We Are Not Alone
Each year I endeavor to start anew with a fresh, positive outlook. I wish that for you, as well. Each of us has to navigate our private, personal struggles as well as the macro challenges that we are confronted with as a community. War, death by guns, food insecurity, climate change, racism, sexism, antisemitism, homophobia, Islamophobia, and on and on. Typing this list is depressing in itself but much more so when I reflect
A Declaration
Let’s demonstrate our commitment to independence by celebrating our interdependence.
Take Affirmative Action Today!
For decades people have pushed back against affirmative action laws. Those people rarely understood the letter or the spirit of affirmative action. I have been asked hundreds of times if affirmative action requires a quota, a set percentage of Black, indigenous, and other people of color or members of other underrepresented groups to be admitted to an academic institution. The answer is consistently ‘no’. Organizations of all kinds continue to complain that they cannot find
Fighting Words
Fighting Words I am a pacifist. I do not own a gun or any other weapons. I use words to combat to combat ignorance, hatred, and brutality and it is definitely time to fight. The increasingly dangerous assault on diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) requires a coordinated and sustainable defense. As a small business owner, I usually avoid entering into political discussions, but the body politic is at the greatest risk of my entire
The Many Shades of Racism and Many Shades of Passing
Everyday Triggers Every day I trepidatiously scan the latest news on the internet hoping to avoid the most egregious triggers. This week began with a debate on “white Hispanic” trending in social media regarding a Deputy Sheriff in Los Angeles who shot and killed a Black man. That debate was similar to the “blue dress / gold dress” debate of 2015, with the exception that it was about race, and racism, and death. As
What Difference Does Difference Make? Is the Candidate Qualified?
What Difference Does Difference Make? I have been asking this question for decades: What difference does difference make? It came to me when I was confronted by very privileged individuals who could not even imagine what life would be like for those who are not white, Christian, educated, socioeconomically secure, heterosexual, without a major disability, born in the USA, and for the most part, male. I needed to find ways to get through the resistance
The Best Ways to Hold Companies Accountable for Increasing Representation of Black Senior Leaders
It is always affirming to be asked to provide an opinion on diversity matters as a diversity expert. Matthew Boyle a journalist with Bloomberg Business asked me: What have you learned about the best ways to hold companies accountable for increasing representation of Black senior leaders? Here is my long response to Matthew. (The referenced article is linked below.) Organization’s C-suites, Boards of Directors, and shareholders can hold each other and, most importantly, themselves accountable
Genuine Change Requires Genuine Self-Examination, Strategies, and Transparency
Genuine Change Requires Genuine Self-Examination, Strategies, and Transparency Help! During the past week my partner, Paula T. Edgar and I have received at least two dozen requests for help from potential clients. These requests have varied in terms of the specific type of help that they were seeking, but mostly people wanted help drafting their “Black Lives Matter” statements. Several people reached out asking if they could “pick our brains” (aka get free consulting), but
10 Inclusive Management Best Practices for Remote Teams
10 Inclusive Management Best Practices for Remote Teams March 12, 2020 The challenge of inclusive management is even more critical when teams must function remotely. Each year, more and more employees work remotely at least part of the time. Right now, many organizations across the globe are closing for two weeks or more to stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus. There are also many employees who are being quarantined during this time. The
Accountability Assures Organizational DEI Success
Who ‘owns’ diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at your organization? Often, the responsibility for the success, or sadly, the primary accountability for the failure of an organization’s DEI initiatives belongs to the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) or head of HR. In many organizations, these individuals do not report to the CEO or president, but to the Chief of Staff, Chief Administrative Officer, or the CFO (this last, for reasons that escape us). Successfully advancing DEI
