Inclusion in Progress

In this episode of Inclusion in Progress, Kay Fabella shares her reflections on DEI post-election in her birth country, the US, from her perspective as an American practitioner abroad. Kay highlights why, for better or for worse, what happens in the US affects the world at large — and how it translates into DEI initiatives for organizations and teams. Finally, she shares her observations and refle...

#050 - In this episode of Inclusion in Progress, Kay is pleased to welcome Leyla Okhai, CEO and Director of Diverse Minds UK, Ltd., to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion in the United Kingdom. As a South Asian woman in the UK who's lived in different countries around the world, Leyla discusses the context around the UK term BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) and how it pertains to the globa...

#049 - In this episode, Kay Fabella answers the question, "Is DEI different in the US vs. Europe?" as a Filipina-American DEI practitioner based in Spain since 2010. Kay shares why companies that are looking to apply diversity, equity and inclusion strategies to global teams need to understand cultural context and nuance, and not rely on one cultural lens to lead DEI. Finally, she shares three bro...

#048 - In this episode of Inclusion in Progress, Kay is pleased to welcome Dr. David Jones, the Chief Diversity Officer and Director of Talent Management at William Paterson University and diversity consultant. David shares the importance of DEI in companies starting before recruitment and the need to intentionally source talent from colleges and universities, especially when recruiting students f...

#047 - In this episode, Kay Fabella dives into the power of incremental inclusion, and how it can be led at the individual, team and organizational levels for maximum effectiveness and sustainability. Kay focuses this episode on micro actions for change and shares why an incremental approach to inclusion is a cause for individual empowerment, not overwhelm. Finally, she shares three actionable min...

#046 - In this episode of Inclusion in Progress, Kay is excited to welcome Elizabeth Wright, Australian Paralympic medalist, activist, writer, and TEDx speaker to discuss disability and ableism. Elizabeth shares why disability is often less visible within the DEI conversation and encourages non-disabled allies to expand how we think about disability in the workplace to build true inclusion. She al...

#045 - In this episode, Kay Fabella shares how you can actually talk about the topic of privilege with others at work. Kay shares why the success of a DEI initiative at work depends on both systemic and behavioral changes, and why it's important for individuals to lead conversations to encourage more inclusive behaviors. She then talks specifically about why privilege is such a sensitive topic, an...

#044 - In this episode, Kay Fabella shares what ERGs (employee resource groups) can do to lead inclusion in a virtual world. Kay reiterates the importance of ERGs, BRGs or affinity groups within organizations, and why they're more important for leading DEI in the workplace with so many of us working virtually. Finally, she dedicates this episode to the ERG leaders creating belonging for others on...

#043 - In this episode of Inclusion in Progress, Kay is honored to welcome Janelle Aaker, the former VP of Global Diversity & Inclusion at Lululemon, to talk about brave spaces. Janelle talks about why the key to being inclusive in the workplace starts with mindfulness and creating brave spaces to have the conversations we need for inclusion. She also shares specific ways everyone can create these...

#042 - In this episode, Kay Fabella shares what you really need to create an inclusive company culture in your organization. Kay shares her take on the "social media landscape" of DEI — and why the real work for inclusion goes beyond a polarizing post on LinkedIn or Instagram. Finally, she walks you through three foundational cornerstones you can't skip if you want to create a more inclusive cultu...

#041 - In this episode of Inclusion in Progress, Kay is pleased to welcome Torin Ellis, diversity and human capital strategist focused on the art of recruiting diverse talent.  Torin shares why diversity and inclusion solutions, especially in recruiting, is far from one-size-fits-all, and challenges companies to rethink where DEI falls on their priority list.  He also gives plenty of actionable id...

#040 - In this episode, Kay Fabella stresses why the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy must go beyond HR & Talent to succeed at a company. Kay shares her cautious optimism about seeing more DEI roles being hired and in demand than ever — and why their work depends on aligning strategy, support and sustainability. Finally, she walks you through three actionable ideas you can implement...

