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Diversity in healthcare is not just a matter of fairness; it is a driver of improved patient outcomes, innovation and equity.1 A healthcare workforce that reflects the diverse communities it serves would foster trust, enhance cultural competency and deliver more effective care. Although more people of colour (PoC) have joined the National Health Service (NHS) workforce, the gap between representation in the workforce and among executive roles has worsened from 13.5% to 15.7% between 2021 and 2023.2 Furthermore, women currently represent 74% of the workforce but hold fewer than half of NHS trust executive roles, and only 24% of gastroenterology consultants are women.3 4 There has also been a dramatic increase in international medical graduates (IMGs) practising in the UK, with a 121% rise since 2017 and over 10 000 joining the UK medical register in 2022 alone, and they therefore should also be represented among senior roles.5 Trainees can face numerous challenges throughout their training, and diverse role models can offer guidance, inspiration and insight into barriers to success.6 7