Just One Q

As we enter the holiday season, many of our colleagues are celebrating or observing holy days, festivals and observances. On this replay of Just One Q, Brian Carwana reminds us that focusing on our religious literacy and being intentional about incorporating religious inclusion in DEI efforts is essential to creating a welcoming space where religious and spiritual people can bring their whole selv...

Is equitable innovation possible at scale? Dr. Kristen Liesch says yes! In this episode of Just One Q, Dr. Melissa Horne chats with Dr. Kristen Liesch, co-CEO and co-Founder of Tidal Equality, and co-creator of the Equity Sequence™. They discuss how organizations can empower and enable all employees regardless of rank or role to assess the day-to-day decisions they make through a more equitable le...

Is there a difference between creation vs. modification when it comes to creating accessible and inclusive workplaces? Layla Zia says yes! In this episode of Just One Q, Dr. Melissa Horne chats with Learning Experience Design Specialist, Layla Zia. They dive into whether it’s best to modify existing policies and practices or to create new ones. They also discuss what’s being lost and gained if we...

Do leaders have the potential to shape the systems in their organizations to be more just and equitable? Nenuca Syquia says yes! In this episode of Just One Q, Dr. Melissa Horne chats with CEO and Co-Founder of Better Organizations by Design, Nenuca Syquia. They discuss how leaders can go beyond individual work, and why the conversation around inclusive leadership needs to move to the level of sys...

Is there space for DEI in a company’s promotion structures?  Florence Idowu says yes !  In this episode of Just One Q, Dr. Melissa Horne chats with independent employment strategist and the founder of Bavarde Talent Solutions, Florence Idowu. They discuss incorporating DEI beyond hiring and meeting their target diversity goals, and instead, focus on supporting organizations with integrating DEI pr...

Do organizations need to prepare themselves to launch successful DEI initiatives? Kalyn Wilson says yes!  In this episode of Just One Q, Dr. Melissa Horne chats with the founder and managing partner of Dream Forward Consulting and Coaching, Kalyn Wilson. They dive into why many DEI initiatives are unsuccessful, and what companies can do to better prepare themselves.  Keep Up with Kalyn: https://ww...

Do personal wellness and organizational wellness overlap?  Sarah Hope Marshall says yes!  In this episode of Just One Q, Dr. Melissa Horne sits down with the founder of Profound Hope Industries, Sarah Hope Marshall. They discuss why the idea of wellness needs to be broadened to include a focus on organizational wellness and community wellness in addition to personal wellness initiatives.  Keep Up...

The pandemic has not only affected a huge part of our lives, it has also exposed some of the underlying challenges that have existed for many years, one of which is women’s inequity. From managing family health, to caring for children, or choosing whether to work from home or return to the physical workplace, women have disproportionately experienced challenges that could be better managed, if the...

What do employers need to know to better attract and retain neurodiverse employees?  Wanda Deschamps explains the need for neurodiversity in the workplace and shares steps employers can take to better attract and retain neurodiverse employees. By encouraging participation from the neurodiverse population within your business, your organization will be able to learn new ways of thinking from a gene...

What can and should Canadian businesses be doing who want to respond to Black Lives Matter and improve the experience of their Black employees?  Michèle Newton shares approaches to addressing Black Lives Matter in the workplace, and explains how responding to the current environment of the movement will help you improve the experience of your Black employees.   Get in touch with Michèle:  https://...

Can freedom and work truly overlap?  Jeff Melnyk and Laurie Bennett say yes!  In this episode of Just One Q, Dr. Melissa Horne sits down with founding partners at Within People, Laurie and Jeff. They discuss the current systems of oppression that exist in many organizations, and the potential of instead, having employees be pulled by freedom rather than pushed by fear.   Keep Up with Jeff and Laur...

Should your workplace make you feel like you belong in the work that you’re doing?    Erin Davis and Jade Pichette say yes!  In this episode of Just One Q, Dr. Melissa Horne sits down with hosts of The Uncovering Belonging Podcast, Erin Davis and Jade Pichette. They discuss whose responsibility it is to create a sense of belonging at work, and what to do if it’s not there.    Connect with Erin and...

