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Living Corporate: Media as Mentorship [336 words]
I often ask my audiences, “What perspectives does your network IGGNORE?” If you’ve read Network Beyond Bias or attended one of my programs, you know that “IGGNORE” is an acronym that represents different aspects of diversity. One great way to learn from different perspectives is to seek out media from non-traditional…
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Stop Wasting Time as a Leader
As a leader, you may find yourself strapped for time, especially when you are juggling clients, team members and the constant flow of work that comes in any leadership position. Learning to manage your time more efficiently, then, is a very valuable lesson for you to learn as a leader.…
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LGBTQ Pride Month: Blog Round-up [181 words]
June is LGBTQ Pride month in the United States, when we honor the bravery of the Stonewall patrons who started the modern LGBTQ rights movement. Led by African-American trans activist Marsha P. Johnson, these heroes took a stand against public humiliation and police brutality. Fifty years later, LGBTQ people still…
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Podcast Hosts: How to Expand Your Reach [219 words]
After more than 40 podcast appearances, I’ve learned a simple trick for hosts to grow their audiences. (I don’t host yet, but when I do, this will be top of mind!) If you host an interview podcast, put your guest’s name in the episode title. Why? Fans of your guest…
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Status Quo: How Male Allies Can Effect Change
I happened to be visiting a city recently where I had family and a couple of meetings. Between engagements, I stopped for some lunch and sat outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. While I was sitting on a bench in a surprisingly not-so-clean park, a gust of wind lifted up…
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Welcoming LGBTQ+ Employees: 6 Strategies [364 words]
Why Should Companies Show They Value LGBTQ+ Employees? Employers know that employees need to bring their full selves to work if they are to contribute at the highest levels. At the same time, research tells us that half of LGBTQ employees are still in the closet at work. (Source: Human Rights Campaign). …
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To Be or Not To Be: Out at Work [321 words]
Many LGBTQ+ employees struggle with whether or not to be out at work. Being out is never a one-time event, but an endless process of social calculation and self-disclosure. On the other hand, staying closeted is exhausting and, for many people, feels dishonest. Clearly, there are no easy answers. If…
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Coming Out as Bisexual in the Insurance Industry [792 words]
In February 2018, I committed to out myself to over 50,000 people, almost entirely at once, as part of an education initiative at a Fortune 100 insurance company. In truth, I had made my decision nearly a year prior and was just waiting to be asked! I don’t go out…
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Insurance Certification Options for Data Analytics [554 words]
Are you an insurance professional looking to boost your résumé with new credentials? Consider a new insurance certification in data analytics. Why Data Analytics? You’ve probably heard a lot lately about big data, predictive modeling, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. These concepts are all possible because of the enormous amounts of…
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Veterans: A High-Potential Talent Pool
In response to my article Job Descriptions: 4 Tips for Attracting Diverse Candidates, reader Jamie Costello asked to write about the importance of hiring veterans in the private sector. His article appears in its entirety, below. Any manager or business owner will tell you that trying to get the right…
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#MeToo Backlash Is Real. And Wrong. [757 words]
Several of my colleagues have asked me — numerous times — to weigh in on the #MeToo Backlash. It seems that some men are retreating into their corner offices and private golf clubs to avoid false accusations of sexism and sexual assault. They have it all wrong. First, A Brief…
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Inclusive Leadership: Make It a Management Priority [429 words]
What Is Inclusive Leadership? Inclusive leadership is a complicated topic. Leadership itself is multifaceted, and we’ve seen a change in leadership over time. Leadership used to be very focused on command-and-control. Then the concept of servant leadership came into vogue, where leadership was about service to the people that you…
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Job Descriptions: Focus on Activities [1201 words]
In response to a recent Lead at Any Level® post regarding job descriptions that attract diverse candidates, Omer Molad at Vervoe offers the following additional advice. (Editor’s note: This content originally appeared on the Vervoe blog and has been republished here at the request of the author.) Here’s how to write a…
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Lead by Example to Create a Learning Culture [890 words]
The whole philosophy behind my business is that leaders can be anywhere and should be everywhere. Sometimes it’s the “de facto” leader on a team, rather than the appointed leader, who sets the pace or raises the bar. So, if you read my article on how leaders can build a learning…
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Imposter Syndrome [518 words]
Take a look at your own resume. Are you qualified, or even overqualified, on paper? Now consider your To Do List. Are you overcompensating for imaginary failings? If you answered yes to these two questions, you may be suffering from impostor syndrome! The Problem: Impostor Syndrome I grew up in a working class…
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You Don’t Have to Be a White Man to Have Privilege [480 words]
I recently read a Quartz article entitled “Until I was a man, I had no idea how good men had it at work,” written by Thomas Page McBee. This piece reinforces other anecdotes (here, here, here, and here) from trans men and women on how they are treated differently — and how their…
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LGBT Business Enterprise (LBGTBE®) Certification [414 words]
Just last week, I announced that Lead at Any Level® has achieved national and regional recognition as a WBENC-Certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE). [blog post contains link to press release] This week, I’m pleased to be recognized by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) as a Certified Diverse Supplier / LGBT…
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Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) Certification
I am excited to announce that Lead at Any Level® has achieved national recognition as a WBENC-certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE)! The full press release is available here: What Is WBE Certification? The Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) certification is bestowed upon businesses that are owned, controlled, and operated by women in the…
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Internal Customer: A Different Perspective [1298 words]
Editor’s note: In an earlier post, I asserted that an internal customer is not really a customer. One of my readers, Emeka Nwonu, took issue with my statement, so I invited him to add his perspective for the blog. The article he submitted in response appears in its entirety below.…
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To Be a Leader, Be an Ally [782 words]
Do You Aspire to Be a Leader? If you aspire to be a leader, you’re not alone. So many corporate employees aspire to leadership roles in their organizations. They seek out high-profile projects, promotions, and executive sponsors. To really stand out in a company, though, you need to stand for…