Next Generation Leadership

One of my favorite people on this planet is Halim Flowers. Halim is an artist, writer, fashion designer, father, husband, influencer, and a friend.

DeEtta Jones & Associates is excited to announce Cyrus Stewart has been appointed Learning and Development Manager. Cyrus will lead DJA’s world-class array of learning and professional development solutions, including our flagshipInclusive Manager’s Toolkit, new offerings like theInclusive Facilitation Train-the-Trainerand Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Certification program, and the highly...

For the life of me, I couldn’t find that damn tooth. Where could it have gone? The mob descended on us, on him, exactly where I was standing. I can’t believe I lost his tooth. It’s always felt like my fault. I’m clearly too Black to be with a white guy. Don’t you know your place, your lane? I’m clearly too white, with my blond-haired, blue-eyed mom and dad who marries white women. You talk like...

I wasn’t raised celebrating holidays but fell in love with them as an adult. Growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness allowed such mixed blessings in my childhood. I was enveloped by the religion’s most earnest expressions of brotherly love. Worldly pursuits are unimportant to Witnesses; therefore, everyone around me was either poor or living modestly while abundant in faith, love, and generosity. My...

Only 13% of employees feel that their leaders are transparent in their communication. Organizations with transparent communication have 47% higher employee engagement. Only 17% of employees believe their organizations are transparent about decision-making processes. Are any of these statistics startling to you? Transparency is one of the most used words and requested acts by employees...

New York Times International Edition, November 11, headline reads Business leaders tread lightly on Gaza war. It goes on to explain why it is so difficult for leaders to comment on the lack of knowledge about the history of the conflict, the inability to point to one, and only one, clear victim, fear of appearing either antisemitic or Islamophobic, and concern about negative financial...

I have such mixed feelings about being a “DEI practitioner.” The label is too small, too narrow for our work. These three letters are consistently misunderstood, undervalued, and often lack alignment with real strategic impact on organizations. People with real power to make ongoing investments view the work of inclusion as “optional,” lacking a clean and immediate “ROI,” and “in addition to our...

On Saturday, October 7, Israel was attacked by Hamas. Since then, many have been glued to every sort of media, watching the narratives unfold. Bombings, death, tears, outrage, protests–a conflict that is distantly familiar to some, while frighteningly close to others. And this is a conflict deeply felt and genuinely steeped in complexity. Some of us have strongly held viewpoints while others...

As the nation has devoted more attention to racial and social injustice, that lens has also turned to inequalities and disparities in the workplace. Organizations have reacted, clamoring to increase and improve their diversity efforts. After the flurry of activity, now might be the time you ask yourself, what do I do now? Keep moving forward! And we want to help in any way we can. Earlier this...

By Melissa Lamson & Jennie Walker