Confessions of a DEI Pro

In today's Episode of ‘How to become a competent DEI practitioner', Ashanti Bentil-Dhue and her guest Trier Bryant delve into the world of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Trier brings a wealth of experience and insights from her background in working with top organisations such as the U.S. Air Force and having a role as Chief People Officer. Today, Trier shares valuable perspectives on the importance of having a People First mindset in leadership, the nuances between DEI and the need for competency in the DEI field. Join Ashanti and Trier as they explore the challenges and opportunities in the DEI space and discuss the role of accountability and competence in driving meaningful change. Stay tuned for a thought-provoking conversation with Trier Bryant. “And so if you are a true people centric people first leader, that is the root of everything that you're doing. And so your people have identities, your people are nothing but a sum of their experiences of who they are, and their life, coming into the workplace and to ignore that would be a huge mistake. And there's implications of that. And so you can create real tangible value by having a People First mindset when it comes to leadership, understanding that diversity, equity and inclusion are absolutely a part of that and they're not synonyms.”      Episode Highlights:    DEI initiatives can become exclusive if not approached inclusively, which may inadvertently exclude majority groups and lead to inefficacy. Understanding the majority's experiences within an organization is crucial, as it helps identify areas for meaningful change and improvement in DEI efforts. Organizations should invest in their DEI leaders' professional development, treating it as they would for any other competency in the organization's learning and development strategy.   About Trier Bryant: Trier Bryant is a people-first leadership & inclusion expert and the founder of TrierBryant.com, a consulting firm that advises organizations on strategies and tactics to improve their workplace culture. Trier is also the co-founder of Just Work, a company that provides coaching and workshops to create more collaborative and equitable work environments. Trier has an extensive track record spearheading DEI & Inclusion initiatives at top organizations including Goldman Sachs, Twitter, and the U.S. Air Force. She also serves on the Board for Athena SPACs and Campaign Zero. Trier has been featured as an influential voice on leadership and DEI by publications including USA Today, CNN and Fortune. You can follow Trier on LinkedIn and X. If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue

In today's episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue has a captivating conversation with Ruth Kudzi, the CEO and founder of Optimus Cage Academy. During their interview, they will dive deep into the world of coaching and the pressing need for accreditation within the industry. Exploring the significance of accreditation, how it can elevate your coaching practice, uncovering the true essence of coaching, its empowering nature, and the long-lasting impact it can have on clients. Discover the benefits of becoming an accredited coach and how it not only enhances your credibility but also contributes to a more equitable coaching landscape.  If you're curious about the future of coaching, the role of accreditation and professional growth, this episode is a must-listen. "Coaching is about unlocking what's inside of a person, making change more sustainable, not just addressing a knowledge gap. Accreditation brings credibility, ethical practice, and the ability to charge more, ultimately elevating the coaching industry's standards and impact."      Episode Highlights:  Why is there a need for more qualified coaches in the DEI industry? Emphasizing the importance of coaching as a non-directional, empowering, and dignifying process that unlocks answers within clients.  Potential for coaching to promote equity and social mobility by reaching high-potential individuals from diverse backgrounds.   About Ruth Kudzi: Ruth Kudzi is an entrepreneur and educator: She runs a training business , Optimus Coach Academy and a coaching & mentoring business. Optimus is one of the market leader training providers in the UK providing accredited coach training with 4 different bodies. Ruth is a Master Certified Coach, Psychology & Neuroscience expert with numerous qualifications in Psychology including a BA, MA and PGCERT. She is a multiple best selling author, international speaker and podcaster: her whole mission is around supporting people to feel better and build their resilience to achieve the results they want to achieve.  If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue

In today's episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue welcomes listeners to a compelling episode of her podcast! Today, she is privileged to interview Kim Crowder, a leading expert in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Join them for an eye-opening conversation. In this episode, Kim delves into the complexities of workplace culture and leadership, shedding light on crucial topics such as power dynamics, privilege, and the impact of identity. Through insightful dialogue, they explore uncomfortable truths, challenge stereotypes, and emphasise the importance of genuine connections. Join them as Kim shares invaluable insights, making this episode a must-listen for anyone passionate about fostering inclusive environments.   “ I would say, be really comfortable with what you don't know, become intimately acquainted with not only what you don't know, but what your skill sets are not... That makes you open to [others] being the experts around that ”       Episode Highlights:    Understanding Intersectionality Navigating Power and Privilege Impact of Colonialism and Cultural Influence   About Kim Crowder:   Kim Crowder, Founder & CEO of Kim Crowder Consulting, is one of the country's most sought-after and transformative leadership, and communications facilitators, speakers, and advisors.  Kim and her team work across industries serving global organisations with a focus on courageous, responsible and intentional leadership. From leaders and executives at Adobe to Smugmug, the American Library Association, HarperCollins Publishers, and more, Kim and her team provide executives and leaders with actionable tools to build healthy, people-centred workplaces long term, and to build deep connections with target audiences.  Kim has been named by Forbes as a “Top Anti-Racism Educators Companies Need Now,” A Top 10 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Expert by All American, and Top Influential African-American Business Women To Follow by LinkedIn. She is also a member of the MIT Technology Review Global Panel, For(bes) The Culture, is on the HRD Connect Global Advisory Board, and is a LinkedIn Top Voice.  She has been featured by The New York Times, Business Insider, Cheddar News, CBS, NBC, FOX, Katie Couric Media, regularly by Forbes, is a contributing writer for Society of HR Management (SHRM), and has appeared on Hubspot's podcast, The Growth Show, Workology, and As Told By Nomads.   If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue

In today's instalment, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue delves into the intricate and fascinating world of identity, joined by the insightful and knowledgeable guest, Lathizile Dubé, the Managing Director and Founder of The Identity Dichotomy. They explore the complexities of identity, both at an individual and leadership level, shedding light on the often-overlooked aspects of how experiences, values, and attitudes intermingle to shape our sense of self. As the discussion unfolds, you'll gain valuable insights into the profound impact of these forces in our ever-changing world, especially in the context of shifting post-COVID landscapes. Join them in this thought-provoking conversation as they uncover the profound implications of identity for individuals and leaders alike.   “ We do want to do the very best that we can do for ourselves. And within that, you don't want to be in a situation where you hit burnout as a practitioner, or you hit a situation where you just get so overwhelmed with the work that you're doing. So if you don't have the pieces in place to ensure that you're properly supported within your role, it does become something that becomes a real challenge, because you don't really have that space, or that bandwidth to be able to move in with what you're saying. ”       Episode Highlights:    Practical Strategies for Understanding Identity Impact of COVID on Identity Leadership in a Shifting World   About Lathizile Dubé:   Lathizile Dubé founder of The Identity Dichotomy, a ground-breaking organisation which specialises in identity in all its forms and manifestations with particular emphasis on transition. Nothing highlights internal and external conflict like going through a transition. No business or organisation can thrive or survive without its people; know exactly who your people are and fully unlock the resources and potential that lie within everyone. The IP and methodologies used have been developed and fine-tuned over a decade and across 10,000 client hours, continuing to push the bar in human optimisation and transformational change.    Lathi has the uncanny ability to break down identity in stories and metaphors that peel away at obvious layers to reveal what is beneath it all. Lathi Dubé's ability to make various components of Identity come alive through storytelling is truly astounding, she is able to take the audience on an emotional rollercoaster and leave them empowered.   The focus on identity stems from the loss of the founder's younger brother to suicide. Only when a person has tangible awareness of what they possess that empowers themselves and the world at large can they face any adversity with the knowledge that they are enough. With determination to leave no stone unturned and no heart untouched, Lathizile Dubé is not only a transformational business coach and identity specialist but also an inspirational public speaker.   If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue  

In today's thought provoking episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue welcomes Michelle Gyimah, a renowned pay gaps consultant who runs a consultancy called Equality Pays. Michelle helps organisations understand and address gender and ethnicity pay gaps by creating action plans to foster equity within their workplaces. In this eye-opening discussion, Michelle clarifies what a pay gap truly is, emphasising that it goes beyond equal pay. She sheds light on the importance of data analysis and the nuances involved in closing pay gaps. Michelle also dispels common misconceptions, such as the idea that individuals can solve systemic issues by simply asking for higher pay. Throughout the episode, Michelle shares her journey into this dynamic field and offers valuable advice for aspiring pay gap specialists.    “Yes, we can upskill people, and it's part of your career, and you do have to be responsible for that. You have to take responsibility for owning your career, that's fine. But that doesn't mean that the buck stops with you, and that it's your responsibility to ensure that you close the pay cut for the organisation. No, the organisation has their own work to do because they hold so much more power in that dynamic.”       Episode Highlights:    What does defining the pay gap really mean Why should we not rely solely on Individuals What advice can be shared with aspiring specialists    About Michelle Gyimah: Michelle spent 10 years at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, supporting employers to close their pay gaps through writing guidance reports and running workshops. This was until 2014, when Michelle took voluntary redundancy whilst on maternity leave and Equality Pays was born. Michelle setup Equality Pays to provide the business coaching, strategy, support, and confidence that organisations want and need. Michelle is on a mission to educate and share what organisations should be focusing on when it comes to addressing the root causes of their pay gaps in order to create more inclusive, equitable workplaces. Michelle's role is to support organisations in identifying what changes need to be made to close both gender and ethnicity pay gaps so that people choose to work for those organisations and go on to build their careers with them. No matter their gender, ethnicity, or workplace needs. www.equalitypays.co  mgyimah@equalitypays.co Podcast: Beyond the Pay Gap Figure www.linkedin.com/in/michellegyimah/   If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue   

