Next Generation Leadership

Cultural competence is a personal skill set. It is the capability to shift cultural perspective and adapt behavior in recognition of cultural commonalities and differences. This competency requires an adjustment in everything - from becoming aware, to developing skills and then modifying behavior. Cultural competence requires a deep cultural self-awareness that derives from continuous education,...

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is all around us, and still a mystery to many. It’s difficult to know where it begins and ends, and what must be present to yield the desired results. Below is an un-checklist of what I consider to be essential ingredients for getting EDI right. None of them can be turned into a “check the box” activity or program, but each is necessary. 1. Philosophy We...

Simply put, your Big Rocks are your priorities. They are your mission-critical objectives, often focused on accomplishments within a given year. Establishing the 3 Big Rocks related to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in your organization will position you for clarity of commitment, efficient resource allocation and maximum impact. Rock 1: Lay a Solid Foundation EDI in most organizations has been...

The spotlight that EDI has received at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos reinforces something many of us already know: it is a priority issue that is top of mind for leaders across industries and the globe. Consistently highlighted is the need for investing and acting beyond surface-level programming–beginning with a “nuanced understanding of root causes”, according to the Lighthouse...

Earlier this week, I had the honor of delivering a keynote presentation at the MLK Day Celebration in Parkland, Florida. Parkland is the community I called home during my first three years in Florida before moving to Miami where I now live. Watch the video to hear the speech that I delivered (mostly).

I have been in the field of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) before there was such a thing. My career began in the 90’s, just as diversity training was really taking off, and then center stage came the backlash against Affirmative Action. As a new field but with a piecemeal approach to its evolution, EDI it’s still coming into its own. A good number of people in the field today fall into one...

This blog was originally published in collaboration with the Forbes Business Council. Workplace expectations for leaders and managers have changed. From my perspective, replacing traditional notions of power are more inclusive values of power sharing and creating space for new voices and access. Amidst these shifts, questions about how to have and use power persist.Consider Your PowerPower is not...

What is your most pressing need with equity, diversity and inclusion in your organization today? We asked People Managers and CEOs what the most pressing issue in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) was in their organizations and received some of their best insights. From creating an inclusive environment for innovation to balancing EDI with meritocracy, there are several needs that are at the...

Hate is a strong word. I know. But in this case, I am standing by my choice of words. In 30 years of experience talking to people who value and are trying to create more inclusion, I have not found evidence that the pros outweigh the cons of using anonymous feedback to solve organizational challenges–from performance management to climate. This is what I hear: “My direct reports were given a...

While thinking about all that you are and have to bring to your clients, colleagues, and employers, consider how they know you add value. My assertion here is that being awesome isn’t enough. Someone else, and hopefully someone who matters, must know exactly what you bring and how it makes you indispensable—irreplaceable if you will. Seth Godin, author and thought leader, describes irreplaceable...