Allyship in Action

Hiring quotas, "bad guy" training, diversity tokenism and public-education overstep are four legitimate concerns organizations can use to avoid DEI backlash.  Read full article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliekratz/2024/08/25/dei-backlash-4-legitimate-concerns-to-avoid/ Find Julie at: https://www.nextpivotpoint.com/  

With anti-DEI messages dominating the headlines, it's critical that leaders show the importance of DEI work through its impact. Read full article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliekratz/2024/06/19/dei-may-be-challenged-but-its-impact-is-undeniable/ Find Julie at: https://www.nextpivotpoint.com/  

Language matters. If DEI is the right acronym for your organization, don't let the naysayers force you to pivot. If people understand what it means, why it matters and how the organization is using DEI to create a competitive sustainable advantage, it is likely a long-term fit. If you're getting resistance where people are not willing to be allies, perhaps pivoting to a word like "inclusion" or "b...

The business case for diversity is not new. It has been around for decades. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) leaders have been sharing the same business case for years. It has been demonstrated time and again that diverse-led organizations are: Thirty-nine percent more likely to outperform those lacking diversity Twelve times more likely to engage and retain employees Nearly eight and a half...

Successful organizations embed DEI into their cultures to avoid political polarization and keep a steady drum beat of DEI communications. Read full article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliekratz/2024/07/14/how-to-talk-about-dei-work-in-a-polarizing-political-climate/ Find Julie at: https://www.nextpivotpoint.com/  

Psychological safety, simply put, means creating a place where people can share hard things. In the workplace, that means employees feel safe to speak up about mistakes, weaknesses and failures, and they feel they can challenge the status quo openly without fear of retribution.  Julie unpacks what it is and why it matters in this week's podcast. Read full article at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/j...

Aisha Suleiman is Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for IPG Mediabrands EMEA region, overseeing 21 diverse markets. As a founding member of Amazon UK's Black Employee Resource Group (BEN), she championed change while serving as Chair. In 2022, Aisha launched True White Allies, a groundbreaking film project spotlighting historical White anti-racists from the 1700s onward, inspiring gre...

Aubree White is a passionate gamer and coach who led the Bob Jones High School Rocket League team to a victory at the 2019 through 2024 PlayVS Alabama state championships. She is an outspoken advocate in driving diversity in esports, encouraging more women to get involved, and has seen first-hand how gaming can help drive more inclusive, community-based HS experiences. Together, we discuss: The le...

Yasmina Passeri, a distinguished Senior Project Manager in the Tech industry with over 12 years of stellar experience, stands as a testament to resilience, passion, and a relentless commitment to fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the dynamic realm of technology. Her journey, marked by cultural richness and a dedication to breaking barriers, has made her a beacon for change an...

Jennifer Schwab Wangers, the founder and CEO of ENTITY Academy, has one goal in mind: to support and empower diverse talent through education and mentorship. Together, we discuss: The challenges facing underserved communities with higher education Systemic issues and fixes that will upskill our labor force How to be a better ally to upskill those around you Learn more at https://www.entityacademy....

Aimee Harman is co-founder of Let's Harmonize, a DEIA consulting firm based in the UK. She joins us to share: Reverse mentoring and why it is so beneficial to both parties What she wishes people understood about neurodivergence The benefits of accessibility and how to be a more accessible workplace Follow Aimee at https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimee-harman/ and find Julie at https://www.nextpivotpoi...

Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv, is an Autism & Grief Project advisory board member and the Senior Vice President of Grief Programs at Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) and recipient of the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Together, we discuss: The Autism & Grief Project and how it helps adults with autism cope with grief and loss Why is it impo...

Betty Thompson is Booz Allen's chief people officer, and as the senior leader for their people services organization, Betty is instrumental in creating world-class employment experiences and ensures best-in-class talent to solve client's evolving needs. Betty brings a particular focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and provides executive oversight and support to drive the firm's DEI str...

David Moerlein has created psychologically safe spaces at work for more than a decade, regularly integrating DEI into the psychological safety conversation. During his 15 years at Google, he managed hundreds of people across ten global offices and was awarded numerous awards for coaching and management. His book, The Safety Effect shares tools David has implemented over the years to help others cr...

Dr Varina Michaels is all about people. Leading people, learning about people and advocating for people. She is an experienced Strategy, Leadership and Human Resource Management professional with deep expertise in Global Diversity and Inclusion, Intercultural Management, Neurodiversity and Leadership Development. She and I discuss: The barriers facing women of color in the workplace How to design...

Pasha Marlowe (she/they) has 30 years of experience as a marriage and family therapist and neurodivergent coach. She specializes in intergenerational leadership through the lens of mental health, neurodiversity, inclusion, and neuroqueering (challenging neuronormativity, cis/heteronormativity, and other societal norms). Together, we discuss: What masking is and why neurodivergent people cover aspe...

Josh Bersin is Industry Analyst and CEO of advisory firm The Josh Bersin Company. He is an author, educator, and thought leader focusing on the global talent market and the challenges and trends impacting business workforces around the world. Josh studies the world of work, HR and leadership practices, and the broad talent technology market. He is often cited as one of the leading HR and workplace...

In a recent study, CEOs cited workforce development, business strategy and HR financial impact as top concerns. Patrick Wright , department chair and Thomas C. Vandiver, bicentennial chair at the USC Darla Moore School of Business, conducts a survey of Fortune 500 CHROs every year, interviews CEOs about the challenges they face, and shares his findings in the report Executive Succession . In an in...

DEI continues to be polarized in the news cycle - from state legislation to public withdrawals of support. What's next for DEI? Leaders embedding it in their organizations because it is good for business. Read more on Forbes.com and follow Next Pivot Point at https://nextpivotpoint.com/

John Hackston is the Head of Thought Leadership at the Myers-Briggs Company, where he leads the company's Oxford-based research team. He is a frequent commentator on the effects of personality type on work and life, and has authored numerous studies, published papers in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences for organizations such as The British Association for Psychological Type, and ha...

Melanie Dulbecco's mantra is "grow, baby, grow!" and that's exactly what she's done for over 30 years as Torani's first CEO outside the founding family. Torani, a globally recognized flavor company and certified B-Corp, has averaged double-digit, year-over-year growth in that time. The company culture is palpable, with a shared passion around Torani's purpose: "Flavor for All, Opportunity for All....

Dr. Janice Gassam Assare has over 10 years of experience facilitating racial dialogue and educating others about equity and inclusion. The work that she does is inspired by her mom and her willingness to speak up and speak out against the oppressive systems that she had to navigate in her workplace. Through the strength and perseverance personified through her, she is invigorated to be the change...

It goes without saying that autistic people are human. Yet, for the longest time, autism has been contextualized as robots or needing to be fixed. Matt Lowry is an Autistic adult and Licensed Psychological Practitioner who works exclusively with Autistic clients, performing neurodiversity-affirming Autism evaluations and providing Autistic Centered Therapy (AuCT)--a form of therapy that he helped...

Wema Hoover is a global executive and transformational leader of diversity, equity, & inclusion (DEI) and human resources and Principal & CEO of Wema Hoover Advisors, executive coaching firm and Be Limitless Consulting a DEI and Culture firm. Wema has a proven track record of creating systemic change in organizational culture by embedding diversity and inclusion into people practices, processes, a...

For folks who identify as non-binary or transgender, pronouns are essential to their identity. For folks who identify as cisgender (meaning you identify as the same gender you were assigned at birth where your gender generally corresponds to your biological sex), it may seem silly to share pronouns that may seem obvious to others. Sharing your pronouns is a way to lift the burden off others whose...