In today's episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue dives deep into the world of psychological safety in the workplace with co-founder of Noomii.com and Skillsetter.com Stephan Wiedner. He brings to the conversation a wealth of experience in coaching, training, and high-performance team development. Stephan has spent over 15 years exploring the fundamental question: Why does coaching work? Join Ashanti and Stephan as they unravel the concept of psychological safety, its relevance in today's complex and global workplaces, and how it can be a game-changer for leaders striving to enhance team performance. Stephan shares insights into the challenges leaders face in creating psychological safety and emphasizes the importance of measuring it within your team.  “So what you're pointing to really is the courage that leaders require. I would also closely couple courage with vulnerability. As a leader, we need to demonstrate vulnerability, as in I don't have all the answers. I am not perfect. I'm willing and able to learn, wanting to learn, and so then we coupled that courage and that vulnerability with curiosity.” Episode Highlights:  ● How can we define Psychological Safety ● What are the links between Psychological Safety and High Performance ● The need for leaders to demonstrate Courage, Vulnerability, and Curiosity About : {Stephan Wiedner}    Stephan Wiedner is an entrepreneur whose mission is to abolish apathy in the workplace. He firmly believes that for great work to take place, everyone needs to have the courage to speak up and the confidence to know they'll be heard. His passion for unleashing the collective potential of people has led him to cofound Noomii.com, the web's largest network of independent life coaches and Skillsetter.com, a platform similar to a flight simulator for practicing interpersonal skills.    Stephan has been a guest speaker for Truth, Lies, and Workplace Culture Podcast, Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast, Building Psychological Strength Podcast, and many other audiences interested in psychology, business, and technology. His writing has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and other popular publications. In addition to his professional career, Stephan serves as a volunteer firefighter in his local community. Stephan is married with two children and enjoys spending quality time in the outdoors, hiking, biking, camping, and reading.   If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti: LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In today's episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue is joined by Mike Sealy, Diversity and Inclusion Vice President at Informa Markets. Mike shares his inspiring journey transitioning into this vital role with passion and determination, discussing the complexities of D&I, emphasising the importance of active listening, understanding unique perspectives, and fostering self-awareness to drive genuine change. Whether you're considering a similar transition or are passionate about diversity and inclusion, this episode offers valuable advice and thought-provoking insights.  “You can't really put a label on an issue, because it's unique to that person. It's about making sure that you understand that, there's not a one size fits all to everything, and you've got to take everything on its own individual merits.” Episode Highlights:  Why you should take a proactive approach to learning Is Individuality in Diversity important? Responding to Emotional Challenges in a D&I space About Mike Sealy:   Mike holds the position as Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Informa Markets, a world leading exhibition and event organiser. He leads, coordinates, and champions the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) efforts across the business to ensure the long-term sustainability of their global D&I strategy in relation to the company's colleagues, customers, content and communities.   Through his own lived experiences, he is deeply passionate about fairness, equity, and inclusion for all. He is a dedicated coach, mentor, motivator, podcaster and regularly speaks at events, on discussion panels both to corporate colleagues and students in education. He speaks candidly on his work and social experiences to create awareness of the issues and opportunities within diversity and inclusion as well as to help build confidence, freedom, and motivation in others.   Mike previously held senior leadership positions at Hewlett Packard, Microsoft and the BBC, leading and setting up businesses and organisations and winning awards for management and execution excellence in the process.   If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In today's episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue is delighted to welcome Nadia Nagamootoo, the founder and chief executive of Avenir Consulting, joining her. Nadia is an expert in supporting organisations with their DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) strategy, fostering inclusive leadership, and creating more inclusive cultures. In this engaging discussion, they dive deep into Nadia's upcoming book, "Beyond Discomfort: Why Inclusive Leadership is So Hard and What You Can Do About It." They explore the challenges of writing a book on this complex topic, the various mindsets leaders may have, and the importance of self-awareness in the journey towards inclusion. Join them as they unravel the layers of inclusive leadership and its emotional landscape. “It is incredibly tough to experience someone offering you a different perspective that might suggest that everything you have thought, or lived up until now has not been as inclusive as you thought it was. That's tough. You know, and that's our job as dei professionals, ultimately it is to support people through that very emotional learning path.” Episode Highlights:    Exploring the Complexity of Inclusive Leadership Uncovering the hidden challenges faced by DEI professionals and leaders Beyond Discomfort: A Fresh Perspective About Nadia Nagamootoo:   Nadia is the Founder and CEO of Avenir, a diversity, equity and inclusion consultancy.  She is a Chartered Psychologist, MBA and accredited coach with 20 years' experience in the field of organisational development, culture change, leadership development and talent management.  Nadia has worked with global organisations to provoke powerful conversations at all levels to develop fully-informed DEI strategies and sustainable inclusive leadership practices.    Nadia was awarded HR Most Influential Thinker 2023 and has been shortlisted for the Diversity Champion of the Year 2023 at the European Diversity Awards.  She is a highly sought-after speaker and presenter, and has interviewed prominent DEI thought leaders on her podcast show, ‘Why Care?'.  She is the author of the upcoming book, ‘Beyond Discomfort: Why Inclusive Leadership is so Hard (and what you can do about it)'.   If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue   

In today's episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue interviews Helen Farmer, an Inclusion and Social Impact consultant, author, speaker, and writer. Helen's diverse background and passion for creating meaningful dialogues make her a valuable resource in the realm of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and beyond. They delve into the importance of preparation and reflection when approaching sensitive conversations in the workplace. Helen shares her experiences and insights, emphasising the value of self-awareness and vulnerability. The discussion explores the significance of frank conversations and the challenges leaders face in navigating them, especially during times of crisis. Helen also offers guidance on fostering open dialogue within organisations, emphasising the need for self-awareness, peer support, and a willingness to tackle the "unsaid stuff." “I think the starting point I suggest is for people to always look at themselves. So that kind of self awareness is massive, because if you aren't on the journey, or haven't opened up, or gone on any part of that journey yourself, you're going to have less to relate to, and connect to the experiences that other people will have to go on to do that.  ” Episode Highlights:    The Power of Frank Conversations Overcoming Fear in Leadership The significance of encouraging self-awareness   About Helen Farmer: Helen Farmer Bio 2023  Equity, Diversity and Social Inclusion Consultant/ Research Associate  Helen works with people who support people from school to boardroom, especially young people and those most underserved; as well as overrepresented people, to remove barriers and provide better access, progress and support.  Specialist in the research/ strategy/ set-up/ support of multi-partner programmes, often working across sectors, in overrepresented sectors, working with a wide range of clients from corporates to charities, to universities and employability programmes in sectors like Creative; Digital; Engineering; Technology; Innovation, Construction; Refugee.  In 2023 her focus is on collaborations for Frank Conversations, curating and creating walks and talks for better listening, decision-making and action - thinking spaces, stories and spaces for better work and workplaces  Contact:  helen@voicebyvolume.com  07795621781  https://uk.linkedin.com/in/helenfarmer    Key Interests?  With core values of justice and belonging, Helen focuses on employability and social mobility and the S in ESG - Environmental and Social Governance. People don't just need mentoring or programmes, they need to access jobs and pay, with equity, at all levels.  A fan of creative, disruptive support, she helps people explore their unsaid and undone work, from school to boardroom.  Alongside her research and consultancy she is a regular speaker; author; Associate Lecturer Bath Spa University Business School; Independent Assessor - for a UK grantmaker; and a Trustee - Creative Tuition Collective - Providing free tuition, and support to pupils (13-16 years old) from low-income backgrounds, marginalised and underrepresented communities.  Speaker/ Panellist/ Podcaster:  ● Top listened-to podcast of 100 Inclusive Growth Podcasts: Brave Conversations opening the door to the unsaid and undone work in Inclusion  ● Bristol Mental Health Hackathon  ● CEOs Session: Talent Management and Skills for a Different City – Bristol and Bath Science Park  Author and Interviewer:  ● Bounce Back Journey of Parenting - From Rock Bottom to Bouncing Back - Belonging in My Work for Inclusion  ● Bounce Back Journey of Careers - Autism, Assumptions and Life as a Single Mum - Interview with Rebecca Scott Live Projects and Problems solved:  *What is the missing talent infrastructure in Bristol? How could networking and connections be de-gatekeeped to be more accessible and useful for under-represented and under-served people in Bristol? - Live project for 2x Student Innovation Teams in University of Bristol Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  *Mindgarden CIC Research and identify strategic partnership opportunities in Bristol and the wider mental health sector to potentially collaborate and partner with on research projects and the research and development of wider Mindgarden CIC Tools, App and community.  *Ablaze and NatWest Find Your Path Employability Programme - delivery support for 10 session programme for 16-25 year olds not currently working or studying. Plus business development for new Employability Support programme - Mentoring for entry level staff.  *Creative Workforce for the Future Programme a flexible and bespoke Inclusion programme of professional development with EDI audits for 60+ organisations and paid placements for young people. February 2020-March 2021  *Research, recommendations and leadership support and training for ambitious diversity and inclusion recruitment and procurement targets - for Wates Houses of Parliament Project. (Working with Legacy Strategies Ltd and Green Consulting) .  *Design and support for inclusive, accessible Events/Networks/Training/Workshops E.g. Data Science Conference and Technology Recruitment Fair for Women's Tech Hub and University of the West of England Master's in Data Science, April 2022.    If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue   

In today's thought provoking episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue had the pleasure of speaking with Tammy Dowley-Blackman, CEO of the Tammy Dowley-Blackman Group LLC, encompassing three dynamic brands: TDB Group Strategic Advisory, Looking Forward Lab, and Cooper + Lowe. Tammy shared her deep insights into the evolving challenges organisations face, especially in the context of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging (DEIAB), which extend beyond race to encompass a wide range of factors. This enlightening episode provides a rich perspective on navigating the complexities of DEIAB, understanding Generation Z's unique contributions and challenges in the workplace, and the importance of lifelong learning in this ever-evolving field.  “Lastly, I would say where you started, is that this work is not just about race, race is hugely important, again, particularly here in the United States, but in other countries globally. But this work is much more than race, it is gender, it is sexual orientation, it's religion, it's age, it's who gets health care, it's all of these things.” Episode Highlights:    •What can we learn about the unique characteristics of Gen Z •What tools can be used for bridging generational gaps •Addressing pressing challenges in the workplace today    About Tammy Dowley-Blackman: Tammy Dowley-Blackman collaborates across corporate, government, nonprofit,   and philanthropic sectors to build a pipeline of leaders that deliver greater   productivity across workplace generations.    Tammy Dowley-Blackman, a graduate of Oberlin College and Harvard University is an author, entrepreneur, leadership expert, nonprofit executive, philanthropic leader, and professor.   She is the CEO of Tammy Dowley-Blackman Group LLC, a certified National Supplier Development Council Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Small Business Administration (SBA) Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Women's  Business Enterprise Network Council (WBENC) woman-owned company, as well as a graduate of the C200 Champion Program and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. The company is comprised of a suite of brands, including TDB Group Strategic Advisory, a management consulting firm specialising in organisational and leadership development for the corporate, government, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors; Looking Forward Lab, a media content company focused on Gen Z, which partners with corporations and higher education systems to offer a full service learning engagement model that delivers workforce development solutions; and Cooper+Lowe, a company that serves as an incubator offering full back-office management support for women interested in transitioning to  entrepreneurship and thought leadership. Each of the companies has a long legacy of embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging (DEIAB) in its values, collaborations, and outcomes.   In addition, Tammy recently completed her six-year term as the president of the TSNE Board of Directors, where she  helped lead the $64 million-dollar organisation through unprecedented leadership and business model strategic  alignment and planning. She also provides leadership as an Advisory Board member for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and was recently elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the Proteus Fund.  Email: tammy@tdbgroup.com  Phone: 510.435.6612  Web: tammydb.com   If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue   

