them down. (3) Five questions that build inclusion (discovery, experience, impact, support, future) and three levels of curiosity: stories, struggles, systems.