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As a person of color, SAV's experiences in the outdoor world have not just shaped him, but also profoundly transformed his outlook on life, community, and identity. His inspiring journey is a testament to the power of the outdoors in fostering a sense of belonging, and why it's essential to extend this inclusivity into the workplace.

From his humble beginnings with a weekend job at Orvis, Sav Sankaran has gone on to play a pivotal role in the company's corporate landscape. His experiences navigating the outdoor industry as a person of color have informed his unique approach to fostering belonging.

In this episode I caught up with Sav at the  Outdoor Economy Conference in Cherokee, NC where he was a panelist speaking on “Breaking Barriers: Investing in DEI to Transform the Outdoor Industry”. We walk through Sav's personal journey in the outdoors, and he reflects on how his passion for fly fishing helped unlock his identity, and help gave him sense of community as a young boy growing up in Pennsylvania's Central Appalachia.

Sav discusses the importance of fostering a sense of belonging for the underrepresented in the outdoors, and he draws on his personal journey to help contextualize an equitable and inclusive workplace.  Sav and I talk about our shared belief in treating people like human beings with dignity and kindness, and he urges us to not get caught up in the trappings of misunderstanding and over politicization.

Based on decades of first hand experiences, the outdoors creates spaces where people from all walks of life, beliefs and backgrounds can come together to experience nature's beauty together. It's truly special when that carries over and translates into the workplace too.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Orvis
Outdoor Economy Conference
Made X Mtns

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
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