In today's enlightening episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue welcomes Davina Majeethia, the EDI Lead at Nesta, an innovation foundation and charity, providing a captivating insight into her journey and experiences in the realm of EDI work. As a second-generation immigrant with a South Asian background and neurodiversity, Davina's personal experiences have driven her passion for this critical field. She discusses her transition from consulting to an in-house role, emphasising the importance of understanding the internal dynamics and challenges faced by organisations in implementing EDI strategies. Davina delves into the essential skills required for success in this field, highlighting prioritisation and compartmentalization. She also offers valuable advice to aspiring DEI professionals, emphasising the importance of humility and finding your genuine passion within the diverse landscape of EDI. This episode serves as a powerful resource for anyone interested in the intricate world of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. “ My understanding is that most EDI practitioners come into this because of a sense of their own lived experience. I also think for a lot of people, it's actually a way of channelling trauma in quite an effective way. So you're never going to have good deep understanding and experience, as in you're unlikely to in every single aspect of EDI. So know what you can know about, but also know what you don't know about and be humble about that.” Episode Highlights:  •Transitioning from Consulting to In-House •Advice for aspiring DEI professionals •Skills needed to develop in internal role prioritisation, prioritising and compartmentalising   About Davina Majeethia: Davina is the Senior Lead for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI). She has a passion for underpinning EDI thinking with intersectionality and is keen to foster an environment of open and honest dialogue. She believes education to be the most powerful tool in moving forward the EDI agenda. Prior to Nesta, Davina worked at Accenture where she specialised in Talent & Organisation strategies. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies and NGO clients to formulate bespoke solutions to culture, talent and EDI issues. While at Nesta, Davina is focused on delivering our EDI Strategy, ensuring it is continuously evolving so it remains relevant and effective for all. If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue   

In today's episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue welcomes Tina Gilbert, the Managing Director of Advisory Services at Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT). MLT is a distinguished organisation in the U.S. that strives to elevate African Americans, Hispanic Latinx, and Native Americans into roles that foster their growth and leadership. Tina's pivotal role is ensuring the recipient organisations have the right policies, practices, and culture in place to help these individuals thrive. In this episode, she shares valuable insights into how companies can create cultures of equity even during a recession, and the importance of strategic planning, understanding DEI practices, negotiation, communication, and influence in this process. Tune in to hear Tina discuss the importance of empathising with lived experiences and empowering others, creating a potent narrative around what makes a truly inclusive and equitable environment. “ Especially in my role as a managing director, where I have people underneath me who are spending the day with the employers working with them, it is how are you empowering those beneath you, across from you and with you. So you are not doing this alone. This can be a very lonely job, and especially in this time of economic transition, where you might be the only one who has the formal title of D&I. And so what are you doing both formally and informally, to bring others along on this journey with you. So you are not alone, I spent a lot of time talking about the level of engagement that you need to be able to bring and have with individuals, so that you are growing kind of your force, the people that are working with you, for you and beside you. And so in these times where it might get harder and harder to get the people formally on your team, what are you doing to empower those through volunteerism, through champion through sponsorships, so you're not in this alone. ” Episode Highlights:  ● Dig into the lived experiences of the populations you work with ● The business case for diversity, equity and inclusion ● Developing skills and competencies in the field About Tina Gilbert:   Tina Gilbert (she / her)  is the Managing Director of Advisory Services responsible for delivery of client services and development of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion leading practices and insights.  Tina brings 10 years of DEI Leadership (4 years global), 15 years of Strategic Consulting, and 25 years of corporate experiences across six industries to this role. Throughout her career, she has led efforts to transform organizations' operating models, business processes, and employee culture to create measurable impact. As an I&D Leader over the last ten years, she has partnered with Business and HR leaders in designing strategies and metrics that align with talent strategies and desired business outcomes. Prior to joining MLT, Tina was the Inclusion and Diversity Leader for Teva Pharmaceuticals and Accolade (Healthcare Navigation and Data). As the first I&D leader at both organizations, she guided each organizations' evolution from diversity compliance management to recognizing its value as a business imperative. Her work at Teva was recognized in 2017 by Diversity Inc. Magazine as one of their Noteworthy Companies. More recently she was named as one of Hive Learning's Most Influential D&I Leaders and by FindSpark as one of the 30 Must-Follow Diversity & Inclusion Thought Leaders Transforming the Workplace. Before working as a full-time Diversity Practitioner, Tina was a Partner/Managing Director with Accenture's Strategy Practice leading large transformation projects, business strategic planning programs, and operations/organizational design.  At Accenture, she sponsored a variety of DEI programming, recruiting and training initiatives. She holds a BS from Spelman College, an Industrial Engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.  She is based out of the Philadelphia, PA area.   If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue   

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue delves into the intricate world of employee surveys, with a specific focus on their crucial role in fostering an inclusive work environment. Ashanti shares valuable insights from years of working with numerous organisations, shedding light on both the challenges and opportunities that come with surveys related to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Through her firsthand experiences, she explores the resistance, anxieties, and misconceptions that leaders often exhibit towards such surveys, and how to navigate these difficult waters. She also offers her perspective on the importance of data transparency post-surveys and the need for well-researched, carefully constructed survey questions. This episode provides a unique blend of practical advice and in-depth understanding for HR professionals, leaders, and anyone keen to enhance employee experience and inclusion in their organisations. Tune in to gain a better understanding of the human elements at play when executing employee surveys and how to overcome the obstacles that may arise in the process. If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In today's episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue interviews Tutu Popoola the lead consultant and director of Slick HR, a consultancy dedicated to building diverse teams for business success. As an industry leader, Tutu helps companies navigate through the intricacies of diversity and inclusion, acknowledging the distinct separation between DI and HR, and the need to address both in the corporate world. She sheds light on her evolution from an HR consultancy to a DEI-centric service provider, a change brought about by client needs and market trends. Tutu shares her experiences and expertise, highlighting the types of clients she works with, the challenges they face, and the progress made within industries towards inclusive workplaces and diversified leadership.   “So how can I work to influence people in a certain way, and also understand that I will not necessarily own the outcome of whatever work I do with them. So I had to be okay with that. If my work involves consulting with them, pointing them in the right direction, guiding them gently, sometimes giving them a bit of a push, and saying, Oh, no, this has to definitely happen. But also understanding that it's not about me, when you're doing this work, you have to separate your personal ego from the work that you're doing. It can't be led by the ego level as well. And really listening to people in terms of what they're saying, and what they're not saying, I think is really important. And also when you listen, then you question when somebody makes a comment or a statement. And then you can say what do you mean by that? I need you to tell me what your understanding of that situation is.. ”   Episode Highlights:  ● Improving the talent pipeline and retention of talent ● Recruitment is a sticking point in diversity and inclusion ● How to become a Ggi practitioner   About Tutu Popoola :   Bio:   Tutu Popoola is the Managing Director of Sleek HR, an outsourced consultancy enabling organisations to create HR & DEI solutions for business success.   She recognises from her background in HR that applying employment law principles alone was not enough to create diverse, inclusive and equitable workplaces and will not bring about the advancements that forward thinking organisations are craving for. She supports organisations through DEI Audits, Data Collection & Analysis, Strategy Planning and Implementation and has partnered with clients across industries such as Public Relations and Communications, Energy, Logistics and Retail.   She loves nature and the outdoors, especially in the summer months.   Links:   www.sleekhr.co.uk   https://www.linkedin.com/in/tutu-popoola/   https://www.linkedin.com/company/sleek-hr/ If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue delves into the traits that set successful HR directors and CEOs apart. Pulling from a trove of hands-on experience and case studies, illuminating what makes some leaders stand out in facilitating effective organisational changes. The importance of working closely with HR and other key stakeholders within the company's structure is explored, emphasising the power of unity and synergistic effort. This episode gives valuable insights into the significance of trust, respect, and shared expertise. Ashanti discusses how these elements pave the way for smooth, result-oriented interventions, even when faced with challenges and resistance within the organisation. Listen in as Ashanti highlights the necessity of fostering a mutual understanding, allowing both the external consultants and the in-house team to offer their unique perspectives and solve problems together. This episode is a goldmine for anyone seeking to enhance their skills in building rapport, navigating company dynamics, and becoming a trusted strategic advisor within an organisation. Prepare to reevaluate your approach to organisational change and DEI implementation. If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue       

