One of the most important things I have learned about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is the importance of active listening to your employees. And by doing so, you will gain insights that will identify your organisational challenges. Which subsequently will allow you to target your focus areas and tailor your approach to effectively maximising your impact. I think connecting with others is key, as we are all facing similar challenges.
It's just a discussion
If everyone is agreeing with you then you are in an echo chamber and you have just chosen the people to speak to. Controversy is just saying something that someone else just doesn’t agree with. I’m never afraid to speak about any subject that I have knowledge about as I only say things that I believe is fair.
You can book me for workshops, keynote speaking, coaching, DEI trainings or implementation facilitation here.
A pregnancy story
Allyson Felix is the most decorated female track and field athlete in Olympic history, a true great of the sport. Allyson Felix’s Nike contract expired in December 2017, when Felix became pregnant in 2018, Nike asked her to reduce the terms of her contract and take a 70% pay cut, and allegedly they told her to “know your place and run.” Amid all of this, she was forced to have an emergency c-section seven months into her pregnancy because of a potentially life-threatening condition, and her baby had to live for more than a month in the neonatal intensive care unit. Nike and Allyson Felix parted ways in 2019, and created her own brand of running shoes - Saysh One. In 2020, Allyson Felix qualified for her fifth Olympics in Japan wearing her own shoes under the banner “I Know My Place.”
After a broad public outcry and a congressional inquiry, Nike announced a new maternity policy for all sponsored athletes. The new contract guarantees an athlete’s pay and bonuses for 18 months around pregnancy. Subsequently, three other major athletic brands added maternity protections for sponsored athletes.
““Everyone sees the glory moments, but they don’t see what happens behind the scenes.””
Active allyship
Allyship needs to start with an examination of self, to better understand the power, privilege, and access available to you as an individual, as a result of the different identity groups to which you belong. Being an ally also requires deep education about the communities that you’re interested in demonstrating allyship toward. In Denmark, there is a disconnect between how minorities and majority cultures define allyship. The majority culture in Denmark think the most meaningful action they can take is to speak out about gender discrimination, whereas minorities think the best thing an ally can do is advocate for new opportunities. I think that cultural understanding and empathy are crucial for effective allyship efforts in order to have a more inclusive and collaborative approach to addressing issues of inequality and discrimination.
Why is this so difficult?
Intersectionality was coined in 1989 by professor Kimberlé Crenshaw to describe how race, class, gender, and other individual characteristics “intersect” with one another and overlap. For example, I am both Black and a man, so the lived experiences of discrimination from my perspective as a Black man is different from those of a Black woman or a white man’s.
““Intersectionality is a metaphor for understanding the ways that multiple forms of inequality or disadvantage sometimes compound themselves and create obstacles that often are not understood among conventional ways of thinking.””
The overlap
In recent months, our focus has been on exploring how a deep understanding of intersectionality can enhance the sense of belonging in the Danish workplace. We've developed a comprehensive framework that emphasises the difference between equality and equity, and we've introduced an identity wheel as a tool to actively support marginalised groups. Our next step is to finalise the framework and begin testing it within focused groups comprising leaders and managers. Our ultimate goal is to enhance decision-making processes and foster more meaningful interpersonal connections.
Speaking about it with humour
The American comedian, Andrew Schulz performs in front of audiences who are completely mixed in every sense, they are properly represented and diverse. Schulz solves the diversity problem in a rather interesting way, not by pretending that touchy subjects like race or gender don't exist but by highlighting the distinctions and taking the "mickey" out of them. Perhaps from a creative point of view this is a better way to incorporate the diversity with humour rather than being politically correct and skipping around the topics. Do you pretend to make people not notice ethnic differences? Are you anxious in the presence of any of those differences, or do you acknowledge them and make light of them?
Depending on your experience
c/o LinkedIn
We all have biases, as it's these biases that allow our brains to sort through vast amounts of material very quickly. While some biases are conscious, others operate at an unconscious level. In an ideal world we would not have to justify the necessity of discussing diversity as a business case, but for some leaders’ economics is the only language they understand. And in some cases I think this is the only way to underscore the need for dialogue as we strive for greater inclusivity within our communities and workplaces.
Understanding ageism
The most recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) describes ageism as encompassing stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination based on age, affecting both individuals and groups across various stages of life and professional development. One can portray these components further to understand how age-based biases manifest in different dimensions:
- How we think? (stereotypes)
- How we feel? (prejudice)
- How we act? (discrimination)
I think ageism can affect individuals at every stage of their career and is prevalent across diverse industries and sectors. It’s a relevant diversity topic and in the future, we will see its impact on society as a whole.
International Women's Day
Not all disabilities are visible
When you look at people with disabilities, it’s a very big group especially when you think that not all disabilities are visible. What are you doing to reflect that part of diversity in your workplace? You have to look at the lack of accessibility and look at how to create accessible solutions, as having diversity in the people who create those solutions keeps you honest. Contact me via e-mail when you are ready to discuss how to be part of the modern workplace.
