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e009. Just Getting Started with Blessing Allison
Blessing Allison (she/her) is the Director of Learning & Development at Red River Federal Credit Union. Based in Texarkana, Texas, Red River Federal Credit Union employs over 350 local residents to manage over $1 billion in assets. Their membership is over 110,000 strong. In this episode, Blessing talks about the…
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e008. Grounding Principles w/ Jen Mahone-Rightler
Jen Mahone-Rightler is the Global Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Wellness at Epsilon. Epsilon is a global advertising and marketing technology company with 8,000 associates in over 40 countries around the world. In this episode, Jen explains how a grounding in core principles…
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e007. Building with Intention w/Jorge Quezada
Jorge Quezada (he/him) is the Vice President of People & Culture for Granite Construction, one of the largest full-service general contractors, construction management firms, and construction materials producers in the U.S. The 100-year-old company employs thousands of tradespeople and professionals across the country. In this episode, Jorge explains how a…
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Diverse Suppliers: Why to Engage (and How!) [612 words]
Does your company have a supplier diversity program? These programs benefit big corporations, small businesses, and entire communities. Leaders at any level need to understand why these programs matter, and how to leverage them. And if you need help launching or improving your Supplier Diversity program, check out my recommendations…
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Formal Mentoring Program Improves Culture [464 words]
Do you want to foster stronger working relationships in your organization? A formal mentoring program can be a powerful tool for attracting and retaining talent. Mentors provide access to growth and development opportunities through meaningful connections. We also know that mentoring improves culture, both from a broad HR perspective, as…
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e006. Modeling Transparency with Iveliz Crespo
Iveliz Crespo (they/them) is a Senior Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisor at Reed Smith LLP. Reed Smith is an international law firm dedicated to helping clients navigate their businesses through complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters. The firm spans 30 offices with 3,000 people, including 1,700 lawyers. Episode Preview…
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e005. Execution Frameworks with Kira Kimball
Kira Kimball (she/her) serves as the national Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer for Marsh McLennan Agency. Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA) provides business insurance, employee health & benefits, retirement, and private client insurance solutions to organizations and individuals seeking limitless possibilities. With nearly 9,000 colleagues and 160 offices across the…
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e004. Community Outreach with Ralph Smithers, Jr.
Ralph Smithers (He/Him) is the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Relations Leader for Encova Insurance. Encova provides workers compensation and other commercial insurance, as well as auto, home, and life insurance for individuals. Encova employs 1200 associates and serves clients in 29 states. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio.…
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e003. Talent Pipeline with Charles Watkins
Charles Watkins is the Chief Diversity Officer and Equity Partner at Kubicki Draper, a full-service law firm with over 200 attorneys serving clients in Florida, and the southern parts of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. In addition to his work with Kubicki, Mr. Watkins serves as the Treasurer of the National…
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e002. Inclusion by Design with Dr. Rayshawn Eastman
Dr. Rayshawn Eastman is the Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Title IX Coordinator at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Mount, as it’s called locally, serves about 2000 students each with a faculty, staff, and adjunct population of about 400 employees. Episode Preview In this episode, Dr.…
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e001. Trust to Transformation with Taheti Watson
Taheti Watson serves as the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Canopy Children’s Solutions. Founded in 1912, Canopy Children’s Solutions provides behavioral health resources, education, and social services to help children and families thrive, despite extraordinary challenges. Canopy is a non-profit organization with 500 employees in Jackson, Mississippi. Episode…
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Sneak Preview: “Including You” Launches June 23
Do you want to further inclusion in your organization? Are you looking for ways to keep your employees…and keep them engaged? Are you ready to attract and retain diverse leaders for a sustainable competitive advantage? Then you won’t want to miss a single episode of our new video and audio…
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Worker Shortage: Where Did 5 Million Workers Go? [876 words]
In late Q1 2022, we began to hear about a significant worker shortage. A March 29 CNBC report showed that the U.S. had 5 million more open positions than available workers. I’ve heard lots of people (many of them either hiring managers or retirees) complain that people are lazy and…
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Keeping Employees Engaged through Change [368 words]
How do you keep your employees engaged through change? You are probably implementing several changes right now in your workplace. Chances are, you’ve adopted at least some tools from the organizational change management (OCM) toolbox. Create awareness about the need for change. Build desire around the outcomes of the change.…
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Diversity & Inclusion: “Where Do I Begin?” [536 words]
Many executives tell me they want to “do something about diversity and inclusion” in their companies, but don’t know where to begin. The steps are similar to those of any other major strategic initiative. But leaders tend to put off this work. Maybe their fear of doing the wrong thing…
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e000. Including You Podcast: An Exclusive Invitation for Inclusive Executives
Are you a Chief Diversity Officer or other executive who’s working intentionally to create an inclusive culture in your organization? If so, I’d like to invite you to be a guest on my new podcast, Including You, where we’ll talk about what’s going well with your Diversity & Inclusion efforts.…
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Women’s Events: Empowerment or Exploitation? [1144 words]
Now that we’re back live and in-person, several organizers of women’s events have asked me to speak. I love delivering keynotes and workshops, especially when my content can change the lives of women and other people who have been marginalized. But I don’t always say yes to these “opportunities.” Here’s…
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Neurodivergent, Disabled, and Highly Qualified for the Job [1228 words]
Editor’s Note: A colleague submitted this article for publication by Lead at Any Level®. She asked us not to disclose her identity. While we have edited the article to improve SEO and comply with editorial guidelines, we have tried to retain the author’s voice. Few things are more frustrating than…
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Are You Networking across Generations? [586 words]
Workforce generations will shift dramatically by 2030. Future-proof your career by networking across generations. The generational mix of the workforce is projected to shift dramatically by 2030. Baby Boomers are retiring from (or being pushed out of) the workforce at higher rates. The first Generation Z professionals have already graduated…