In today's episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue interviews Maria Morukian, an inspiring leader with nearly two decades of experience in the realm of organisational development, with a keen focus on diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and intercultural competence. With a relentless drive to build bridges across the landscape of our differences, Maria shares insights into the systemic challenges and barriers often obstructing the path to DEI in organisations. “But really my drive, my focus, my purpose is to build connections with individuals and groups, especially across the landscape of our differences so that we are better equipped to be able to address the systemic challenges and barriers that so often get in the way and are perpetuated when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion.” Episode Highlights:  ● The importance of diversifying influences and content ● The importance of self-work in training and talent development ● The importance of listening to multiple perspectives About Maria Morukian:   Maria Morukian is a recognized organisational development practitioner specialising in training, coaching, and facilitation with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and intercultural competence. Maria is the President of MSM Global Consulting, and an adjunct faculty member at American University's School of International Service. She previously served in leadership and organisational development positions at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Federal Executive Institute and the U.S. Department of State. She has also served in leadership positions at Management Concepts and the National MultiCultural Institute.    Maria has trained and coached thousands of individuals around the world to build practices for better communication, foster competent and respectful workplaces, and navigate conflict for meaningful culture change. She has worked with such diverse clients as PBS Distribution, the National Park Service, National Institutes of Health, the World Bank, and the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement. Maria is a sought after speaker and has presented at numerous events, including TEDx, the Forum on Workplace Inclusion, the Association for Talent Development, Blacks in Government, and Ellevate Women's Network. Her work has been published in Forbes, the Association for Talent Development's Public Manager, and she is author of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Trainers: Fostering DEI in the Workplace (ATD, 2022).   Maria is host of the podcast Culture Stew, which focuses on the multidimensionality of identity and best practices in diversity, equity, and inclusion.    Maria earned a dual Bachelor's Degree from the University of Michigan in Organisational Studies and Spanish, and a Master's Degree from American University in International Communication. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and two daughters. She is an avid runner, dancer, reader, traveller, and lover of theatre.     Socials: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-morukian https://www.linkedin.com/company/msm-global-consulting   Instagram: mariamorukian msm_global   Facebook: Maria Morukian MSM Global Consulting   Twitter: @MariaMorukian @GlobalMsm   Podcast: Culture Stew is on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Libsyn, and Audible If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue delves into the myriad of facets in the world of leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion. After a brief hiatus, Ashanti returns with a candid discussion, revealing the recent whirlwind of personal and professional challenges and changes that have kept her away from the mic. This episode invites you into an intimate journey of personal growth, mindset shifts, and professional evolution that has fundamentally transformed how she shows up as a human being, a leader, and a DEI practitioner. Discover how her instinctive methods of operation as revealed by the Colby Index have influenced her evidence-based approach in the DEI sphere. Listen on to uncover the vital importance of the clarity stage, her self-created framework to foster meaningful change, and learn why she staunchly disagrees with relying solely on lived experiences to form organisational strategies. Ashanti's refreshing honesty in sharing her experiences is a testament to her commitment to thought leadership, promising a podcast episode that is as personal as it is profound. “We need to get people to be thinking deeper than just we need to do this as an organisation, or that's what's expected of us, or that seems to be the right answer. We need to go deeper than that. So that the interventions, the supposed solutions that we are recommending are actually going to be fit for purpose, are actually going to shift culture and are actually going to create transformation in some way or another in that organisation. It's so important.” If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In today's episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue and Rohini Anand a strategic senior DEI advisor who holds key positions on numerous external diversity advisory boards delve into her personal journey, from her roots in Mumbai, India, to her migration to the United States, which provides a unique lens to her work in DEI. Rohini brings a wealth of global perspective to their conversation as she talks about her experiences in navigating between majority and minority spaces, and how this informs her perspective on diversity and inclusion.  “Ultimately this global work is very complex, and it's very dynamic in nature. So there's no quick sort of checklist or playbook. And even best practices are really not enough. So the principles that I have, these five principles are simple, but they're very disruptive. And they don't provide sort of standards, or plug and play templates, based on what's worked in one country or one location. And I think that's been the foundational mistake in doing this work is replicating what's worked in one part of the world elsewhere, it can be sort of adapted to apply with sensitivity to any country and empowers global leaders to kind of develop their own solutions without mimicking a solution.” Episode Highlights:  ● Cultivating a global mindset as chief diversity officers ● Advice for aspiring diversity and inclusion professionals ● How to keep developing and nurturing skills About Rohini Anand:   DR. ROHINI ANAND, Founder and CEO, Rohini Anand LLC  rohinianand1121@gmail.com  Web site: https://www.rohinianand.com;  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohinianand Dr. Rohini Anand is Founder and CEO of Rohini Anand LLC providing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) advisory services to clients in the public and private sectors. She is a strategic business leader and trusted board member who has successfully transformed cultures and built an iconic brand with an enduring reputation, resulting in accelerating new business creation. With expertise that spans executive leadership, human capital, global corporate responsibility, wellness and diversity equity and inclusion, Rohini brings a unique perspective on the critical alignment of the business culture and the triple bottom line to drive exceptional performance. Rohini is recognized as a pioneer in the DEI field and is a sought- after expert by leaders around the world. Her global experience, cultural dexterity, extensive network and ability to influence leaders result in a reputation for judgment, integrity, and accountability.   Rohini Anand is a thought leader and a published author. Her book, Leading Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: A Guide for Systemic Change in Multinational Organizations, has been endorsed by luminaries like Indra Nooyi, former Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo, Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder and CEO Chobani and Tent, Michel Landel, Danone S.A Board member and former CEO, Sodexo, amongst others. It is available on Amazon here and Bookshop.org and on bookdepository here  for international orders. Most recently Rohini was SVP Corporate Responsibility and Global Chief Diversity Officer for Sodexo. She reported to the Global CEO and was a member of Sodexo's North America Executive Committee. Rohini successfully positioned Sodexo as a global thought leader in DEI and Corporate Responsibility. Sodexo's remarkable global culture change, led by diversity and inclusion, is featured in a Harvard Business School case study entitled Shifting the Diversity Climate: the Sodexo Solution .  Rohini has been featured in several articles in CNBC, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and the Washington Post. Rohini has appeared on CNN, Bloomberg and CNN Money as well on National Public Radio. She is the recipient of many accolades including the Mosaic Woman Leadership Award, the Women's Foodservice Forum Trailblazer Award, Webster University's Women of Influence Award and the Who's Who in Asian American Communities Award (WWAAC), amongst others.  Dr. Anand received her PhD from the University of Michigan. She serves on the boards of several organizations including WomenLift Health a Gates Foundation initiative, Aspen Institute's Family Prosperity Initiative, Tent Partnership for Refugees and Galt Foundation. She also serves on the external diversity advisory boards for Sanofi and for Charter Communications and chaired the Catalyst Board of Advisors. Rohini is a Senior Fellow with the Conference Board and is on the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Center for Inclusive Governance's Advisory Council.  If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In today's episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue and guest Sarah Cordivano dives deep into the challenges and triumphs of individuals in DEI roles. Sarah shares her firsthand experiences and practical advice on succeeding in the field of DEI. From finding executive champions to embedding DEI within the fabric of an organization, they will uncover the key competencies needed to make a meaningful impact. “That creates a lot of difficult questions for myself around how do I perceive success in this role? And how do I recognise my own success? And how do I make sure I have the time to refresh and be my best self outside of work? So when I come to the job, I'm really ready to do a great job. And that's a big theme in the book actually, there's an entire chapter about it's called the job and you. It's about how do we reconcile the challenge of the work with also the passion that we have?” Episode Highlights:  ● Advice on how to succeed in your role ● How to embed dei into the business ● Changes Sarah has observed in the DEI industry over the years About Sarah Cordivano:   Title: Author and Speaker on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion   Sarah Cordivano (she/her) is an expert in the field of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, with a focus on implementing successful DEI strategies and developing initiatives to create more inclusive workplaces. She brings along expertise in data analytics in order to implement impactful, data-driven DEI work. She is also a professional speaker and writer, having recently published “DEI: How to Succeed at an Impossible Job.” Sarah is from Philadelphia originally and currently lives in Berlin.    Links:   Website: www.sarahcordivano.com Blog: https://medium.com/sarah-cordivano Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-cordivano/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mapadelphia Book: https://amzn.eu/d/0MwB7KM If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue  In today's episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue and guest Sarah Cordivano dives deep into the challenges and triumphs of individuals in DEI roles. Sarah shares her firsthand experiences and practical advice on succeeding in the field of DEI. From finding executive champions to embedding DEI within the fabric of an organization, they will uncover the key competencies needed to make a meaningful impact. “That creates a lot of difficult questions for myself around how do I perceive success in this role? And how do I recognise my own success? And how do I make sure I have the time to refresh and be my best self outside of work? So when I come to the job, I'm really ready to do a great job. And that's a big theme in the book actually, there's an entire chapter about it's called the job and you. It's about how do we reconcile the challenge of the work with also the passion that we have?” Episode Highlights:  ● Advice on how to succeed in your role ● How to embed dei into the business ● Changes Sarah has observed in the DEI industry over the years About Sarah Cordivano:   Title: Author and Speaker on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion   Sarah Cordivano (she/her) is an expert in the field of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, with a focus on implementing successful DEI strategies and developing initiatives to create more inclusive workplaces. She brings along expertise in data analytics in order to implement impactful, data-driven DEI work. She is also a professional speaker and writer, having recently published “DEI: How to Succeed at an Impossible Job.” Sarah is from Philadelphia originally and currently lives in Berlin.    Links:   Website: www.sarahcordivano.com Blog: https://medium.com/sarah-cordivano Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-cordivano/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mapadelphia Book: https://amzn.eu/d/0MwB7KM If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue     

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue interviews Christie Lindor the founder of Tessi consulting a Certified B Corp DEI strategy-centred firm focused on partnering with organisations that want to create diverse, high performing, and inclusive cultures. Together they explore the pressing issues in today's workplace culture, and dive deep into the challenges organisations face while embarking on their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) journeys. As a renowned DEI professional and professor at Bentley University, Christie provides valuable insights into the current landscape and highlights the contrasting approaches adopted by organisations in tackling workplace culture transformation. “ It's a daily process, you know, one of the things that I think people sometimes don't appreciate, as a DEI professional, is that we're constantly learning. We're not only learning about other individuals' identities, we are learning about different types of cultural differences, different aspects, but we're also having to learn ways to navigate politics.” Episode Highlights:  ● The evolution of DEI initiatives in the US ● Organisations need to walk the walk and be competitive in the future ● Dealing with resistance and navigating politics About Christie Lindor :   Christie Lindor is the Founder of Tessi Consulting, a Certified B Corp DEI strategy-centred firm focused on partnering with organisations that want to create diverse, high performing, and inclusive cultures. Prior to Tessi, Christie was a seasoned management consultant advising Fortune 500 clients at some of the world's top consulting firms such as IBM, Deloitte, & EY.  In the span of her 20 years in corporate consulting, Christie has partnered with 100s of organisations within 30 industries in 10 countries across 4 continents at the intersection of IT, strategy, and human capital. A TEDx speaker, college professor, and bestselling award-winning author, her work on workforce inclusion and culture has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Wall Street Journal.   She lives in Hyde Park with her husband and two sons.   Links: https://tessiconsulting.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/christielindor/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/tessiconsulting/ If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue     

