Inclusion Is an Opportunity!

While Twitter/X may be off some people's radar due to its ownership change in 2023, I continue to meet and be inspired by interesting thought leaders on that platform. I recently met Ruchika Malhotra, read her book about inclusion, and invited her to participate in a Q&A here on my blog. Highlights of our discussion follow a brief introduction, but first, today is an appropriate day to feature Ruchika.

That's because today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. According to Wikipedia, "The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an annual observance adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to promote the full and equal access and participation of women and girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The United Nations General Assembly passed resolution 70/212 on 22 December 2015, which proclaimed the 11th day of February as the annual commemoration of the observance. A theme is selected annually to highlight a particular focus and area of discussion around a focus point for gender equality in science."

Ruchika Malhotra, an award-winning inclusion strategist and speaker, is CEO and Founder of Candour, which works with organizations to create diverse teams and inclusive cultures. A former business journalist, she has reported from four countries and writes regularly on inclusive leadership for the Harvard Business Review. She was named to the Thinkers50 list, a global ranking described by the Financial Times as the "Oscars of management thinking."

QUESTION: What are three take-aways you hope all readers will have after reading your book? ("Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work")

RUCHIKA MALHOTRA: Here are my three take-aways:

1. I really hope that managers, leaders, and employees at all levels take time to reflect on, learn, build awareness, get uncomfortable and only then take action towards creating a more inclusive workplace. Good intentions don't always lead to good outcomes.

2. I'd love for a key takeaway to be that we all have a role to play in creating an inclusive environment; it's not just HR or a CEO's job.

3. When I think about the biggest opportunity for meaningful change from an intersectional lens, it is to ensure that Black, Indigenous and other people of color are at the forefront of any major effort around creating culture and belonging.

QUESTION: Please briefly explain your "BRIDGE Framework."

RUCHIKA MALHOTRA: I believe inclusion is a mindset, it's not just hardwired in us, and it requires ongoing, intentional work.

To cultivate an inclusion mindset, you have to ground yourself in a growth mindset. Carol Dweck, author of "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success," has shown that success hinges on believing that you can learn and grow in the face of challenges. By contrast, a fixed mindset keeps us stuck and shying away from challenges, believing our talents are innate rather than developed through practice and perseverance.

Cultivating an inclusion mindset requires us to BRIDGE the gap between our good intentions and true impact. To do this, we must:

~Be ok with being uncomfortable.

~Reflect on what you don't know.

~Invite feedback.

~Don't get defensive.

~Grow from your mistakes.

~Expect that change takes time.

QUESTION: I will never forget one extreme example of online harassment detailed in your book. What actions can women take to stop these types of situations from happening?

(The example was this: The online social media platform Pinterest promoted slave plantations as wedding and event venues, and when an employee discovered that fact and told her manager, she was harassed, her performance was dinged, her pay was affected, and her personal info was posted online.)

RUCHIKA MALHOTRA: I believe that an ally is a verb, not a noun. It's not who you are, it's what you do. To practice allyship means asking: How do I plan to intervene when I see someone being harmed because of their identities? How does my privilege allow me to stand up for them?

In the example of Pinterest in my book, it would be going up to leaders at the organization and standing in solidarity with the woman of color who was harmed, demanding change, and especially, ensuring her pay and position were restored. Too many of us passively stand by thinking that just because we believe in justice in theory, we don't take action in practice to stand up for justice. That's precisely how we perpetuate injustice and harm.

SHARE THIS: To practice allyship means asking: How do I plan to intervene when I see someone being harmed because of their identities? How does my privilege allow me to stand up for them? ~@rtulshyan #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: When I was in graduate school in the mid-1990's in San Francisco, one of my tenured professors said to the class, "Women don't belong in grad school. They belong at home in the kitchen." How would you have responded if you had been in my shoes?

RUCHIKA MALHOTRA: I would have walked out and reported them. I don't believe in getting into arguments with people who hold these views. Only when people are willing to listen and learn with an open mind do I get into these discussions – women should not have to prove our humanity or worth to anyone.

QUESTION: In your book, you wrote, "Reading fiction or watching a film that portrays a life very different from ours can help build empathy. When we can temporarily step out of what's familiar and immerse ourselves in the shoes of someone different from us, it can have a strong impact on how empathetic we feel toward others. Research also suggests that we can be better attuned to the social and emotional lives of others by consuming fiction." Therefore, what are some of your favorite works of fiction, and why - and what was the last novel you read?

