A Dog Called Diversity

Michael Lints is our first podcast guest to do a repeat appearance. Back in June 2020 he wrote a blog post called “I’m exhausted and I want you to know why” which was his reaction to the killing of George Floyd and subsequent protests. So many people asked Michael “what can I do?”. 

Michael came on our podcast in April 2021 to talk about his experiences as a black person and share his plans to produce a documentary called “Broken Chains” to share the experiences and struggles of black people, including his own story, in accessing education, health care, travel, getting a job and so on. 

Broken chains premiered late in 2021 and in this episode, we learn about how well the documentary is doing, the impact it is making and what’s next for Michael.

Support the show

 The Culture Ministry we specialise in building sustainable businesses through productive and effective work cultures.

We do this through:

🟡 Culture Audits, Surveys, Benchmarking and Data Work

🟡 Crafting Culture Strategy that connects with Organisational Purpose

🟡 Long term leadership programs to advance leadership teams in building sustainable and inclusive cultures. What that leaders say, do, and measure, has a massive impact on your culture and the sustainability of your business.

 🟡 Providing structure and tools for Employee Resource Groups to be successful, and drive better business outcomes.

We love working with organisations who know change is needed.

 Go to https://www.thecultureministry.com/ to learn more

Sign up to our newsletter.

If you enjoyed this episode and maybe learnt something please share with your friends on social media, give a 5 star rating on Apple podcasts and leave a comment. This makes it easier for others to find A Dog Called Diversity.

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Dave Bahr is a self-confessed baseball fan, author, disability advocate and accessibility expert as well as being completely blind. Lisa talked to Dave about how he acquired his disability, the love of his life Priscilla who had brittle bone disease (Osteogenesis imperfecta), the common stereotypes of being blind, guide dogs and the technology Dave uses to interact with the world.

Through his writing and public speaking, Dave works to demystify the public’s perception of how to interact with people who have disabilities and those who help them such as service animals.

We hope you enjoy learning and hearing from Dave. Here’s our key takeaways:

• People with disabilities all have different experiences and different levels of accessibility. Someone who is blind will have different abilities and experience the world differently to another blind person.
• Universal design is great in theory but in practice everyone is different. Dave gave a couple of great examples to illustrate how not everyone can access or use something that has been “universally designed”.
• In making accommodations in organisations, just forget political correctness and just ask people what they need while recognising the skills they can contribute. 

 
Get in contact with Dave at his business In-sighful Living 

Grab Dave's book "PRAVE" here

Listen to Adam Grant's podcast episode  Work Life:  "It's time to stop ignoring disability"

At The Culture Ministry we know how challenging and lonely it can be working in Diversity and Inclusion and how progress is often slow. 

You might be just getting started in Diversity and Inclusion, or you might be on your way. The Culture Ministry is here to help you with your Diversity and Inclusion progress. Go to www.thecultureministry.com to learn more

If you enjoyed this episode and maybe learnt something please share with your friends on social media, give a 5 star rating on Apple podcasts and leave a comment. This makes it easier for others to find A Dog Called Diversity. 

Support the show

 The Culture Ministry we specialise in building sustainable businesses through productive and effective work cultures.

We do this through:

🟡 Culture Audits, Surveys, Benchmarking and Data Work

🟡 Crafting Culture Strategy that connects with Organisational Purpose

🟡 Long term leadership programs to advance leadership teams in building sustainable and inclusive cultures. What that leaders say, do, and measure, has a massive impact on your culture and the sustainability of your business.

 🟡 Providing structure and tools for Employee Resource Groups to be successful, and drive better business outcomes.

We love working with organisations who know change is needed.

 Go to https://www.thecultureministry.com/ to learn more

Sign up to our newsletter.

If you enjoyed this episode and maybe learnt something please share with your friends on social media, give a 5 star rating on Apple podcasts and leave a comment. This makes it easier for others to find A Dog Called Diversity.

A Dog Called Diversity is proud to be featured in Feedspo...

A lawyer at Bloomberg for over 10 years Amin Kassam is the epitome of intersectionality. Being ethnically Indian, Muslim and gay. As Amin says being muslim and gay is two closets to come out of.

 Amin speaks about the challenges growing up where he never felt he belonged anywhere, and how hard it was to reconcile all aspects of his identify without visible role models. He also thinks “closet” is a terrible metaphor for coming out. He likes the analogy of a curtain that is slowly unveiled (we like this too). 

