Race in the Workplace with Joanna Shoffner Scott, Ph.D.

Topics discussed in this episode: 1- What you can expect from this season of the podcast. [0:00:50] 2- Why do organizations ask for ten years of DEI experience when hiring for DEI roles [0:02:13]  3 - The three categories of DEI experience that Joanna has identified. [0:02:34] 4- Why function or an organizational ‘why’ should be used to frame hiring decisions for DEI roles. [0:03:08] 5- Organizati...

"What does it take for an organization to cultivate a sustainable racial equity practice?” This is my guiding question for this season of the podcast. In Season 2, I will use a mix of solo and guest episodes to explore leadership opportunities, strengths, and challenges to maintaining racial equity as a practice. My guests will share their leadership experiences and stories of how they came i...

Here is a Glance into this Episode: 1- Why it’s important to spend more time on adaptive work upfront. [0:02:12] 2- Two significant sources of trauma in the workplace. [0:05:11] 3- The lack of support for DEI work. [0:12:04] 4- The positive progress many organizations are making in their DEI journey. [0:15:42] 6- What Joanna learned about walking in courage. [0:17:11] 7- The importance of understa...

1- The important question organizational learning spaces pose: The equity ‘why.’ [0:02:34] 2- Always connect learning to larger organizational priorities. [0:06:00] 3- Why staff of color should not teach others from their lived experiences. [0:06:57] 4- The questions you need to ask yourself when planning learning spaces. [0:11:25] 5- The importance of holding staff accountable for organizational...

Here is a Glance into this Episode: 1- An introduction to McKay Chamberlain. [0:01:17] 2-  McKay’s connection to justice and belonging and how this led them into this line of work. [0:03:03] *3- TW: For listeners who wish to avoid the topic of infant death and loss, skip audio from [0:05:49] to [07:53]. How infant mortality in Kansas impacted McKay’s journey. [0:05:49] 4- The difference between te...

Topics discussed in this episode: 1- What is resistance and its power to disrupt racial equity strategies [0:01:46] 2-  Four examples of resistance from Joanna’s public policy background. [0:03:52] 3- Guidance on how to unpack resistance, starting with understanding the fear that often causes it. [0:07:38] 4- Two things that happen when resistance isn't confronted. [0:13:00] 5- Four strategie...

Here is a Glance into this Episode: 1- An introduction to Anthony Armstrong and the work that he does. [0:01:13] 2- The importance of being willing to adapt and pivot in this line of work. [0:05:02] 3- The detour that led Anthony into this line of work and how he uses this when helping his clients. [0:08:31] 4- The intersection between race, place, and access to opportunities. [0:16:54] 5- Anthony...

Here is a glance into this episode:   [2:31] Two fundamentals guide my approach to racial equity. 1- The first fundamental is adopting racial equity as a practice is everyone’s job. That means whatever a person’s role is in an organization, there are actions that they can take to help the organization be more equitable, no matter what they do. 2- The second fundamental that guides my work with cli...

Here is a glance into this episode: [4:07] Is your organization attempting to hire with diversity aspirations in mind? Often, organizations want to use hiring as an opportunity to increase diversity within their organizations. It is important to do the structural work first, which includes looking at your processes: decision-making, feedback loops, and workflows.   [5:09] Internal culture contribu...

Episode 005: How to Hire a DEI Consultant My best guidance is to find a consultant partner whose perspective and expertise align with your organization’s desired outcomes. It is not uncommon for organizations looking for a consultant partner to be unclear about what they need. Generally, there is a pain point or an immediate problem that leaders want to resolve. For example, it’s been my experienc...

It’s been my experience that each new stage of an organization’s racial equity journey requires something new and different. If you are leading diversity, equity, and inclusion inside your organization and are finding yourself constantly frustrated, it could be that your organization has hit a readiness gap. By that I mean, it’s progressed to a new growth stage that it isn’t quite ready for yet. I...

It’s happening. Your leadership decides to declare the organization is anti-racist. Now what? Did the communications team already post on social media and blast the email list? Were you brought in to consult on the language in your DEI role? When an organization publicly declares itself anti-racist, DEI practitioners are the first people I think of. Your job just became 50% harder. Public Relation...

Episode Title:  How to Plan Your DEI Growth Journey It is easy to forget yourself.  DEI practitioners spend significant time helping organizations and institutions map out how to achieve their equity goals. But do you do the same for your personal growth journey? In 2021, I realized this was a missing piece for me. I have invested a lot of time in my business, and I’m proud of my journey as a DEI...

Episode Summary This episode is about setting boundaries for yourself in your DEI role. If you are a DEI practitioner, it is about knowing when to stick it out or pack it up. If you are tasked with making DEI a reality, you may find yourself stuck in the gap between your commitment and your organization’s inaction. You are not alone if you are spinning your wheels and close to burnout. To Take Act...

To Take Action: If you learned even one thing you didn't know before listening to the episode, leave me a + review on Apple Podcasts . 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 If you liked this episode, you will LOVE my Race in the Workplace newsletter. Check it out here: https://newsletter.stameystreet.com/ Want to learn more about my work with leaders? Visit stameystreet.com About Your Host Dr. Joanna Shoffner Scott is...