Next Generation Leadership

Managing group dynamics is part science, part art – and a lot of attention to detail for the facilitator. “Creating space,” “encouraging engagement,” and “being accountable” are all tall orders, especially for most group leaders, who aren’t trained facilitators but have responsibility for helping the groups they work with function effectively and inclusively.Norms are agreements established at...

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...

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...

My son’s name is Shiloh. It has two meanings: “gift from God” and the other is “peaceful one.” I have no greater longing for my beloved son than to live a life filled with peace, every day with the full awareness of my gratitude for having him in my life. In addition to the meaning, I love that the word is simple, gender-neutral, not too common but still familiar. The process that I used to...

The 1930s United States, particularly the Jim Crow South, was filled with racism and overt segregation. Stereotypes and hate-filled messages were everywhere, including the major channels used to influence cultural thinking, like Hollywood. The blockbuster movie, Birth of a Nation, outrightly claimed “a good lynching.” Others followed, with messages that shaped the discourse and psyche of...

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...