Amin talks about the obligation for companies to create a safe space for LGBTIQ+ people particularly in Asia. In the West people often come out to their family and friends first and may cover in the workplace to avoid discrimination. In the East, where Amin lives and works it can often be the opposite. People often feel more comfortable to be “out” in their workplaces, but not with their families who they often still live with.

Amin Kassam is a great example of how we can all make a difference and contribute to change in our organisations .

Our key takeaways are:

• How important it is to understand and develop cultural competencies to create inclusion in organisations. Having diverse people bring diversity of thought to build innovation.
• The importance of addressing intersectionality in our Diversity & Inclusion work, and
• The importance of believing in yourself and being confident. The more you are  yourself, the more authentic you are and this leads to better outcomes for you and others. 

During the episode we referred to:
Dr Kimberlé Crenshaw
Edelman trust barometer

At The Culture Ministry we know how challenging and lonely it can be working in Diversity and Inclusion and how progress is often slow.  You might be just getting started in Diversity and Inclusion, or you might be on your way. The Culture Ministry is here to help you with your Diversity and Inclusion progress. Go to www.thecultureministry.com to learn more.

Support the show

 The Culture Ministry we specialise in building sustainable businesses through productive and effective work cultures.

We do this through:

🟡 Culture Audits, Surveys, Benchmarking and Data Work

🟡 Crafting Culture Strategy that connects with Organisational Purpose

🟡 Long term leadership programs to advance leadership teams in building sustainable and inclusive cultures. What that leaders say, do, and measure, has a massive impact on your culture and the sustainability of your business.

 🟡 Providing structure and tools for Employee Resource Groups to be successful, and drive better business outcomes.

We love working with organisations who know change is needed.

 Go to https://www.thecultureministry.com/ to learn more

Sign up to our newsletter.

If you enjoyed this episode and maybe learnt something please share with your friends on social media, give a 5 star rating on Apple podcasts and leave a comment. This makes it easier for others to find A Dog Called Diversity.

A Dog Called Diversity is proud to be featured in Feedspo...

This week’s guest didn’t start out as a heavy industry expert in Diversity & Inclusion but you never know where life is going to take you. Teagan Dowler started studied psychology but a work placement at a mining company changed everything. 

She started work in human resources and learning and development, and built a career and a business challenging detrimental stereotypes and culture present in traditionally male dominated businesses. These include aggression, fear driven, inflexible cultures resulting in broken relationships and families and physical and mental health issues. 

Teagan still loves the industry and her business thebcw (the blue collar woman) consults back to heavy industry to make a difference.

You can get in touch with Teagan at LinkedIn, Instagram or at her website.

Support the show

 The Culture Ministry we specialise in building sustainable businesses through productive and effective work cultures.

We do this through:

🟡 Culture Audits, Surveys, Benchmarking and Data Work

🟡 Crafting Culture Strategy that connects with Organisational Purpose

🟡 Long term leadership programs to advance leadership teams in building sustainable and inclusive cultures. What that leaders say, do, and measure, has a massive impact on your culture and the sustainability of your business.

 🟡 Providing structure and tools for Employee Resource Groups to be successful, and drive better business outcomes.

We love working with organisations who know change is needed.

 Go to https://www.thecultureministry.com/ to learn more

Sign up to our newsletter.

If you enjoyed this episode and maybe learnt something please share with your friends on social media, give a 5 star rating on Apple podcasts and leave a comment. This makes it easier for others to find A Dog Called Diversity.

A Dog Called Diversity is proud to be featured in Feedspo...

Shoon Lim is one of the best known and well-respected Diversity and Inclusion leaders in Asia, and for good reason. She has built a career with global roles based in Singapore at blue chip companies such as Shell, Microsoft and Givaudan.  

She now leads the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Practice (DEI) at Russell Reynolds Associates in Asia Pacific, supporting DEI search and consulting including recruiting diverse board directors and advising on DEI governance.

In this episode she talks about how her career moved into Diversity & Inclusion work, how she loves to solve problems, the roadblocks she has experienced in her career, and how as a geek she loved her time at Microsoft. If you love a good career story and like to be challenged about diversity and inclusion topics you will love hearing from Shoon.

Interested in the quietest place on earth? Check it out here.

Support the show

 The Culture Ministry we specialise in building sustainable businesses through productive and effective work cultures.