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue interviews Jes Osrow, a HR DEI and L&D practitioner who for over twelve years has helped mostly high growth startups who are based in the US and have an international presence.  “So really devising your team, even if it's just you, as a solo practitioner, bring someone else on temporarily for the project, or those opening conversations if you need to have a compliment. And yeah, that's where not having humility in those pieces and rather, having humility and ego in the work is really important. Because if you can't get your foot in the door, you can't go forward. And that's where you start meeting a lot of closed doors or doors that people say get slammed in your face.” Episode Highlights:  ● The importance of having a business development team ● The difference between growing a business and delivering expertise ● Nurturing your competency in this space About Jes Osrow:    Jes' goal is to create fundamental change in people operations. She is Co-Founder and DEIBA Specialist at The Rise Journey where she works with growing companies to operationalize DEIBA (diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility) strategies as part of building foundational and sustainable organisational cultures. Empowering inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplaces for all employees is the forefront of everything she does.    Jes coined the term DEIBA™ in 2019 after recognizing DEI alone was not enough. She officially trademarked the term in September 2021. She was named to Mogul's Top 100 Leaders in DEIB in 2021 and 2022. Jes is a strong advocate for Invisible Disability awareness and fair compensation for ERG leads.   Resources:  Download The Rise Journey's 2022 State of the ERG Report for the latest trends on ERG Lead Compensation and budgeting, structural best practices and more: https://www.therisejourney.com/blog/2022-erg-report Take advantage of Rise with OPHR, a self-service resource centre built with the one person Human Resources teams in mind. It offers over 200 HR and DEI resources, many can be accessed for free by signing up for OPHR Essentials. Listeners can use the code $100OFF2023! to receive a discount for OPHR Advanced membership. Learn more: https://www.risewithophr.com/   Follow Jes Osrow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesosrow/ Learn more about The Rise Journey: https://www.therisejourney.com/ Follow The Rise Journey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/therisejourney/ _ If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue speaks with Sara Kedge, a neuro diversity specialist and DEI practitioner who supports neuro diverse entrepreneurs via her online community called How to entrepreneur. Sara also assists people with adversity to help run and grow their businesses. Providing support for them, so they can understand what neurodiversity is, and how they can share some of their practices to make their workplaces more inclusive. “ They were looking for somebody to manage an online community, which is essentially a space for any neurodivergent person who is running their own business, wants to grow their business, or start a business. So I started managing that group and my entry into that space kind of started from there, going into actually there's a space and a need here. For people like me to be able to be accepted, understood, and actually going into the corporate space, helping neurotypicals understand what the needs are, because newer divergent brains have such amazing value. ” Episode Highlights:  ● Neurodivergent people and language ● The difference between neurodiversity assessment and other pieces of learning ● Being a neurodivergent person in education and work environments About Sara Kedge:    Sara Kedge (she/her) works with corporate leaders to create inclusive, healthy and more productive workplaces that work for everyone. A renowned DEI Design Thinking Strategist, Coach and Trainer, Sara blends curiosity and playfulness with deep cross-functional knowledge. She prides herself on helping teams move out of stressful dysfunction to create human-focused workplace cultures where critical thinking – and people – are encouraged and valued.  Sara carries the collective experience of the neurodivergent community into the solutions she co-creates with her clients. As the founder and curator of How 2 Entrepreneuro, an online community supporting neurodivergent entrepreneurs, Sara is constantly learning and hearing from the people she supports, most of whom have suffered burnout within the corporate or public sectors.  Sara's clients vary in reach from global to local, across a range of industries including academia and training institutions, public and third sector, technology, bio-medical and international development.  Sara co-creates bespoke solutions for each new client challenge, drawing on years of change management consultancy and her current role as a lecturer for the Business and Management faculty at Oxford Brookes University.  Sara's commitment to delivering a playful, human-centred approach to transition and culture development, makes her an outstanding – and refreshingly unusual – asset to her clients.   If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue interviews Lucy Ferguson, a DEI practitioner and author who has been working for many years as a gender specialist and trainer, providing gender equality training to various organisations and individuals.  “ All of the people who come on our courses are very skilled in their particular knowledge area. But the main thing that they say is that they lack confidence as a trainer. So I tried to give them that confidence through giving them the theory and the practice and the chance to put it into practice. We create together a very horizontal learning environment where everyone feels safe to make mistakes. So you make the mistakes in this friendly environment, and get very good, solid, constructive feedback about how you can improve. Then you get the chance to practise several times so that you come out feeling much more confident. ” Episode Highlights:  ● What gender equality training is and why it's important ● What it means to be a good trainer in the virtual environment ● The importance of being accessible and inclusive About Lucy Ferguson:    Dr Lucy Ferguson is a specialist in training for gender equality. She has designed and delivered training on gender equality for a wide range of organisations, including: UN Women, World Health Organization, UN World Tourism Organization, OSCE, Indian Ocean Rim Association and Commonwealth Secretariat. She has produced a range of academic publications on this topic, including her book "Gender Training: a transformative tool for gender equality (Palgrave, 2018). She is the author of the UN Women Training Centre working paper series, including topics such as feminist pedagogies and evaluation of gender training.   Recent and upcoming trainings include "How to be a Gender Trainer" and "Applied Theatre for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion", delivered via Cynara.    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyferguson/   If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue interviews Gill Cooke, a DEI practitioner  who,  at the time of the recording, worked at Three UK and Three Ireland, leading diversity, inclusion and belonging and hybrid and flexible working. In addition to this role, Gill leads a community called STEMConnext which focuses on connecting minorities in STEM, celebrating, championing and supporting each other. Gill now works as an independent EDI consultant and advisor.  “ Demonstrate what you've added, the value that you've added, how you influence that programme, what was the benefit of that, and just show your understanding of what it is to deliver, diversity inclusion. It's not just about transactional, so processes policies, but it's about transformative as well. So how have you moved hearts and minds, and behaviours and mindset, and values and that sort of type of thing. It's hard to demonstrate that, I'll be honest, you know, on a piece of paper, but again, bring that right up to the forefront of your LinkedIn as well. So that you, anyone who puts in something around diversity, inclusion will put something in a search engine, that then you'll come up. ” Episode Highlights:  ● How can project management skills lead to success ● The importance of having transparency within the team ● Measuring and tracking measurements and data can contribute to success About Gill Cooke:  Gill's dedication to inclusion and putting people first is inspiring, and her passion for creating a space where everyone can become a better human being through education, awareness, and kindness is remarkable. She understands that through true inclusive culture,;diversity, well-being, and equity will follow. Her experience in program management enables her to work effectively with stakeholders and leadership, and she consistently delivers results. Gill is experienced in collaborating with global stakeholders, analysing key metrics and data to deliver improvements in recruitment, policy, people services, learning and development and strategy and best practices across UK and Ireland, reporting, influencing and communicating with senior management and the board. She is an award-winning Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practitioner and thought leader with experience of delivering complex, cross-geography and cross-functional diversity programmes and projects including hybrid & flexible working and Zero Tolerance, Gender health propositions and inclusive policies.   She led Three Ireland in achieving Investors in Diversity Gold within a year and Three UK to achieving Investors in Diversity within 18 months and winner of Diversity Steering Group of the Year 2022 and named top 100 most inclusive places to work by the National Centre of Diversity and Financial Times Top.   Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gmcooke1/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stemconnext Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stemconnext/ Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/STEMConnext If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue and Emma Taylor-Steeds, the Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Innovate UK KTN, discuss how she entered into the world of DEI, and helped to make an impactful cultural change in higher education and research. “Empathy helps us to understand where colleagues or other people are at, and why they are where they're at. And it's about having the humility to listen and to try to understand and then really use that curiosity to learn, and then more importantly, to do something about it.” Episode Highlights:  ● What skills have had to be developed in order to succeed as a DEI practitioner ● The importance of empathy and pragmatism in DEI ● The importance of doing research and self-educating About Emma Taylor-Steeds:    Emma is the Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Innovate UK KTN.  Emma has a breadth of experience delivering Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy and impactful cultural change in higher education and research. Emma's experience has seen her leading and delivering cross organisational strategic programmes, including policy, equality charter marks, and EDI strategy to drive forward EDI work. Emma is a scientist by background, with a PhD in polymer science, an STFC EDI Advisory Board Member, is a mother and outside of work can be found baking and going for countryside walks.  Emma lives her passion for inclusivity and equity creation through the work she does every day.   Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmataylorsteeds/   If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue speaks with Dr. Sarah Gould, the founder of Sarah Gould consulting. During their Discussion, they will highlight how Dr. Gould has spent almost 20 years creating a global leadership content for schools and organisations in over 110 countries. The aim of Dr. Sarah Gould's global leadership content is to focus on elevating the voices of people who typically do not see themselves appear in leadership roles, content and senior executive roles. “I think that the leaders that tend to be the most impactful are the ones that have a learner mindset themselves. When leaders can display vulnerability in their own performance reviews, and in their own competency and context, they are far more likely to increase the level of trust and validity and reliability of what they're offering their employees”. Episode Highlights:  ● The importance of asking about learning needs ● Daily practice of reflecting on your strengths ● The importance of thinking about legacy  About Sarah Gould:  Dr. Sarah Gould is driven by the belief that her role is to unleash human potential. She has dedicated her life to the study and practice of analysing team and individual performance and using her expertise as an educator and corporate training practitioner to facilitate mental and behavioural breakthroughs that help organisations and individuals attain new levels of performance, success and satisfaction. Sarah is driven by a focus on equity and inclusion through competency-based approaches. Trained as a global leadership coach and facilitator with FranklinCovey, Dr. Gould has leveraged her mastery of curriculum development, instructional design and facilitation to advise, train and develop teams across a variety of sectors including government, military, K-12 education, small business, start-up, tech and non-profits just to name a few. Dr. Gould's experience and track record for producing results extends far beyond the classroom. She has served as a senior operations leader for fast-growing, well-funded startups in the tech industry and has mastered the ability to design training programs that provide new skills and capabilities to developing leaders, empowering them to multiply their impact on their teams and drive tangible results. Dr. Gould holds over 20 certifications in the fields of coaching, leadership and education and holds a doctorate in Education.   Connect with Sarah Gould:    Instagram: sarahgouldconsulting Facebook: Sarah Gould Consulting Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsarahgould/ Email:Sarah@sarahgouldconsulting.com Email: Sarahgouldconsulting.com   If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue talks to Dr. Roque Diaz, a musician, arts educator, researcher and DEI practitioner who received his PhD in 2021. He specialises within the art sector, that includes arts organisations and performance based organisations from orchestras, opera companies, dance companies and arts education organisations, primarily in the nonprofit sector. In this particular episode Dr. Roque Diaz shares with Ashanti his personal experience of being a DEI practitioner, how he has grown and continues to grow. “That's the first thing, creating a support system. Because when you're dealing with individuals, these heavy topics, people are not mind readers, the uniqueness about being a practitioner is that we live in this work all the time. We're talking about things they don't. So we have to understand it and give grace, but still hold them accountable if they're committed to doing this work on our journey.” Episode Highlights:  ● The importance of intercultural competence and embedment ● How cultural capacity building can fit into the work ● What we can learn from corporate and nonprofit sectors About Roque Diaz:    Dr. Roque Diaz Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Practitioner | Program and Partnership Development | Arts Access Champion | Audience Engagement | Business Development | Connector | A first-generation neurodivergent Puerto Rican college graduate, Dr. Diaz has shaped his career goals and qualifications by combining leadership, administration, scholarship, teaching, and performance through nonprofit arts organisations, higher education institutions, and K-12 school teaching in multiple countries. Dr. Diaz started at MacPhail Center for Music as the Director of School Partnerships and currently guides the Center's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies and initiatives as the Senior Director of DEI.  Dr. Diaz's journey as a historically excluded and marginalised person in predominantly white spaces underlies his commitment to assuring more inclusive, culturally aware, and relevant experiences through the lens of DEI. As a trumpeter, Dr. Diaz has performed with major international orchestras and continues to perform orchestral, chamber, contemporary, Latin, jazz, and other music. Interested in my services?  I am currently accepting clients and will provide a free 30-minute consultation. You can reach out via my website, email, or message me on my LinkedIn profile to schedule a meeting. www.progressing-forward.com  Diaz.roque@macphail.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/roquediazphd/  If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode Ashanti Bentil-Dhue speaks with Sharon Hurley Hall, the part time team lead for diversity, equity and belonging at on this education. However, Sharon does have many different hats, including being a freelance writer and the founder and publisher of Sharon's anti racism newsletter.   “ In achieving change, it is important for people to feel heard, even if you do not necessarily agree with them. So, within yourself, you really have to live what you want other people to show to you, you have to live that acceptance of these different perspectives ” Episode Highlights:  ● The possible evolution of Dni specialisations ● How to develop an openness to different perspectives ● What skills are needed to become a DI professional About Sharon Hurley Hall:    Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism activist, educator, and in-demand speaker. Firmly committed to doing her part to eliminate racism, she is the Founder and Curator-in-Chief of Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter. Sharon is also a Co-Founder of Mission Equality and the author of I'm Tired of Racism and Exploring Shadeism.   In her newsletter, Sharon writes about existing while Black in majority-white spaces, and amplifies the voices of other anti-racism activists. Sharon is also an in-demand speaker about equality, anti-racism, and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue talks to Solène Anglaret who is currently a Programme Manager for Disabled Innovators at Innovate UK. Solène is originally from France, but has a career spanning across six different countries. Solène discusses her entry point into DEI, what fascinated her by looking at humans' different backgrounds and different ways of thinking. Causing her to also see the many similarities in humans and opportunity for compassion. All of this contributed to Solène writing her storytelling venture called Be Beyond Borders. “We are encouraging other people, maybe who don't have the responsibilities or D&I goals, to do their own education and learning. And so if we don't do it, it's kind of like you put the oxygen mask on the other person before yourself, it's not going to work, right, you're going to run out of oxygen. So that peace around leadership, I think, is also really important. ”   Episode Highlights:  ● Surprises discovered whilst being in a DEI role ● How we as DEI professionals can innovate inclusively ● What advice Solène would share with aspiring DEI professionals   About Solène Anglaret:    Born and raised in France, Solène moved abroad for the first time when she was 18. She has since lived in 6 countries and travelled to nearly 60. After starting her career in the environmental sector, Solène then joined the travel industry, before finding her way into the world of diversity and inclusion in innovation. Over the past 10 years, she has gathered experience across a wide range of areas from strategy to project management, transformation, events, communication, leadership, coaching, culture change, diversity, and inclusion. She currently works as a Programme Manager for Disabled Innovators at Innovate UK. Solène is also an Author, Presenter, and Entrepreneur. Four years ago, she created Be Beyond Borders and published four books: Where to Next? (travel memoir), Where Are You From? (children's story), Where? (poetry) and Pensées d'Ailleurs (poetry) - all around the themes of identity, home, and belonging. She also spoke at TEDx Melbourne and many other events. In 2022, she launched The Inclusion Conversation, a talk show which aims to break down borders and bring the world closer together, one conversation at a time.  When not working or hustling, you'll find Solène travelling at every opportunity, spending time with her partner and family, walking in nature, and/or eating (too much) chocolate...! If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue talks to Rajiv Desai, a DEI practitioner originally from India, living in Berlin Germany, but considers himself a citizen of the world. Rajiv not only owns his own consulting practice, where he helps small and medium sized organisations get started on their diversity, equity and inclusion journey. He also serves as a Board Chair for Oran, which is the organisation for refugee asylum and migration to help LGBT IQ refugees, find safe spaces in the world. During this episode Rajiv and Ashanti will highlight many different topics,like why it is important to find your own personal niche as a practitioner whilst working in the field of DEI. “What I tell every person who's aspiring to get into the DEI world is truly know your why. Why are you trying to get into this? Is it because everybody has told you it's the place to make money? I would say maybe not right? It's still, pretty hard to make money in this space. You know, really know your why in terms of why do you want to do this? Episode Highlights:  ● What's it like working with German companies in the field of Dei ● As  a professional what skills do i need to acquire in order to be competent in this space ● Understanding the importance of the inside of a business About Rajiv Desai:    Rajiv Desai (He/Him) is a leader in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion   (DEI) space. He takes a global and enterprise-wide approach to DEI,   focusing not only on talent processes, but the business as well, and   canvasses his efforts from internal focus to external clients and   communities, through a lens of impact and equity.   He has a particular interest and passion in getting smaller and more   nascent organisations get started on the DEI journey. He founded Chrysalis LLC in October 2020  (incorporated in Washington DC), with the goal of helping small and medium-sized enterprises (both for  and non-profit) initiate their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) journey in an incremental, sustainable  and thoughtful manner. Some of his clients include Equal Justice Works, Relief International, Mathison,  Avita Pharmacy, Board.org etc.   Prior to Chrysalis, he served as Vice President – DEI and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at  Gartner, where he helped build the function and strategy from scratch and ensured DEI efforts were  part of the broader organisational fabric. As Gartner's first-ever head of DEI, he was also tasked with  building Gartner's strategic CSR efforts and led the publication of their first CSR Report in 2019.   Before Gartner acquired CEB, through CEB's Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Council, Rajiv advised  senior D&I leaders at over 100 organisations, helping them with their DEI strategies through best  practices research, tools, and executive networking. He started his time at CEB in the Financial  Services practice since 2014, during which time, he was also involved with all employee resource  groups (ERG) and helped build the Pride ERG. Before 2014, Rajiv worked with FedEx for almost nine  years in Belgium, Dubai and the US, where he gained extensive business, operations, audit and  consulting experience.   Rajiv holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Finance & Marketing; minor in Spanish)  from the University of Pittsburgh. He also completed a certificate course in Strategic Diversity &  Inclusion Management from Georgetown University in 2017 and an Executive Education certificate in  Inclusive Leadership from University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business. Rajiv is fluent in  Spanish and Hindi and conversational in Bengali and Gujarati.   Rajiv is an active philanthropist. Since March 2020, he serves as the Board Chair for ORAM  (Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration, which protects and empowers LGBTIQ asylum seekers  and refugees globally). He also served on the board of The Rainbow Theatre Project from 2016 – 2020.  At an international level, Rajiv has completed volunteering projects in Mexico, focusing on LGBTQ  rights and Costa Rica, focusing on marine wildlife and turtle conservation. He is also a proud foster  parent to 3 baby elephants at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya.   In the past, Rajiv has lived in India, Spain, Mongolia, the UAE, and Belgium; and has traveled to over  65 countries, bringing a truly global perspective and cultural agility to his DEI work. As an openly gay  person, Rajiv is currently working on his memoir that captures lived experiences of his coming out  journey across multiple countries. Effective March 2022, Rajiv calls Berlin, Germany home and is  excited about working in the DEI world in Berlin.   Connect with Rajiv Desai:  Phone: +49 151 65142748  Email: rajiv@chrysalisdei.com  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajivdesai/ If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue talks to Nadi Fantastic, an anti oppression business consultant, and inclusive leadership coach who helps businesses define, design and implement their anti oppression values into their operations.  During this episode, Ashanti and Nadi explore many different subjects including the way Nadi works with leaders to really get them to figure out what they need to know and understand and dismantle in order to leave marginalised groups.    “You're pulling the answers from them, which means you're asking the kinds of questions that are making them ponder, pause, consider, get uncomfortable sweat a little bit. So that they themselves are finding the answers.”    Episode Highlights:   The importance of actively seeking out different perspectives Research and understanding cultural differences How to heal yourself   About Nadi Fantastic:   Nadi Fantastic (she/they)   Nadi is an Anti-Oppression Business Consultant, Inclusive Leadership Coach, Justice Activist and Single Mama for 2 Magical Teens.    Nadi's work supports business owners and leaders to transform idle business goals for inclusive and anti-oppressive operations into systems, policies + sustainable, non-performative practices.   After working with corporate teams for a number of years, Nadi has since shifted her focus to specifically support small teams and leaders seeking to develop their inclusive leadership abilities.    You can learn more about their work via www.nadifantastic.com If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com   If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com    If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue talks to Meera Somji, a DEI professional and the Co- founder of technology platform Clusivity. During this episode, Ashanti and Meera speak about data, specifically the integrity of data. As Well as Merra's transition into being a  DEI professional.   “These concepts are not self evident, you know, the word diversity, the word equity, the word inclusion, they mean many different things to many different people. And so really being able to communicate that dispel myths and misunderstandings.”   Episode Highlights:   Meera's journey transitioning into diversity and inclusion How to nurture and develop data protection and privacy Creative ways to present data and concepts   About Meera Somji:   Meera is the co-founder of technology platform, Clusivity. Clusivity is a data and analytics platform helping customers to improve the retention of historically marginalised employees across gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and socio-economic background.    Before taking this lead into entrepreneurship, Meera trained as a strategy consultant with Plural Strategy Group in London and in New York. In 2019, she moved into tech. Meera joined as Senior Manager, Product & Customer Success at Smartxpo, a fast-growing data and analytics start-up. She has also worked as a researcher into business, human rights and gender for UNDP Asia. Meera has an undergraduate degree in Politics, Psychology and Sociology from the University of Cambridge and a Master's degree in Gender Studies from LSE.  Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any  questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   If you'd like to discuss how we can provide support for you or your organisation, please email  operations@goodsoilleaders.com   Stay Connected with Ashanti: LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue talks to Louise Moulié, a DEI professional and the founder and host of the site diversity secret podcast. During this episode, Ashanti and Louise explore many different subjects including the different kinds of toolkits which are needed to really be able to move forward, completely dedicating oneself to the role of diversity and inclusion.   “Being a facilitator is just learning to be patient with oneself and with your journey, and with everyone else's journey as well.”    Episode Highlights:   There is no experience too small What value you can gain by being a facilitator Highlighting the taboo around diversity and inclusion   About Louise Moulié: Louise Moulié, Founder and Podcast Host at Diversity Secrets   Louise started her DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) journey as Public Affairs and CSR Manager at the American Chamber of Commerce in France. There, she worked hand in hand with a wide range of multinationals and leading DEI experts to build tangible and actionable toolboxes in order to help organisations implement and promote DEI.  Today, Louise helps organisations drive sustainable change in our society, through authentic and impactful DEI. Louise created the Diversity Secrets Podcast with the core belief that the secret to successful DEI is learning from the experience of others, through meaningful dialogue. Leading DEI experts from around the globe join her weekly for honest conversations where they share their unique insights, inspiring experiences and pragmatic advice. Louise puts these teachings into practice as a DEI consultant, helping organisations across the business field develop and implement impactful and sustainable DEI strategies. Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any  questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   If you'd like to discuss how we can provide support for you or your organisation, please email  operations@goodsoilleaders.com   Stay Connected with Ashanti: LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue shares some insights from coaching DEI PROs in their first 90 days of a new role in an organization.    Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.  If you'd like to discuss how we can provide support for you or your organisation, please email operations@goodsoilleaders.com  Stay Connected with Ashanti:  LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue  

