Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox

Join us for a compelling conversation as Jackie engages with Sara "Axel" Axelbaum, who serves as the Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at MiQ, a prominent programmatic media partner within the advertising technology sector. Discover Axel's remarkable journey and her unique insights into the realm of DEI, including her experience of starting a pivotal role amid a global pandemic and t...

Join us for a riveting episode as Jackie engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Anselm Beach, a distinguished leader with a captivating life journey from a Caribbean island to the United States Army and a White House fellowship. Anselm unveils his unconventional career path, influenced by his upbringing, and shares the invaluable experiences that shaped his pursuit of leadership excellen...

In this episode, Jackie's talking with Shalita Grant, a Juilliard alum, Tony-nominated actress, and the founder of Four Naturals Hair. From her roots in Virginia to the challenges she faced as a Black actress in Hollywood, Shalita shares her journey that led to the creation of Four Naturals. Learn about her deep dive into cosmetic chemistry, Ayurvedic practices, and her mission to revolutionize ha...

Season nine of Diversity Beyond the Checkbox is just around the corner, and we can't wait to share what's in store! In this special episode, Jackie is joined by our incredible production team, Cee Cee and Royce, to give you a sneak peek of what's coming your way. Get ready for new guests, exciting bonus content, and a groundbreaking partnership with Living Corporate, a leading digital media networ...

As we eagerly anticipate the start of season nine on Sept. 19, we're looking back at the incredible stories, insights, and tools shared by our exceptional guests in the previous season. In this compilation episode, you'll hear snippets from conversations with remarkable individuals such as: Deke Copenhaver Donnebra McClendon Dara Sanderson Catarina Rivera Tony Lowden Laura Sanderson Meisha-Ann Mar...

Join Jackie in this inspiring episode as she sits down with Deke Copenhaver, former mayor of Augusta and principal of Copenhaver Consulting, to explore his remarkable journey of leadership and impact. From a shy kid to the mayor, Deke shares his transformative experiences and discusses the power of open minds in driving positive change. Discover how Deke's courage and determination have enabled hi...

Join us as we dive into the inspiring journey of Donnebra McClendon, Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Ceridian. Discover how Donnebra's career growth and passion for leading and managing people have shaped her success at Ceridian. Gain valuable insights as she shares strategies for building an intentionally inclusive culture and navigating career transitions. Learn about the power of me...

Join Catarina Rivera, DEI consultant and founder of Blindish Latina, as she shares her personal journey navigating the world with Usher Syndrome, a progressive condition impacting her hearing and vision. As a TEDx speaker and advocate, Catarina sheds light on the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and offers insights on breaking down disability stigmas. Discover her expertise in imp...

Join Jackie in a thought-provoking conversation with Dara Sanderson, CEO of Dictionary.com, as they explore the power of words, strong teams, and flexibility in discovering your own path. With over 20 years of experience in technology, entertainment, and ad tech, Dara shares valuable insights on the importance of language, inclusion, and mentoring. Discover how intentional and inclusive language s...

Join Jackie in an enlightening conversation with Nina Simons, Co-founder and Chief Relationship Officer of Bioneers, as they explore the profound intersection of nature and diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Discover how Nina's transformative experience in a biodiversity garden led her to establish Bioneers and become a renowned social entrepreneur, speaker, and author. Gain insights into...

In this episode, Jackie Ferguson interviews Kai Weidie, the first Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Dentsu Media US. They discuss Dentsu's four pillars for guiding DEI work and the importance of transparency and accountability in leadership. Kai emphasizes the value of micro-actions in creating change, inspiring leaders to commit to diverse talent growth, and the critica...

In this episode, host Jackie Ferguson is joined by Laura Sanderson, the head of Russell Reynolds Associates operations in the UK, with over 20 years of experience recruiting executives for board positions in the FTSE 100, FTSE 250 private, as well as mutual and family-owned firms based in London. As an expert in executive search, Laura shares her insights on the importance of building diverse and...

In this special 100th episode of Diversity Beyond the Checkbox, host Jackie Ferguson is on the other side of the questions! Joined by critically-acclaimed author and guest host, Dr. Bob Batchelor, they reflect on the podcast's journey, discuss the importance of storytelling, and share their hopes for the future. Get a glimpse into Jackie's personality and hear about her favorite things, greatest a...