We do this through:

🟡 Culture Audits, Surveys, Benchmarking and Data Work

🟡 Crafting Culture Strategy that connects with Organisational Purpose

🟡 Long term leadership programs to advance leadership teams in building sustainable and inclusive cultures. What that leaders say, do, and measure, has a massive impact on your culture and the sustainability of your business.

 🟡 Providing structure and tools for Employee Resource Groups to be successful, and drive better business outcomes.

We love working with organisations who know change is needed.

 Go to https://www.thecultureministry.com/ to learn more

Sign up to our newsletter.

If you enjoyed this episode and maybe learnt something please share with your friends on social media, give a 5 star rating on Apple podcasts and leave a comment. This makes it easier for others to find A Dog Called Diversity.

A Dog Called Diversity is proud to be featured in Feedspo...

Neil Wilson and his wife Stephanie have 3 beautiful sons. Archie 16, Lewis 13 and Jasper 9. When you think of raising three boys you probably think of a house filled with loud noises, strange smells, messiness and if you have boys yourself you will know the house is also filled with love and fun.

But the Wilson household is a little different. Of course there is love (and lots of it) and I’m pretty sure there is still fun and perhaps strange smells. In addition, all three boys have medical challenges, including two with an incurable life-threatening heart condition HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), and two are neurodiverse. 

In February this year 16-year-old Archie came out to his parents as gay.  If you ever needed to hear a tale of love and acceptance, this is it. As you will hear from Neil there is so much love in this family. I hope you enjoy listening and learning about his 3 hearts, his beautiful boys.

Support the show

 The Culture Ministry we specialise in building sustainable businesses through productive and effective work cultures.

We do this through:

🟡 Culture Audits, Surveys, Benchmarking and Data Work

🟡 Crafting Culture Strategy that connects with Organisational Purpose

🟡 Long term leadership programs to advance leadership teams in building sustainable and inclusive cultures. What that leaders say, do, and measure, has a massive impact on your culture and the sustainability of your business.

 🟡 Providing structure and tools for Employee Resource Groups to be successful, and drive better business outcomes.

We love working with organisations who know change is needed.

 Go to https://www.thecultureministry.com/ to learn more

Sign up to our newsletter.

If you enjoyed this episode and maybe learnt something please share with your friends on social media, give a 5 star rating on Apple podcasts and leave a comment. This makes it easier for others to find A Dog Called Diversity.

A Dog Called Diversity is proud to be featured in Feedspo...

In life it can take time to know who you are, and how you need or want to show up in the world. This is true for all of us in life. For some it can an even more challenging path. 

Emery Fung however always knew he was male despite being born female. He always knew how he wanted to dress and how he wanted to be. Born in Hong Kong to a traditional and conservative Chinese family the road to transitioning gender was not easy. 

 This is a story of being clear of your identity and being courageous to start down that path. If you ever wanted to understand the process for changing gender Emery talks about his steps, and lessons, and we can be more inclusive for transgender people.

Would you like to listen to Emery's podcast? Here's the link to Awkward Turtle at Work

Emery also has a TEDx talk recorded at TEDxCityUHongKong called Best kept secret in life - Be different. Make sure you check it out.

Support the show

 The Culture Ministry we specialise in building sustainable businesses through productive and effective work cultures.

We do this through:

🟡 Culture Audits, Surveys, Benchmarking and Data Work

🟡 Crafting Culture Strategy that connects with Organisational Purpose

🟡 Long term leadership programs to advance leadership teams in building sustainable and inclusive cultures. What that leaders say, do, and measure, has a massive impact on your culture and the sustainability of your business.

 🟡 Providing structure and tools for Employee Resource Groups to be successful, and drive better business outcomes.

We love working with organisations who know change is needed.

 Go to https://www.thecultureministry.com/ to learn more

Sign up to our newsletter.

If you enjoyed this episode and maybe learnt something please share with your friends on social media, give a 5 star rating on Apple podcasts and leave a comment. This makes it easier for others to find A Dog Called Diversity.

A Dog Called Diversity is proud to be featured in Feedspo...

Today’s guest is really “out”. So much so he calls himself The Gay Leadership Dude.  Dr Steve Yacovelli runs Top Dog Learning Group, delivering inclusive leadership training among other things. We just had to have him as a guest given this podcast is called A Dog Called diversity. 

Dr Steve talks about his own story, how he is making a difference with Dog Top Learning Group and his latest book.