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue talks to Kay Fabella, the CEO and founder of inclusion in progress, who also has a podcast of the same name,  where they really dive into the dynamics of global teams. Advising the likes of companies mostly in the tech industry. Sitting down with organisations to figure out what is it that could be preventing their remote teams from reaching their full potential, by looking at dynamics such as virtual versus in person, as well as the different cultural things that might be present.  “When you have a face that isn't easy to place like mine, you will always get the second question. The first being where are you from? And the second, where are you really from? And you realise very early on, once you go through the whole thing of I just want to belong, and I don't like being asked that question because it points out my difference of embracing the role that you have of telling your own story in the rooms that you walk into. And so that really formed an impression on me from a young age, the power of stories to connect people.”    Episode Highlights:   The power of stories to connect people How important is mental health in the field of DEI? The issue of cookie-cutter approaches Creating psychological safety in remote teams   About Kay Fabella: Kay Fabella is a DEI Consultant whose approach combines inclusion, intercultural communication and her understanding of supporting global teams in a remote environment. She's partnered with companies including Red Hat, Instagram, the IMF, and Philips to improve inclusive communication skills between team members, to retain top talent and reduce turnover, and to build a culture of inclusion that helps companies maintain their competitive edge in the future of work.   A Filipina American in Spain since 2010, Kay draws from her own lived experiences as a "multihyphenate" woman of colour, a daughter of immigrants, and an immigrant herself running a fully remote team to inform her DEI work. She believes that more inclusive workplace cultures start with sharing non-linear stories — to expand worldviews and increase connectivity and collaboration.  Areas of Expertise: Diversity and Inclusion Consulting, Remote Team Strategies, Employer Branding, Future of Work & Intersectionality, Millennial and Gen Z Recruitment, Mental Health in DEI. Available for Comment On: Cross-cultural inclusion strategies for global teams Intersectionality initiatives for women of colour Mental health for historically excluded employees Remote team inclusion & the future of work Work Featured In: Forbes, Fast Company, Thrive Global. Connect with Kay Fabella:            kay@inclusioninprogress.com            inclusioninprogress.com            LinkedIn: kayfabella            Twitter: @KayFab            IG: @InclusionInProgress Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   If you'd like to discuss how we can provide support for you or your organisation, please email  operations@goodsoilleaders.com   Stay Connected with Ashanti: LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, I am going to share with you some of the mistakes I have made over the years as a DEI professional, but also what I was able to learn from these mistakes.   “Being aware of pace, and that was something I had to learn. I've been able to turn it into a strength, it's one of the reasons why organisations work with us, because we focus on laying the right foundation, making sure they have the good soil, healthy, moist soil, that allows them to launch initiatives and programmes that have a relative chance of success, of the buds coming forth.”   Episode Highlights:   The importance of saying no and providing alternatives Resentment, jealousy and ego Peer-to-peer interaction in training The importance of style versus substance   Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   If you'd like to discuss how we can provide support for you or your organisation, please email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue talks to Katy Penman, a DEI professional based in Scotland whose experience in DEI has been in txhe regulatory sector of health care, social care and the charity sector. Katy Penman discusses how hearing the stories that people have to tell about their experiences with their health primarily, and uncovering a lot of stuff about health inequalities really spoke to her. Thus spurring her to pursue and get involved in lots of different working groups and increasing her knowledge and awareness resulting in applying for DEI roles.   “You have to start with your own self awareness, you have to start with your limitations, you know that over-promising and under delivering is so easy because you want positive experiences for everyone. And you really have to pull back and say, That's great. And I would love to do that for you. But these are our corporate priorities, this is where it sits in our strategy.  ”    Episode Highlights:   What has surprised me about working in the DEI field? Specific skills and competencies you need to develop to be a good practitioner The importance of Building influence within an organisation   About Katy Penman:   Katy Penman Freelance consultant and trainer in public engagement, DEI and volunteer practice.   Katy Penman works with organisations who engage with the public and who consider volunteers as part of their service delivery teams – from statutory bodies to social enterprises to social media-based patient support groups.     With 20 years' experience in quality assurance via health and social care regulation and experience of engaging with communities from grassroots involvement to international research, Katy is passionate about engaging with people as part of the continuous improvement cycle and to ensure quality of service or product that speaks to all consumers in a language that is meaningful to them and aligns with the values of the organisation.       Areas of expertise: Creating inclusive organisational culture, engaging with historically excluded stakeholders and individuals, understanding and meeting your legal duties around DEI, mentoring and development for volunteer practitioners and leaders, reverse culture shock for workplace returners, supporting people with non-disclosed protected characteristics. Connect with Katy Penman: Email: katypenman.iiv@gmail.com Mobile: 07740 422 691 Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-p-b3372b22/ Twitter: @katypenman Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   If you'd like to discuss how we can provide support for you or your organisation, please email  operations@goodsoilleaders.com   Stay Connected with Ashanti: LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, I am going to highlight what you need to know when it comes to inclusion Training in 2023.   Episode Highlights:   Practical and role relevant training The importance of pre-assessment and pre-communications Managers involvement in inclusion training Why the learner journey needs to be more structured and integrated   Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   If you'd like to discuss how we can provide support for you or your organisation, please email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue talks to Julie Dennis, a menopause in the workplace specialist who has partnered with various organisations across the UK to help create positive behaviours, and conversations around menopause, In helping to make sure that anyone working through menopause is able to stay on track with their career. “ Learning to say no early on, when it's not your specialism or making a decision. Are you going to be a DNI generalist, or are you going to be a DNI specialist like I am? I specialise in menopause in the workplace. But what I have done is created a network of referral specialists, so when I'm asked to talk about topics that I am not competent in, I don't try and wing it, or say yes. Knowing I've got a competent professional expert that I can share that work with. So learning to say no, recognising your boundaries and creating that referral network, I think are absolutely crucial to be successful in this space.”    Episode Highlights:   Changes in the way menopause is being addressed in the workplace. What skills do you need to develop to be a good practitioner? Advice for people aspiring to be a part of history.   About Julie Dennis:   Julie Dennis Director & Lead Trainer Menopause at Work   Julie Dennis runs one of the UK's leading menopause consultancies for organisations who want to create positive conversations and behaviours around menopause to help retain top talent, impact the gender pay gap and reduce business costs and risks.   Over the past five years Julie has partnered with organisations across the UK to deliver tailored menopause at work training solutions that promote an environment where everyone can be themselves and perform at their peak.   Julie regularly demonstrates her expertise as a speaker and commentator on menopause issues.  When not talking about menopause you will often find her at the piano or out running! Connect with Julie Dennis:   Email:      julie@juliedennis.net Mobile:   07801 811768 Website: www.juliedennis.net LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-dennis Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   If you'd like to discuss how we can provide support for you or your organisation, please email  operations@goodsoilleaders.com   Stay Connected with Ashanti: LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, I'm going to share with you some of the common mistakes that I have seen DEI professionals make over the last 18 months.    Episode Highlights:   Lack of boundaries  Not knowing their limits, remits and capacity Poor social media diet  Saviour Complex    Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   If you'd like to discuss how we can provide support for you or your organisation, please email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com  

