Articles
Get Off the Diversity Diet Hamster Wheel
Published January 5, 2021- LinkedIn
I challenge you to not let your focus on DEI go the way of neglected gym memberships and failed diets. There are so many ways that dieting and DEI efforts are similar and unfortunately, those similarities are often what cause both to fail.
Black Lives Matter is NOT a
Marketing Trend
Published July 14, 2020 - Yahoo News
I feel strongly that marketing executives are the gatekeepers of brands and they have a duty to ensure that Black Lives Matter is not used as just a one-off campaign, but as a catalyst to make real change from internal practices, to being seen as a company where Black talent is represented, supported, and has a voice. While the "trend" of posting BLM statements is starting to slow down, the real work must be ongoing.
Published July 6, 2020 - LinkedIn
It has been one year since legislation was passed first in California making it illegal to discriminate against a person in the workplace or in schools because of their natural or protective hairstyle. This conversation is more relevant now than ever as society is waking up to the reality of systemic racism in workplaces that has gone unchecked for too long and undermines the success of Black people. If companies say they want people to be their “authentic selves” at work, then they are going to have to extend that to the authenticity of Black hair.
Do Better: From Empathy to Action
Published May 14, 2020 - LinkedIn
The outpouring of support from my recent post following the news of Ahmaud Arbery was unexpected and greatly appreciated. All I have to give is my authentic voice. My hope is that leaders will hear the call to action to DO BETTER. To continue the conversation and provide additional guidance of what "Doing Better" looks like, I've penned an article with three key tips on moving from empathy to action: Acknowledge. Ask. Listen.
Creating Inclusive Workplaces in Today’s New Norm
Published March 3, 2020
The lines between work-life and home-life are 100% blurred as companies are asking everyone to work from home, schools are closing and we’re practicing social distancing. It is easy for people who already felt "othered"[1] in the office to feel even more distance from the team. This can lead to increased fear around job security, decreased productivity, and ultimately, decreases in retention. […] It is more important now than ever to practice inclusion.
Autism Acceptance in Society & Work
Published April 3, 2018 - Tableau Blog
When I started at Tableau, I joined the Diversity and Inclusion team as I sought a safe space among others who are often underrepresented. Through Tableau’s #VisualizeDiversity initiative, I’ve engaged with people who also enjoy celebrating and educating people about differences and similarities. This week, I met a colleague, Jimmy, and he opened my eyes to his experiences as an Autistic person. I appreciate that he allowed me to capture and share some of our conversation.