The Intersection

Welcome back to The Intersection Podcast. In this episode, I am speaking with Dr. Lisa Bowleg. Lisa Bowleg, PhD, MA, is a leading scholar of the application of intersectionality to social and behavioral science health research. She is Professor of Applied Social Psychology in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the George Washington University (GW) and a Co-Director of the Social...

Welcome back to another episode of "What's on Your Mind," where we delve into your most pressing DEJI questions.  In this week's episode, we discuss Moving beyond performative DEIJ Doing your own inner work - why as a leader you must to do you own work to effectively create change in your organization  Why it’s no longer acceptable (not that it ever was) to rely on employees to...

Whether we like it or not,  in today's current climate conversations about DEIJ can be polarizing.  What if you had a framework to navigate those conversations?   In this week's episode with Dr. Ahmmad Brown (more about him below), we delve into: Effective strategies for communicating about DEIJ that help with “diversity fatigue” and encourages leaders to engage in conversation.   The In...

In this week’s episode, Bernadette Smith joins us. She is the founder and CEO of Equality Institute and the award-winning author of four books, including the bestseller Inclusive 360: Proven Solutions for an Equitable Organization. Bernadette has been named one of Chicago’s Notable LGBTQ Executives by Crain’s Chicago Business and hosts the weekly podcast 5 Things in 15 Minutes: Bringing Good Vibes...

In this week’s episode, Nancy shares several reasons why your DEI training is not having the impact it could have and what you can do to move from performative to sustainable change. She shares a powerful client example that demonstrates how you can create policies and processes that operationalize your traininig. “Before investing money, time, energy and resources in any type of training be it DE...

On this week's episode, we’re talking the talk, and walking the walk! We’ll be talking about actually building the processes to reflect our values in our organizations to create more equitable spaces for POC and women.  “Business leaders thought that if they gave an inch, everybody was gonna take a mile, right? That if they made any sort of a concession that the whole system was gonna break.,...

This week we’re going back to The Intersection archives and discussing the limiting beliefs that make up imposter syndrome   “A lot of people recognize the concept of imposter syndrome, but what they don’t identify is that these limiting beliefs that we learn and internalize throughout our lives come from a patriarchal system,” Michelle Mokert comments.  Michelle Morkert is a coach and Global Gend...

I’m excited to introduce a new series called "What's on Your Mind?" where I answer your questions related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in the workplace. This week, I’m addressing the common feeling of being stuck that many individuals and organizations face when trying to implement change in these areas. I also identify three key factors that could be causing this st...

What’s the difference between DEI and antiracism? I’m excited to welcome back Christian Harris to dive into this topic. Christian is a DEI consultant, coach, and community advocate who is dedicated to promoting equity and justice. In the past, he has run for political office, served on several non-profit boards, and pushed forward grassroots policy initiatives. We'll be discussing the nuances...

What are you carrying in your invisible knapsack that you need to unpack? In today's episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Emily Roh, an antiracist coach and facilitator and the founder of My Invisible Knapsack. Emily's passion for social justice and equity is evident in the work she does, and she shares her journey to becoming an advocate for change. With her unique perspective...

Being clear is being kind. Establishing clarity about where your organization is heading will help everyone understand what they should be doing and even who should stay or leave. Tania Bhattacharyya, founder of Lumos Marketing and host of the Campfire Circle podcast, defines vision and its importance in equitable and inclusive leadership. In this week’s episode, we discuss:Advocacy vs. activism....

In this final episode of the 2022 season of The Intersection, I’m reflecting on the highs and lows and previewing exciting changes in the new year. The loss of my dad made last year quite challenging and painful. My dad inspired my passion and commitment to DEI and social justice. I am honored and empowered to carry on his legacy. A heartfelt thank you to all the guests who have shared their time...

