Over the summer, we all witnessed as companies took to social media - many for the first time in their histories - to announce solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. While some brands took definitive action to support the BIPOC community and employees, many missed the mark (News flash: a black square doesn't cut it).
I recently took to Instagram for a Live chat with best-selling author and CEO of The Memo, a career development platform for women of color, Minda Harts, to explore how everyone - from Fortune 500 executives to small business owners - can work toward creating a more diverse, inclusive workforce.
Here are some top takeaways from our conversation:
For the individual: Allyship is as much of a daily practice as brushing your teeth or being a good friend. What kind of friend would you be if you picked and chose when you would stand up for your friend? And if you’re afraid to get it wrong, don't be! Getting it wrong is okay. Minda reminded us that more harm is done by doing nothing and staying silent.
For those with influence: How many companies do you think came out and made a statement but have since made zero changes to their company culture? (Answer: Too many.) It's time to commit to action.
What can we do?
Diversify talent.
Diversify leadership.
Ensure there is equal pay for BIPOC employees.
Work with diversity and inclusion consultants to identify areas of improvement, and learn how to implement best practices.
Create a system that allows BIPOC employees to communicate issues and needs without fear of repercussions.
Equip management with tools to better serve a diverse workforce.
Invest in the ideas, passion, and success of your BIPOC workforce (#MentorshipMonth is right around the corner!)
When it comes to inequalities in the workplace, don't wait for others to make a change. As Minda pointed out, we can’t fix everything at once - or by ourselves - but we can fix what we can control individually.
What can you do to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace?
Check out the whole conversation with Minda here.