In this episode, Dr. Meisha-ann Martin, Senior Director of People Analytics and Research at Workhuman, and host Jackie Ferguson, both graduates from the University of South Florida, explore the negative impact of microaggressions on employee engagement, productivity, and innovation. Microaggressions result from unconscious biases and can create a toxic work environment for underrepresented groups....

Join Jim Morris, a Senior Strategist, and Inclusionist, on his journey of discovering his social identity as a cis-hetero White man and how it informs his work in inclusion. Jim discusses transformative moments in his life, including a conversation with Bernice Johnson Reagon, a founder of the women's singing group "Sweet Honey in the Rock," and an early childhood experience of witnessing a cross...

Join us as we sit down with Ruth Rathblott, an award-winning CEO, TEDx and inspirational speaker, and limb difference advocate, to discuss her inspiring journey of overcoming challenges and embracing her uniqueness. Ruth shares how she learned to unhide and live authentically after hiding her missing left hand for 25 years. As a passionate advocate for creating inclusion for all, Ruth speaks on th...

Join Integrative Wellness Program Designer and Business Profit Growth Strategist, Dr. Fanike-Kiara Young, as she shares her expertise in mental health, trauma, and self-care. With a focus on personal development, mindset, and emotional intelligence, Dr. Fanike helps individuals navigate workplace wellness and business strategy, empowering them to achieve greater self-confidence and enhanced leader...

In this special episode to honor the end of Black History Month, Pastor Tony Lowden shares his incredible journey from growing up in a "trap house" in North Philadelphia to becoming President Jimmy Carter’s pastor. As the Vice President of Reintegration and Community Engagement at ViaPath Technologies and a leading advocate for criminal justice reform, rehabilitation and reentry programs, Tony is...

We're looking forward to season eight starting soon, but we can't forget to listen back to these awesome lessons from season seven of Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox! In this episode, you'll hear pieces of conversations from our episodes with... Leigh Steinberg Sara Bowen Kimberly Wiefling Dr. Audrea Caesar Nils Vinje Dr. Deborah Gilboa Avantha Arachchi Annie Leib Aiko Bethea Keith Daniel and Tom D...

In its three years and seven seasons, Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox has shared 94 episodes and conversations about ways to be more diverse, inclusive and equitable in the workplace and your life. As we gear up for season eight, we're sharing with you some moments from our most popular episodes of all time. In this episode, you'll hear pieces of conversations from... What is a Virtual Privilege Wa...

Sadira Furlow's work with brands like Frito Lay, Coca-Cola, Verizon, and MillerCoors (to name a few) and developing iconic campaigns like PepsiCo's 'puppymonkeybaby' Super Bowl commercial resulted in accolades like Adweek's Brand Genius, AdAge's Women to Watch, and Savoy's Top Influential Women in Corporate America. Her recipe for success? Sadira says diverse teams are the best way to create campa...

With only half of the US population claiming financial literacy, DISCOVER is working to bridge that education gap through its Pathway to Financial Success curriculum and a personal finance online education series. In her role as Chief Diversity Officer, Jonita Wilson is pioneering a culture of transparent, equitable and inclusive practices for the company's employees and its customers. In this epi...

Underrepresented founders are massively underfunded. To foster economic equity, the gap in access to capital needs to be closed.  Resilient Ventures' Keith Daniel and Tom Droege focus their investments in Black-owned startups and companies. In this episode, these successful venture capitalists share best practices to get your business funded, discuss why investors should diversify their portfolio...

Do you ever find yourself holding back on pursuing your dreams? Do you want that promotion but fear keeps you from taking the next step? Aiko Bethea, founder of RARE Coaching and Consulting and Senior Director for Brene Brown Education and Research Group, had achieved significant success in her roles as attorney for the city of Atlanta and later, deputy director for the Bill & Melinda Gates Fo...

After hitting rock bottom and inspired by a poster quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson in an auto body shop, Annie Leib decided to change her life, discover her core values and live life on her own terms. In this episode, Annie discusses how her BREATH framework can help you excavate your authentic self, and find personal fulfillment in your daily life. Diversity Beyond the Checkbox is brought to you by T...