RUCHIKA MALHOTRA: These are fiction works I come back to really often:

1. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, on how the intergenerational effects of slavery and trauma impact the characters in her book for generations and how that has such a material impact on their present.

2. Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue. In general, I've been trying to read more novels from authors from the African continent and diaspora, as I am aware how much our culture lacks accurate representation and portrayals of people from that continent.

3. Anything by Jasmine Guillory. People might be surprised to know that I thoroughly enjoy romance novels featuring a diversity of characters – by race, age, body size, ability, sexual orientation, etc. One of the long-standing impacts of racial inequality in stories is that growing up, romance books, romcom movies, etc., never featured people who looked like me – so it became impossible to imagine a protagonist who could live a funny, messy, complicated life. I love imagining us in "normal" everyday ways as much as extraordinary stories, all that's available to our cis, straight, white counterparts.

SHARE THIS: When we can immerse ourselves in the shoes of someone different from us, it can have a strong impact on how empathetic we feel toward others. ~@rtulshyan #LeadershipTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: If you could dine with five leaders from history or modern corporate America, who would you choose, and why?

RUCHIKA MALHOTRA: Here are my five:

1. Audre Lorde would be at the top of the list. Her foresight to capture what we’re navigating in the world right now is absolutely remarkable, and although she was not considered a CEO or leadership expert in her time, I'd say she really exemplifies what it means to be a leader.

2. Oprah Winfrey is the GOAT in my eyes. Her ability to bring people together through stories inspired me from a young age and still does.

3. From corporate America (sort of), it would be Chanel's CEO Leena Nair, who is extraordinary in becoming the first non-French CEO of a French luxury brand and very candid about all that has entailed.

4. Thasunda Brown Duckett's leadership in her interviews has been really inspiring - she has especially talked about a strong character as key to leadership.

5. Indra Nooyi's memoir was energizing for me – I am also impressed with how she's made caregiving and supporting employees who caregive her platform after her retirement from PepsiCo.

My gratitude to Ruchika for sharing her insights and for inspiring all of us to be more inclusive in our workplace cultures and in our perspectives.

Image Credit: Amazon.

Read an important article by Ruchika entitled, "Like Kamala Harris, my name has been mispronounced my whole life. Here's how I reclaimed it."

https://www.msnbc.com/know-your-value/career-growth/kamala-harris-name-mispronounced-whole-life-s-reclaimed-rcna165347

Connect with Ruchika at these links:

Website: https://www.ruchika.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruchikatm

Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/rtulshyan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rtulshyan

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCU2QMNy-nMzOtNSCPBhIGg

Learn more about International Day of Women and Girls in Science:

https://sustainability-speakers.com/news/general-news/international-day-of-women-and-girls-in-science

Why Female Leaders and Inclusion Are Good for Everyone

 

Today, January 23, is a symbolic day in women's history, also known as herstory. On this date in 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to graduate from medical school and become a doctor in the United States. She graduated from Geneva Medical College in New York with the highest grades in her class and dedicated her life to treating the sick and helping other women to pursue careers in medicine. Her legacy continues because in 2017, for the first time ever, a majority of medical students in the United States were women.

To honor this achievement, I would like to welcome a special guest to my blog who has made her life's mission to help women improve their leadership skills. Shannon Rohrer-Phillips is a social entrepreneur, speaker, and producer who has worked with over 20,000 women over the course of her career. Shannon and I recently had a discussion about leadership, and highlights follow below her bio.

Shannon is the Founder of the annual Voice + Visibility Women's Summit in Sarasota, Florida, and Founder of The Bridge Builders DEI Solutions Training Program. She received her BA from Colgate University and an MSW from Smith College School for Social Work. She lives in Sarasota with her husband, two sons, and a growing family of pets. Shannon's TEDx Talk: Failure and Forgiveness in the New South, was delivered at University of South Florida Sarasota Manatee in November 2019, and can be watched at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0t0tEm-xgM&t=187s. Connect and follow Shannon on Twittter (@srpllc1), on Instagram (@Shannonrohrerphillips), and on her websites at https://shannonrohrerphillips.com and https://www.voiceandvisibilitywomenssummit.com.

QUESTION: You describe yourself on LinkedIn as "Social Entrepreneur, Producer, Speaker interested in all things: Female Leadership, Women in Business, Media, Film, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Community Building. Opportunity Architect. Producer. Stubborn Optimist. SNL Enthusiast. Mother TEDx Speaker." Some have said that the reason few women get ahead in corporate America is that they are denied entry into the "pro-bro" culture. When men are assertive, they are respected, but when women are assertive, they are not taken seriously. How can we move forward and achieve gender equality?