How often have I heard the phrase, "we just can’t  find diverse talent.” It’s a statement that bothers me because it’s not true. It may require effort or not defaulting to how things are always done. In this week's episode, Jennifer Tardy and I disrupt this myth and give you actionable steps.  Let me tell you about Jennifer Tardy.  She is the  founder and CEO of Jennifer Tardy Consulting...

Historically, women, and black women, in particular, have been treated in ways that actively hinder their professional development. Laura Knights, founder and CEO of Knights Consulting LLC, joins me to discuss the systemic barriers and what we can do to dismantle them. You’ll hear us discussing ideas, such as:The glass ceiling. This concept does not accurately describe the experience of black wome...

We live in a time where separating life and work is impossible.  What happens outside of the workplace impacts how we show up in our roles. Especially when it comes to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. Tamara Page, Head of BP’s Western Hemisphere Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, joins me to discuss the power of speaking up and creating space for vulnerable conversations.  In this...

Good intentions make little impact where lasting change is concerned. You must work to make your intentions a reality. Sonya Kaleel, founder of The Inclusion Practice and adjunct faculty for Northwestern University’s Leading Equity & Inclusion in Organizations Masters Program, joins me to discuss the importance of moving beyond intention to taking action. In today's episode, we explore:In...

Culture change is about operationalizing your values, asking for input, and adapting when something is no longer working. Leaders at every level should be culture champions in their organizations. Rich Johnson, VP of Global Leadership Development at Spaulding Ridge and one of Crain’s Chicago Business 22 notable executives in DEI, joins me to explore if culture can be scaled and, if so, what that l...

Balance, readiness and change. We say we want to embrace DEI, but are we ready? In order to create a workplace where we can all thrive, we must walk the fine line between personal and organizational readiness for change. Shawntal Mallory, attorney, professor, and Executive Director of the Nebraska Legal Diversity Council, joins me today to talk about the challenges and objections to discussing DEI...

Belonging is integral to DEI, yet not enough focus is placed on it. Companies often unintentionally block themselves from creating cultures of belonging, which affects the way their employees show up at work. Gisele Marcus, Professor of Practice in DEI at Washington University in St. Louis, joins me to explore belonging and inclusion and how companies can start being intentional about fostering it...

We do our best work when we can show up as our whole selves, but there are usually several obstacles when we do. It’s especially difficult when your identity has historically not been centered in the workplace we exist in today. The workplace was designed around a very specific set of identity factors, and the further away you are from those factors, the less chance you have to win the game - whic...

This episode is a replay of one of the year's most popular episodes. Enjoy!“We talk about diversity, equity and inclusion as if it’s a program or a series of dashboards with an endpoint,” Betsy Leonard remarks, “when what we’re really doing is transforming the very water we swim in and the very air we breathe. It’s never-ending work.”Betsy Leonard is Executive Director of Kartemquin Films, an...

This episode is a replay of one of the year's most popular episodes. Enjoy!“Meritocracy is a myth. It suggests that your success is based solely on your work ethic, your grit, your resilience, your ability to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and go make something of yourself,” John says. “I would suggest that there has [historically] been no one who has worked harder in this country than a...

“A lot of the malaise happens because there’s a reconfiguration of the internal goals that you set in your younger years and the reality [that] you may not be where you thought you were going to be,” Adrion Porter shares. “You have the traffic jams of life coming at you… at the same time.”Adrion Porter is the founder of Mid-Career Mastery, a platform dedicated to building the most powerful persona...

“If you’re an advocate for organizational justice and workplace equity, you need to be looking through that lens in your day-to-day operations as well,” Melissa Horne shares. “These are big systems that we’re all working with, but we can resist when we’re intentional about it.”Melissa Horne is Director of Business Growth and Development at Dialect, an inclusive workplace learning company creating...

“When we are fearful and isolate ourselves from other people who might not see things or believe in things as we do, we create fissures in our society,” Jeanne McInerney shares, “and those fissures weaken us as a city, as a country, and as individuals.”Jeanne McInerney is Board President at Heal Chicago, a nonprofit that creates life-changing workshops that reduce bias and promote equity by develo...