#039 - In this episode of Inclusion in Progress, Kay is pleased to welcome Jorge Quezada, DEI veteran, thought leader, and Granite Construction's VP of Diversity & Inclusion.  Jorge talks about how he's seen diversity and inclusion evolve over the years as a Latino — and the philosophy behind how he's helped companies like AllState Insurance, Northwestern Mutual, and Kraft Foods Group before landi...

#038 - In this episode, Kay Fabella highlights where DEI initiatives have often failed and how to avoid watching the same thing happen at your organization. Kay also discusses the importance of looking back to move forward — and why it's possible to learn from the mistakes of the past to truly move the needle on inclusion in our companies. Finally, she walks you through the four key ways she's see...

#037 - In this episode of Inclusion in Progress, Kay is speaking to Michelle Kim, CEO of Awaken, to talk about inclusive language at work. Michelle shares her story as an Asian American immigrant and member of the LGBTQIA+ community — and how she connected her tireless passion for social justice to her DEI work for startups and Fortune 500 companies. She also invites us to consider how to be more...

#036 - In this episode, Kay Fabella walks you through the five must have questions to build your 5 Year DEI plan for your organization. Kay also talks about why thinking about DEI as a one-off "tick box" exercise simply won't cut it — and why building diversity, equity and inclusion requires long-term investment and strategy. Finally, she walks you through five critical questions to ask yourself t...

#035 - In this special birthday episode, Kay Fabella shares what she's learned from eight months of podcasting in honor of the incredible listeners who've supported Inclusion in Progress. Kay shouts out to a couple of her key mentors along the way, who've helped shape her approach to DEI, podcasting and storytelling. Finally, Kay walks you through the four key lessons she's learned from eight mont...

#034 - In this episode of Inclusion in Progress, Kay is speaking to Nadia Z. Ismail, DEI Consultant and Senior Manager of People Growth & Inclusion at DoorDash.  Nadia talks about her lived experiences as a Muslim and Arab woman — and how it shaped her activism and advocacy to champion the voices of underrepresented groups. She also discusses her intersection between DEI and Learning & Development...

#033 - In this episode, Kay Fabella discusses how allies can keep their antiracism efforts and education going, at home and at work, even after the headlines fade. Kay also shares the critical difference between racist and antiracist — and why it's important for the Black community to lead the conversation. Finally, she gives three ways you can sustainably incorporate antiracism into your personal...

#032 - In this episode of Inclusion in Progress, Kay is speaking to Noemí Jiménez, co-founder of qb., a strategy and communications firm at the intersection of inclusion and sustainability.  In this discussion, Noemí shares her experience growing up in a biracial, multicultural, inter-religious home across the U.S., Ecuador and Canada — and how her diverse upbringing and her experience as an "only...

#031 - In this episode, Kay Fabella discusses why it's so hard to talk about race at work, and ways you can lead courageous conversations about antiracism at your organization. Kay also gives more historical context for how and why racism was codified — and why dismantling systemic oppression that's centuries-old takes courage and consistency. Finally, she shares the three main reasons talking abo...

#030 - Kay Fabella wraps up her three-part series on her latest whitepaper on diversity and inclusion at big tech firms, and key recommendations for inclusion-driven companies moving forward. Kay also shares why building an inclusive work culture is not only beneficial to current teams but also tomorrow's future talent — and what that means for how you can lead DEI at your company. Finally, she sh...

#029 - In this episode, Kay continues to share her key findings from her latest whitepaper on diversity and inclusion for big tech, and what it means for the future of work culture. Kay also shares why she's added the letter E to her role as a DEI Consultant, as a result of the conversation she had at the executive roundtable she hosted with big tech firms in April 2020 and what the small but symb...

#028 - In this episode of Inclusion in Progress, Kay is discussing male allyship with Brian Ballantyne, Senior Program Manager at Amazon Luxeumbourg, and owner of Amazon's global D&I strategy. He is also the author of the book, Confessions of a Working Father, where he shares how men can step up in the caregiving duties at home. Brian talks about how his multicultural, intersectional upbringing he...

#027 - As protests in the wake of George Floyd's death are on the rise in her come country of the US, Kay shares the strange journey she's gone through as her personal and professional world as a D&I consultant have collided. Against this backdrop, she shares several specific calls to action for non-black allies, while reminding listeners that the work of achieving inclusion is a longer journey —...