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue talks to Hayley Bennett about her experience being a multi-award-winning DEI consultant and campaigner who began her career at football's inclusion organisation Kick it Out, before moving out of football to become a DEI consultant and advisor within other sectors and roles.   “As DEI practitioners, I'm not saying we have to be perfect, but we have to have self awareness. And we have to be cognizant of our own privileges, and how it impacts our work, and also where our weaknesses are.”    Episode Highlights:   The importance of having humility and influence Critical thinking, design thinking and problem solving Skills you can utilise Where you can go to source your knowledge    About Hayley Bennett:   Hayley Bennett is a multi-award-winning DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Consultant and campaigner. She began her career at Kick it Out, football's inclusion organisation, before moving out of football to learn and create best practice within other sectors in multiple roles as a DEI consultant and advisor. Over the past ten years, Hayley has been providing advice and consultancy to over 200 of the world's largest employers and global brands. She now runs own consultancy, working to support clients across business and sport through DEI strategy development, training facilitation, programme development and creative consultancy. She is well recognised as a leader in her field and has been featured in The Times, The Telegraph, Metro.co.uk and The Washington Post. Hayley has a passion and determination for promoting equity in sport. She runs Nutmegs, a football community for women and non-binary people of colour and was named one of the most influential Black people in football on the 2020 Football Blacklist. In 2021, Nike recognised her as a game-changer in sport; she was a Sports Industry Next Gen 30 under 30 Leader for 2021. Hayley is a Director for Spirit of 2012, the London 2012 legacy charity and a trustee for Goals4Girls. She lectures on Race and Sport at University of Bolton and is researching the experiences of women from Black and minority-ethnic backgrounds in sports leadership positions. Connect with Haley Bennett:   Linkedin: Hayley Bennett | LinkedIn   Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   If you'd like to discuss how we can provide support for you or your organisation, please email  operations@goodsoilleaders.com   Stay Connected with Ashanti: LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue 

In this episode, I Ashanti Bentil-Dhue want to share some specific reasons as to why the upcoming intimate, peer led DEI Pro Live event, which is essentially for those of us who practise DEI in the workplace, is a Must Attend Event in 2023. I will be reflecting on conversations which have taken place with individuals who booked into the DEI Pro Live event in November 2022. Some great questions were asked, so I thought it would be really useful to answer some on the podcast for those contemplating if DEI Pro Live 2023 is for you.  Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   If you'd like to discuss how we can provide support for you or your organisation, please email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue talks to Hady Mendez about her experience being the Director of Quality at Slack. Hady has an extensive career that actually started not in dei, but started at the intersection of technology and finance. Then as time progressed, she became increasingly more focused on social justice and DEI.   “ Always be finding new ways to partner and advocate for people that are different from you….yes, start where something may be familiar, but don't just stay with what's familiar, push yourself. Because if you're going to be developing strategies, and working with leaders and trying to get them to push themselves, you need to be pushing yourself too. So you can't just stay in your comfortable place and be like, this is my happy place. You need to really also be expanding the people that you surround yourself with, and what you're learning about and really supporting and advocating for other people and making the same mistakes. I make mistakes, too. ”    Episode Highlights: The importance of having courage and how this can help you to have difficult conversations   Why making mistakes is not something to be afraid of   How you can become a better DEI professional by learning the importance of Problem-Solving   About Hady Mendez: Hady Mendez is Director of Equality at Slack where she is responsible forshaping and advancing Slack's near and long-term focus on inclusion andbelonging, while simultaneously supporting Slack's work of attracting, growing,and retaining underrepresented talent at all levels. She considers herself a DEIBevangelist, change agent, trusted customer advisor, respected voice and thoughtleader, and social justice advocate. With a diverse career spanning over 25 years, Hady has held multiplecustomer-facing roles in high tech and financial services, served as a leaderacross various Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), volunteered as an international champion for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women, andserved as Community School Director at an elementary school in the South Bronx.   Hady's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from Manhattan College, plus graduate certificates in eBusiness and eCommerce from NYU and NJIT, respectively. She also holds a Family Development Credential from the University of Connecticut. Hady's additional advocacy work has her serving as both co-chair of the Equity Council and a member of the NY Advisory Board at Room to Grow, a nonprofit organization based in the South Bronx. In her free time, Hady is an amateur street art photographer and an avid podcast listener.   Connect with Hady Mendez:   Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadymendez Instagram: @hadyontheweb   Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   If you'd like to discuss how we can provide support for you or your organisation, please email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue wants to specifically talk about something that is coming up time and time again within the world of DEI, budgets related to inclusion training.    “Organisations who may be looking at inclusion training, and if you've ever wondered why it costs, what it costs, or you've wondered why you've seen very little results from the training that you have procured so far, these are just some of the elements to be aware of that might help you make different decisions when you're pulling together your training budget.” Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   If you'd like to discuss how we can provide support for you or your organisation, please email: operations@goodsoilleaders.com