Is it possible to foster inclusive storytelling in journalism?  Lindsay MacKenzie says yes!  In this episode of Just One Q, Dr. Melissa Horne sits down with a practiced community connector, who has experience working with the CBC, Lindsay MacKenzie. Melissa and Lindsay discuss the adjustments needed to create and maintain more equitable news media.  Keep Up with Lindsay:  Connect with Lindsay: htt...

Is it possible for employees to bring their authentic selves to work? Ymani Hawkins says yes!  On this episode of Just One Q, Dr. Melissa Horne sits down with diversity and mental wellness coach, Ymani Hawkins to discuss the work leaders need to do before employees feel like they can bring their authentic selves to work.    Keep Up with Ymani Hawkins:  Connect with Ymani: https://www.linkedin.com/...

Is it possible to be a great leader and an inclusive leader at the same time?  Nancy Harris says yes!  On this episode of Just One Q, Dr. Melissa Horne sits down with the founder and CEO of Restart Consulting, Nancy Harris to discuss the self-work necessary for leaders to confidently and competently lead culture change. Keep Up with Nancy Harris and Restart Consulting:  Connect with Nancy: https:/...

Should organizations be clear about their goals BEFORE bringing in a DEI professional?  Dr. Nika White says yes!  On this episode of Just One Q, Dr. Melissa Horne and Dr. Nika White talk  about the best practices when it comes to hiring an external DEI consultant in order to get the best result for your organization.  Keep Up with Dr. Nika White:  Website: https://www.nikawhite.com/ LinkedIn: http...

Can leaders boost employee engagement through learning? Humble the Poet says yes!  On this episode of Just One Q, Humble the Poet talks about the values of being a life-long learner in the workplace, stemming from his experience as a former elementary school teacher and now multifaceted artist. He provides advice for leaders looking to keep their employees engaged. He also stresses the importance...

As workplaces continue to prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion, it’s still unclear who should be leading these efforts. Is DEI a Human Resources function, or should it stand alone? In this episode of Just One Q, Melissa Horne and Garima Gupta chat about where the responsibility for DEI falls, why diversity officers rarely last if they’re not supported by a team, and how HR leaders can empowe...

If you’ve ever heard of an employee resource group, you may have wondered how impactful is an ERG, really? Is it worth joining one?   Melissa’s guest on this episode of Just One Q, Stephanie Trevino, says yes! Together, Melissa and Stephanie dive into the power ERGs have in making change within an organization. Stephanie also delves into how influential ERGs are in propelling DEI efforts forward a...

Hannah Konschuh is a grain farmer, operating Generation Land & Grain Co. Ltd. near Cluny Alberta, growing wheat, canola, barley, and yellow peas. She completed a B.Sc in Agriculture and a M.Sc. in Soil Science from the University of Saskatchewan, and went on to work in a number of research and policy roles prior to joining her family farm. Erin Gowerluck lives in Ottawa where she holds the positio...

Adriana founded ALG Consulting and is now a global gender consultant, facilitator and trainer, writer and speaker committed to building safer, gender equitable, caring, and inclusive workplaces and organizations free of sexual harassment and gender-based violence.  Adriana delivers global workshops, sexual harassment and violence policy and reporting processes development, implementation coaching...

Josh is a DEIB facilitator and change agent, with a background working across organizations and industries to build community, create more equitable systems, and center the lived experiences of marginalized groups. Josh has led DEIB workshops for clients across the world, convened and collaborated with government executives on management and human capital issues, and worked extensively with commun...

On this episode of Just One Q, Dr. Melissa Horne and Liz Ramey discuss how in the case of equitable policies, using inclusive design principles to create expansive policies that support ALL employees actually better support equity seeking groups.

On this episode of Just One Q, Dr. Melissa Horne chats with diversity equity and inclusion consultant, executive coach and international speaker, Mr. Jesse Ross. Together, they discuss a more holistic approach to DEI training and why it may be more impactful.

In this episode of Just One Q, Dr. Melissa Horne sits down with Executive Director of Encounter World Religions, Dr. Brian Carwana. Together, they discuss the repercussions of religious illiteracy in the workforce and how businesses can improve. They also dive into the significant payoff businesses experience when their employees can be their authentic selves at work. To keep up with Dr. Brian Car...