Dr Steve is based in Florida and as such we learn about the “Don’t say gay” bill that’s recently passed in the state of Florida. This is a piece of legislation which on the face seems quite innocent. It’s about in banning instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten to 3rd grade and prohibits similar lessons for older students unless age appropriate. But as you will hear there are lots of issues that those of us who are heterosexual don’t even realise.

We hope you enjoy learning from The Gay Leadership Dude Dr Steve Yacovelli and the work he is doing to make the world more inclusive. 

Want to get in touch with Dr Steve? Or maybe buy a book?

Top Dog Learning Group
LinkedIn
The Gay Leadership Dude
Get his book "Pride Leadership"

Support the show

 The Culture Ministry we specialise in building sustainable businesses through productive and effective work cultures.

We do this through:

🟡 Culture Audits, Surveys, Benchmarking and Data Work

🟡 Crafting Culture Strategy that connects with Organisational Purpose

🟡 Long term leadership programs to advance leadership teams in building sustainable and inclusive cultures. What that leaders say, do, and measure, has a massive impact on your culture and the sustainability of your business.

 🟡 Providing structure and tools for Employee Resource Groups to be successful, and drive better business outcomes.

We love working with organisations who know change is needed.

 Go to https://www.thecultureministry.com/ to learn more

Sign up to our newsletter.

If you enjoyed this episode and maybe learnt something please share with your friends on social media, give a 5 star rating on Apple podcasts and leave a comment. This makes it easier for others to find A Dog Called Diversity.

A Dog Called Diversity is proud to be featured in Feedspo...

Do you know how to react if someone comes out to you? What do you say if someone tells you they are gay or transgender? 

In this episode we hear from Marco De Vries from the Netherlands. He talks about growing up in Amsterdam, the first country to legalise gay marriage. He tells his story of coming out, accepting himself, and meeting and marrying the love of his life, twice. And he gives great advice about how to react if someone comes out to you and how not all gay people are marching in parades and wearing glitter and rainbows. 

An interesting point Marco raised was that most gay people are not raised by gay people and how parents of kids need to get themselves educated by reading and talking to experienced people to learn and support their kids. 

There is so much to learn and Marco's conversation is a great contribution.

Support the show

 The Culture Ministry we specialise in building sustainable businesses through productive and effective work cultures.

We do this through:

🟡 Culture Audits, Surveys, Benchmarking and Data Work

🟡 Crafting Culture Strategy that connects with Organisational Purpose

🟡 Long term leadership programs to advance leadership teams in building sustainable and inclusive cultures. What that leaders say, do, and measure, has a massive impact on your culture and the sustainability of your business.

 🟡 Providing structure and tools for Employee Resource Groups to be successful, and drive better business outcomes.

We love working with organisations who know change is needed.

 Go to https://www.thecultureministry.com/ to learn more

Sign up to our newsletter.

If you enjoyed this episode and maybe learnt something please share with your friends on social media, give a 5 star rating on Apple podcasts and leave a comment. This makes it easier for others to find A Dog Called Diversity.

A Dog Called Diversity is proud to be featured in Feedspo...

Go to www.thecultureministry.com/salary-survey

This is a special short episode where I talk about:

• why I decided to run a salary survey, just for people working in Diversity & Inclusion
• the structure of the survey, and
• confidentiality and data privacy.

Most importantly, participating in this salary survey will help you understand how your role compares in the market and help you understand how other companies are doing things. A big shout out to our friends at Volt International who sponsored the survey.

Have a listen and head to the website to complete before March 14, 2022

Lisa xx

Support the show

 The Culture Ministry we specialise in building sustainable businesses through productive and effective work cultures.

We do this through:

🟡 Culture Audits, Surveys, Benchmarking and Data Work

🟡 Crafting Culture Strategy that connects with Organisational Purpose

🟡 Long term leadership programs to advance leadership teams in building sustainable and inclusive cultures. What that leaders say, do, and measure, has a massive impact on your culture and the sustainability of your business.

 🟡 Providing structure and tools for Employee Resource Groups to be successful, and drive better business outcomes.

We love working with organisations who know change is needed.

 Go to https://www.thecultureministry.com/ to learn more

Sign up to our newsletter.

If you enjoyed this episode and maybe learnt something please share with your friends on social media, give a 5 star rating on Apple podcasts and leave a comment. This makes it easier for others to find A Dog Called Diversity.

A Dog Called Diversity is proud to be featured in Feedspo...