Question: What’s the difference between a mentor, a sponsor, an ally, and an advocate? I want to help underrepresented colleagues succeed but am confused about what these terms mean. Answer: You already signaled your intent: you want to do the right thing by helping underrepresented colleagues succeed. Let’s stop here… Read More
Question: The diversity industry has been around since the 1960s. Yet, many organizations have little to show for their diversity efforts. So my question is, what actually keeps organizations from being more diverse, equitable, and inclusive? Surely it can’t be a lack of resources. Answer: The foundation of today’s… Read More
How Can We Bring Women Back Into The Workforce Question: At the start of the pandemic, many companies offered strategic ‘outs’ for employees (including unpaid leave and insurance-only furloughs) to avoid traditional layoffs. They seemed like win-win scenarios—companies could save money on salaries and employees could technically stay employed. However,… Read More
Do The Merits of Paid Leave Hold Up? Question: Should paid maternity leave be mandatory for companies with more than 100 employees? Answer: No, because it should be paid caregiver leave and all employees should have access to it—regardless of the size of their employer. A quick note on nomenclature:… Read More
In 1915, a half a century after the abolishion of slavery, Carter G. Woodson and Minister Jesse E. Morland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). This organization was created to research and celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black American’s. This group celebrated its… Read More
Does Calling Out Bias Make You Thin-Skinned? Question: I just completed a new-hire onboarding that included videos on promoting diversity at work. One issue the videos didn’t talk about was how to ID bias without coming across as thin-skinned. I’m a WOC and this is my biggest concern when it… Read More
Years ago, I recognized that my personal motivation largely centered around growth and learning. I started saying things like “I consider myself an unfinished product” and “there is no destination, only journey.” I sought to frame a construct I could use to understand myself better and ended with one that… Read More
CAREER TRANSITION COACHING GOAL Jennifer* was at a professional crossroads. She had experienced a disruption to her career and needed to determine what her next steps would be, professionally and personally. She wanted to reconnect to what matters most in her leadership and life, rediscover her professional identity, clarify the… Read More
As you develop your 2021 marketing strategy and adapt your team to fit the changing needs of your business, you may consider outsourcing. Here are the top three considerations when choosing to engage with an ad agency or freelance talent. Flexibility & Fire Drills. Freelancers and ad agencies are… Read More
As we enter the third month of the global pandemic, the crisis continues and uncertainty remains high. These unprecedented times amplify the VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity) environment in a way that we could never have imagined a few short weeks ago. And while budgets are cut and spending scrutinized,… Read More