DEI After 5 with Sacha

In today’s diverse and interconnected world, effective marketing requires more than clever slogans or broad demographic data—it requires understanding people. That was the heart of my conversation with Hernan Tagliani, who emphasized why representation and cultural relevance are critical to building authentic connections with consumers. Too often, brands rely on general market research and assume...

In today’s marketplace, the role of multicultural consumers isn’t just important—it’s essential. During this week’s DEI After 5 episode, I sat down with Hernan Tagliani, an expert in multicultural marketing, to unpack why brands must stop treating cultural celebrations like Hispanic Heritage Month as optional or seasonal gestures. We started by calling out something many of us notice: some compani...

We live in a world that glorifies busyness. Long hours, stacked calendars, and constant connectivity have become the norm. But here’s the truth I continue to share on DEI After 5 : growth doesn’t happen in the grind—it happens in recovery. And the cornerstone of recovery? Sleep. Sleep as the Body’s Reset Button Sleep isn’t a luxury. It’s a biological necessity—just like food, water, and oxygen. Wh...

When we talk about psychological safety , most people immediately think about the workplace. But if we’re being honest, psychological safety has always extended far beyond the office walls. It’s about how safe we feel in our neighborhoods, in our homes, and in our communities—and how those experiences shape how we show up everywhere else. In this week’s episode of DEI After 5 , I share a very real...

One thing that’s become crystal clear in the past few years is this: leadership, as we knew it, doesn’t work anymore. The post-pandemic workplace is asking something different of us. And while some leaders are clinging to old playbooks—those rooted in control, hierarchy, and performance at all costs—others are leaning into something more sustainable and human: inclusive leadership . But let’s be h...

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my work, it’s that inclusive workplaces don’t just happen. They’re built—with intention, consistency, and a clear commitment to amplifying voices that too often get left out of the conversation. In a recent episode of DEI After 5 , I had the chance to talk with Dr. Nika White, someone who has built her career at the intersection of marketing, leadership, and in...

New DEI After 5 episode live now We’ve all heard the terms: psychological safety , belonging , trust . They get tossed around in company town halls, folded into DEI statements, and dropped into leadership training decks. But let’s be real — most of what gets said about them barely scratches the surface. In this week’s episode of DEI After 5 , I go beneath the buzzwords. Psychological safety isn’t...

It’s clear people are looking for ways to protect their peace. And if the comments, DMs, and emails are any indication, they’re also looking for permission to do so. That’s exactly why this conversation with Katrina Jones on DEI After 5 hit such a nerve. It’s one of our most-watched episodes, and it makes sense—this is the stuff so many of us have been trying to name. That quiet unraveling you fee...

When most people think about workplace safety, they imagine hard hats, ergonomic chairs, or maybe active shooter drills. What rarely comes up—but absolutely should—is how people feel at work. And that’s where psychosocial hazards come in. These aren’t just buzzwords or boxes to check. Psychosocial hazards are the silent threats that show up in how power is distributed, how people are treated, and...

We talk a lot about burnout, disconnection, and disengagement at work—but we don’t talk enough about how community can be the antidote. In this episode of DEI After 5 , I share some reflections on how easy it is—especially for middle managers—to feel like you're carrying the load alone. You're expected to show up for everyone else, but who’s holding space for you ? That’s where community comes in....

In this re-release of my conversation with Amy Waninger, we’re revisiting a topic that’s even more urgent today than when we first recorded it: the vital role middle managers play in building inclusive, psychologically safe workplaces—and the real cost when they’re left out of the conversation. The Reality Behind the Rhetoric It’s easy to talk about inclusion at the top. Executive teams set strate...

Let’s be real—what’s happening in the world doesn’t stop at the office door. We don’t get to hang our worries on a hook next to our coats and step into a perfectly insulated work bubble. And yet, too often, that’s exactly what workplaces expect us to do. In this week’s episode of DEI After 5 , I’m talking about the impact of external events—whether they’re global, national, or deeply personal—and...

Welcome to this week's episode of DEI After 5. Today, I decided to shift our focus slightly while still staying within the realm of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Specifically, I want to delve into the inclusion aspect and address a pressing issue I've been noticing: burnout among first-line and middle managers. Through my recent webinars, client conversations, and surveys, I've identifie...

The Evolution of DEI Roles and the Importance of Skills Alignment In recent years, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) roles have experienced significant transformations, largely in response to shifting organizational priorities and economic conditions. As discussed in this episode, many organizations are reevaluating their DEI initiatives, with some even scaling back due to external pressures,...

In this episode of DEI After 5, we celebrate the return of the podcast after a brief hiatus. Sacha reflects on the importance of continuing discussions around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace and beyond. While the podcast name remains the same, the focus has expanded to encompass how DEI practices influence our lives, communities, and organizational cultures beyond 5 PM. Lis...

What does it mean to embody inclusion and belonging in your everyday life? How can community shape our success? By exploring these questions, Nancy and I uncover the importance of intentionally living out our beliefs, not just displaying them. It’s about setting the standard for behavior and modeling a culture that nurtures understanding and acceptance. The journey to success is rarely solo; it th...

In this episode of DEI After 5, host Sacha Thompson welcomes Dr. Daniel Jolles, a behavioral scientist and research officer at the London School of Economics. They explore the often-overlooked topic of age diversity in the workplace, discussing the generational miscommunications and differing values that can arise in diverse work environments. Dr. Jolles shares insights from his background in corp...

In this episode of DEI After 5, host Sacha Thompson welcomes Sara Taylor from Deep Sea Consulting to discuss the impact of election season on workplace dynamics, particularly regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As the political landscape becomes contentious, DEI initiatives are increasingly under attack, leading to a critical examination of how these issues infiltrate the workplace....