SHANNON ROHRER-PHILLIPS: Great question and great timing. I published an article called "WOMEN TAKE THE WHEEL, 10 WAYS TO SLAY GENDER DISCRIMINATION." I think about this phenomenon of what holds women back and how to remove barriers for women to increase their assertiveness, respect, and pay a lot.

I see the path forward for gender equity as an inside-out job. Internally, it requires us to do an enormous amount of work establishing our goals, boundaries, and seeking mentors. We must see ourselves as leaders, not vicitims. Externally, we must demand that companies, communities, and partners step up and commit to gender equity as well. This can be done by demanding equal pay, policy work, shared domestic work, and inclusive and intentional allyship.

Historically, women were forbidden economic and social independence in a myriad of forms. The realities of 2021/2022, espcially the data on the impact of the pandemic on women have revealed that women continue to shoulder the majority of the family caregiving in addition to their professional responsibilities. The time is now to elevate our voices and choose leadership, not ask for it.

Check out the article here:
https://shannonrohrerphillips.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Women-Take-The-Wheel.pdf

QUESTION: When President Obama introduced Janet Yellen as the new Federal Reserve Chair in October 2013, he said, "Janet Yellen is a proven leader who knows how to build consensus, the kind of person who makes everybody around her better." President Biden remembered this when he nominated her as the first woman Secretary of the Treasury, and today, she serves as the 78th Secretary of the Treasury. What three characteristics do you think are necessary to create a consensus-builder?
     
SHANNON ROHRER-PHILLIPS: Our country is incredibly divided right now. Consensus building, and buildng bridges has never been more important. The three characteristics I see as essential for consensus building are:

(1) Identify the "Big Idea" and objective as a group.
(2) Demonstrate strong listening skills and validation of all opinions and ideas.
(3) Negotiate an agreement and invite all to implement.

QUESTION: What is your favorite quote from former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and why?

SHANNON ROHRER-PHILLIPS: "Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you." We achieve power and progress in numbers! I've always believed that effective work for women's equality and diversity, equity and inclusion means we must learn how to compromise, show humility, listen, resist the temptation to be right, and find ways to connect around similarities. We are seeking progress, not perfection, on our path toward equality.

TWEET THIS: We are seeking progress, not perfection, on our path toward equality. -@srpllc1 #EqualityforWomen #EqualPayforEqualWork #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: The world has changed dramatically over the last few years due to the covid pandemic as well as the #BlackLivesMatter movement and fallout from the Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby trials. As a result, how do you think workplaces can implement DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives and actually implement genuine change?

SHANNON ROHRER-PHILLIPS: In my opinion, all employers must begin with a current DEI climate Survey and re-administer them frequently. This allows teams to see where their employees, stakeholders, and organization stands with all forms of DEI including race, gender, ability, age, language, religion and more.

Once that data is reviewed, leadership must commit to assembling a DEI Board, Committee or task force that creates a strategic DEI plan with benchmarks and deliverables. Solutions that yield DEI success in organizations include: employee training, pay equity assessments, diversifying talent pipelines, diversifying supply chains, leadership embrace of DEI, marketing and messaging, reaching out to new customer markets, and demonstrating inclusivity in the core values of the organizational culture.

People need to feel valued for who they are in their workplace. The DEI Board/Committee must ensure that they not only track progress and outcomes, but create a safe and supportive place for all staff to process their obstacles, challenges, and achievements.

TWEET THIS: People need to feel valued for who they are in their workplace. -@srpllc1 #EmployeeExperience #DEI #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: Which three leaders inspire you, from business or history, and why?

SHANNON ROHRER-PHILLIPS: Here are my three:
(1) Michelle Obama: As the first African-American First Lady, a best-selling author, attorney, mother, education champion, and healthy family advocate, her self-confidence is radiant and has inspired women and girls across the globe.  

(2) Nely Galan-Nely: She is a media mogul and former President of Entertainment for Telemundo. Her book Self Made is a call to action for all women to seek economic empowerment. My favorite Nelyism is: "To be Chosen, Choose Yourself First."

(3) Gloria Steinem: I was deeply inspired by Gloria's book The Revolution From Within as a child. Her approach and lifelong dedication to intersectional feminism, community organizing, and women's rights blazed the trail for all of us.

My thanks to Shannon for sharing her inspiring leadership insights and for appearing here on my Blog.

Image Credit: Shannon Rohrer-Phillips and Debbie Laskey.