Pushing your comfort zone
I love engaging in conversations with individuals whom others might not expect me to engage with, such as racists or misogynistic men. I find it intriguing to delve into their perspectives as I am genuinely curious about the underlying reasons for their beliefs. I think by understanding the motivations behind their thinking, we can work towards a wider understanding and appreciation of diverse viewpoints. Perhaps you should also consider trying it, as variety is the spice of life, and pushing your comfort zone can help us all demonstrate tolerance when faced with opposing viewpoints.
““Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.””
Satisfy your interests
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) can be divided into two distinct parts, positions and interests, as they serve as the profound lens through which we understand human dynamics. Positions are the things we say we want to achieve within DE&I initiatives, for example, advocating for equal pay, diverse representation in leadership, or implementing inclusive policies. However, beneath these explicit stances lie the intricate web of interests: the intricate tapestry of motivations, insecurities, aspirations, and historical contexts that shape our perspectives and fuel our advocacy. On the other hand, interests delve into the nuanced nuances of human experience, exploring the depths of our collective psyche to uncover the underlying desires for belonging, respect, and fairness. They are the silent orchestrators of our outward expressions, guiding our choices and actions as we navigate the complex terrain of diversity and inclusion. I think to truly comprehend the essence of DE&I efforts, one must excavate beyond the surface-level declarations of positions and delve into the rich landscape of interests, where the true essence of human connection and understanding resides.
Employee responsibility (part two)
How can employees tackle the topic of diversity and inclusion?
I think understanding diversity and inclusion requires a nuanced approach that acknowledges the complexity of human experience. Rather than viewing diversity solely through the lens of distinct categories like gender or ethnicity, it's crucial to recognise the interconnectedness of these identities. For example, the workplace experiences of women can vary significantly depending on factors such as geographical location or socioeconomic background. And in this context, fostering inclusion becomes paramount in harnessing the true potential of diversity.
Employee responsibility (part one)
What concrete steps can employees take to enhance diversity and inclusion?
There are several ways employees can play an active role in creating an inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Employees can take concrete steps to enhance diversity and inclusion in the workplace by first recognising role models who embody these principles, serving as inspiration and exemplifying the value of embracing differences. I think by improving dialogue and awareness around intersectionality and acknowledging the interconnectedness of various dimensions of diversity like race, gender, age, and socio-economic status will help to create an inclusive environment where all perspectives are valued. Also, by highlighting the practical advantages of diverse teams, such as heightened innovation and problem-solving capabilities, reinforces the business case for diversity and encourages broader participation. Finally, by facilitating open discussions and knowledge-sharing forums allows employees to exchange successful strategies and approaches this will provide a culture of continuous learning and improvement in promoting diversity and inclusion.
Reshaping global value chains
While much attention has been directed towards the 'E' (Environmental) and 'G' (Governance) aspects of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), the interpretation of the 'S' (Social) dimension has varied widely. I think that 'S' largely revolves around risk mitigation, but there's a noticeable shift towards promoting pro-social behaviour, with supply chain diversity emerging as a significant focal point. The stringent governance processes pose significant barriers to entry for small entrepreneurs, as well as female and minority-led businesses, making it challenging for them to break into the market. Without implementing structural changes in how larger companies engage with suppliers, streamline onboarding processes, and provide technological support, we'll continue to struggle with supplier diversity challenges. Supplier diversity is a crucial component of the 'S' in ESG and has been lagging behind. However, during discussions at Børsen (Copenhagen) on Monday, I heard about a few promising developments, including partnerships between companies, government organisations, and NGOs aimed at addressing this gap.
Better decision making
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Finding the right candidates
There is an immense potential in leveraging diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a competitive advantage. The technological advancement within recruitment is a massive opportunity to access different talent pools and foster a more inclusive environment within HR departments. Approaching candidate evaluation with fresh perspectives not only brings about diverse viewpoints but also highlights the value of varied identities and opinions. Numerous studies emphasise the correlation between DEI and enhanced business performance. For example, Forbes research claims, “Inclusive teams make better business decisions up to 87% of the time.” I think it's crucial to acknowledge that DEI initiatives will only produce meaningful results if they are backed by a truly inclusive organisational culture. And without such a culture, DEI efforts risk being mere lip service. Contact me here or via e-mail when you are ready to upscale and develop your leadership, culture, and people to truly have inclusive behaviours.
Frame of reference
Does one person or one image describe a whole community?
Communities bring people with similar characteristics and common interests together. There are many ways to think about community, for example, we can look at a community from a system, social, virtual, or individual perspective. From an individual perspective, a poster with a LGBTQ+ or a black guy is not representative of the community, even if they hold a significant role or embody its collective identity.
I think that it's a huge responsibility to be Black in Denmark, and I would like to put in a disclaimer now, as my experience is not the same as every Black person’s experience as everyone has a unique experience.
Diverse talent
If you don’t focus on recruiting diverse talent then obviously, you’re not going to have diverse talent, and ultimately, you won’t have a diverse organisation. Diversity is a business imperative and recruiters play a key role. I think diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) will be a continuous focus area for recruiters especially because more and more candidates will make job choices based on their assessment of a company’s visible DEI commitments.