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil - Dhue talks to Gemma Stow about her company No More Hiding Ltd partners helps organisations to build inclusive cultures that identify, develop and retain female talent and encourage senior level progression to close the gender gap. This is through consultation, training and coaching.   “ Understanding the lens in which you see the world, describing this as your map, and then looking at ways that you can go beyond that within the work that you do ”    Episode Highlights: Learning about the importance of being resilient, implementing self-development, and looking after yourself. How certain skills that you develop and nurture over time can help with being a DEI professional. What DEI professionals can learn about finding a balance between having the rigour that the work requires and having a personal life. About Gemma Stow:   Gemma Stow specialises in the importance of visibility when it comes to women's career progression and helps ambitious women have the confidence to promote themselves in a positive and constructive way so that they own and showcase their expertise.  This allows them the space to see what is really holding them back and breakthrough their own ceiling and limitations, realise their potential, take responsibility and act on it. She also supports male leaders and the wider organisation so that they can be better allies with the appropriate processes and procedures in place that support greater gender equity in the workplace.  Host of the ‘No More Hiding: Self Promotion at Work' podcast. Connect with Gemma Stow:   Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ Email address: https://gemmastow.libsyn.com/ Company Website: www.gemmastow.com   Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   You can find out about the services we offer here: https://sites.google.com/benhue.com/dei-pro-training-and-coaching/home   Join the mailing list link: https://forms.gle/9GZtBkvkYgUbziho9   Stay Connected with Ashanti: LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue  Get in Touch: ashanti@benhue.com

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue will be sharing what she learnt whilst watching a particular episode of Grey's Anatomy and what she thinks DEI professionals can learn and take away from watching Grey's Anatomy.  “The human experience is always evolving and changing. The workforce of today is not the workforce of five years ago or even ten years ago, so we cannot make assumptions about who people are, and why they behave in the way they do. Every time we go into a new workplace, we can't make assumptions and rely on the way we have done things five, ten or even fifteen times over a course of years. We have to always be aware of ego because sometimes ego and overconfidence can mean that we make mistakes. It can mean that we miss something important; it can mean that we miss label, miss judge, miss assess a situation or a person, and that can have implications on the work that we're doing in the workplace ” Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   You can find out about the services we offer here: https://sites.google.com/benhue.com/dei-pro-training-and-coaching/home   Join the mailing list link: https://forms.gle/9GZtBkvkYgUbziho9   Stay Connected with Ashanti: LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue  Get in Touch: ashanti@benhue.com  

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil - Dhue talks to G Sabini-Roberts about their experience as an activist and specialist consultant helping organisations and brands with the transgender inclusion.    “Within the world of DEI we're trying to encourage everyone to recognize the diversity. The diversities that they don't yet recognize themselves. The ways that they haven't yet looked at the world; the people that they work with; the people that they need to work well with, and opening those doors to bring those realisations out. That is one of the really juicy bits of the work that we personally get to do. It is those realisations that we see in people that make me think, right, now I can do what I do better.”    Episode Highlights: The importance of activism for specific communities like the LGBTQ+ community How their work with organisations has developed over time What DEI professionals need to know and understand about transgender inclusion and the importance of pronouns   About G Sabini-Roberts: G Sabini-Roberts uses They, Them pronouns. They are White, Non-binary, queer and autistic. They run two successful businesses, the first has nothing to do with DEI as it is a brand design business that served the entrepreneurial and small business communities over the past 10 years. Back in the year 2000 G Sabini-Roberts and two business partners set up The Queer Box because they were constantly getting requests from different business owners to help them understand more about what they didn't know relating to LGBTQ inclusion. Since starting The Queer Box, they have worked with over 100 businesses ranging in different sizes, such as  HS to the cast and crew of Hollyoaks, the Local NHS Trust and several Universities. The Queer box has shown itself to be a business which has grown over the years and continues to successfully grow. Connect with G Sabini-Roberts:   Linkedin:linkedin.com/in/gsabiniroberts Email address: brandingbyg@gmail.com Company Website: thequeerbox.co.uk    Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   You can find out about the services we offer here: https://sites.google.com/benhue.com/dei-pro-training-and-coaching/home   Join the mailing list link: https://forms.gle/9GZtBkvkYgUbziho9   Stay Connected with Ashanti: LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue  Get in Touch: ashanti@benhue.com

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue will be sharing what she's learned over the summer while completing some coach training and coaching DEI professionals. She also covers what topics are upcoming on the podcast over the next few months.    “Within an organisation, you have to be proficient, you have to be a master at communicating and influencing at facilitating nevermind the subject matter. However, Ashanti will be digging deeper into growth, mindset, and how DEI professionals can understand the brain and how it works. Resulting in becoming better, more competent, and transformational DEI professionals”   Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   You can find out about the services we offer here: https://sites.google.com/benhue.com/dei-pro-training-and-coaching/home   Join the mailing list link: https://forms.gle/9GZtBkvkYgUbziho9   Stay Connected with Ashanti: LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue  Get in Touch: ashanti@benhue.com

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil - Dhue talks to Femily Howe about her experience as a DEI practitioner working with startup founders and navigating the challenges they face.   “Figure out your “self -help” statement, it doesn't have to be the one that lasts forever but you picking a niche off the bat will really help you ……Are you helping their leadership get better at contributing finances back to underserved communities that are aligned with the mission? Are you helping entry level people be less bias with their colleagues? Or are you helping like minded managers understand your rights, your race, your gender or your orientation”   Episode Highlights: The importance of branding to a DEI practitioner  How critical leadership skills are when building your DEI brand  How to build a niche as a DEI practitioner     About Femily Howe : As a Gender/Cultural Studies MA with a big firm management consulting background, Femily speaks at and advises tech and other male-majority sectors and teams, like law, finance, and engineering - on gender, equity, and building an ally culture across race and orientation as well.   From Silicon Valley's Watermark Conference for Women to South  by Southwest (SXSW), Femily frequently speaks to companies, conferences, and women's events.   Femily is an expert media source for outlets including ABC, CBS, C-SPAN, NPRM Fast Company, and US News and World Report.   In 2018, Femily founded the American Association of Corporate Gender Strategies (corporategender.org) to address a growing demand for rigor in the field.   Connect with Femily: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilymeghanmorrowhowe/ Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   You can find out about the services we offer here: https://sites.google.com/benhue.com/dei-pro-training-and-coaching/home   Join the mailing list link: https://forms.gle/9GZtBkvkYgUbziho9   Stay Connected with Ashanti: LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue  Get in Touch: ashanti@benhue.com  

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil - Dhue discusses what existing data and feedback tells us about the perception of Chief Diversity Officers within organizations, the challenges which arise when non black people of colour are in these roles and the impact lack of trust has on organisations.    Sometimes Chief Diversity Officers dismiss employee sentiments - ‘but a lot of that is because they don't understand the historical distrust, disappointment and frustration that people might have about the things happening in their workplace. For example, the broken promises, empty pledges, and the impact this can have on people's morale and investment in contributing towards driving forward DEI goals.” Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   You can find out about the services we offer here: https://sites.google.com/benhue.com/dei-pro-training-and-coaching/home   Join the mailing list link: https://forms.gle/9GZtBkvkYgUbziho9   Stay Connected with Ashanti: LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue  Get in Touch: ashanti@benhue.com  

In this episode, Ashanti Bentil - Dhue talks to Ellie Highwood about her transition to becoming a DEI practitioner from the world of academia and research, and the similarities involved in the two fields. Episode Highlights: Ellie Highwood's journey to becoming a DEI Independent consultant  The skills needed in other to become a competent DEI practitioner  How important continuous learning is to DEI practitioners  About Ellie Highwood: Ellie Highwood is a diversity and inclusion consultant, and a career and personal development coach to academics and scientists. Ellie has been running her own portfolio career since 2019 following more than 20 years as a leading climate scientist and 4 years in a strategic leadership role as Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Reading in the UK. As a Diversity and Inclusion specialist, Ellie works in depth with HR and leadership teams, inclusion networks or diversity and inclusion champions to review or develop strategy, develop meaningful action plans, deliver or develop training, and support diversity and inclusion champions in their role. Her recent and current clients span the world of Higher Education, Learned and Professional Societies, the UK military and co-ownership organisations in the UK. Ellie utilises all her experience working in and managing international research collaborations and leadership teams, teaching and talking to audiences from age 5 to 85, collecting, analysing and interpreting data, and “leading through influence” at Board level to identify where they need to drive change in culture and process. As a Career and Personal Development Coach Ellie specialises in helping academics and researchers grow in their roles, plan their careers and deal with the deluge of demands on their time and energy. She also loves working with would-be career changers to discover what is right for them, and empowering women in science, engineering and leadership to find confidence and success whilst remaining true to their values in these traditionally male dominated environments.  These roles give Ellie the opportunity to work with fascinating people and organisations, and use all her experience of juggling leadership, research, management, parenthood and life to contribute to making the world a fairer place. When she is not working you can find her walking, crocheting, baking, listening to audio books or dancing in the kitchen. Connect with Ellie: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellie-highwood/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EllieHighwood Website: www.equasense.co.uk Book an exploratory call to discuss whether the DEI Prof Academy is right for you. You can ask any questions you may have. These spaces are very limited so if you'd like to have a chat with me directly about DEI competence and practice, then book a call here.   You can find out about the services we offer here: https://sites.google.com/benhue.com/dei-pro-training-and-coaching/home   Join the mailing list link: https://forms.gle/9GZtBkvkYgUbziho9   Stay Connected with Ashanti: LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue  Get in Touch: ashanti@benhue.com