Movember at MCB, moving the conversation forward

MCB’s first Movember was a first step for many. With the movement still finding its voice in Mauritius, the MCB Culture and DEI team brought people together to move, learn, and speak openly about traditions, family, and leadership. Over the month, clear health guidance met real conversation, bringing men’s health from the margins to the centre.

A month built to move, learn, and talk

Movember shaped that space where learning feels safe, and questions are welcome with a steady rhythm that mixed short stretch sessions to reset during the day, guided reflections to slow the pace and name pressure, and practical health guidance that explained when to book a check and how to follow through. The focus stayed clear, with small steps people could act on without reshaping their week.

Tools that carry into the workday

The programme paired knowledge with habit-building. Movement breaks eased tension at the desk and showed simple routines that travel well from meeting to meeting. Reflection prompts helped teams check in with themselves and each other, building a shared vocabulary for stress, rest, and support. Health briefings turned awareness into appointments, with clear signposting to screening pathways and next steps that feel manageable.

Real talks, real voices

Conversations moved from myths to facts and from silence to support. Leaders sat with colleagues to speak about tradition, masculinity, vulnerability, and the daily balance between fatherhood and work. Stories felt familiar, questions drew people in, and participants left with simple anchors to try the next morning, whether checking on a teammate, setting a boundary, or starting a healthier routine.

For Jean Michel Ng Tseung, CEO of MCB Group, the month underscored a simple truth. “I discovered Movember through our own programme, and it shifted my perspective. When leaders listen, people talk, and good things happen. We will keep building a culture where speaking up about health feels normal.”

A wider lens on modern masculinity

A flagship panel on modern masculinity brought different viewpoints to the same table, covering mental health, stereotypes, and how care and strength sit side by side. With voices like Joel Cure, Vincent Duvergé, and Kunal Naik on stage, the discussion linked lived experience with clear takeaways. The outcome made difficult topics easier to approach and gave people a clear route to support, from screening guidance to manager resources and wellbeing signposts.

As stated by Shakila Badouraly, DEI Lead, “Our first Movember aimed to break the taboos. Watching colleagues open up, share a laugh, and reflect together showed me just how powerful safe spaces can be in driving real change from within.”

Why it matters

Movember at MCB sits within a wider commitment to inclusion and wellbeing across the Group. The DEI team’s role is to make progress tangible, create spaces that welcome different perspectives, and turn dialogue into practical steps people can use. When learning feels accessible and leaders show up with openness, culture shifts. Bit by bit, teams gain confidence to ask for help, to offer it, and to make health part of everyday life.

As Aurélie Mallac, Head of People Experience, put it: “What mattered most was giving colleagues a safe place to learn and be heard. The response highlighted a strong appetite for practical support, which we will continue to build through simple tools people can use everyday.”

Looking ahead

The momentum does not end with the calendar month. The conversation continues and the focus remains the same: clear information, simple access, and an open door for real conversations. Together, we are building a workplace where men’s physical and mental health have room to breathe, and where everyone feels welcome in the conversation. That is how awareness turns into action and how action becomes culture.