Special Guest: Erika Shorter
   
 Erika brings an amazing and unique background being a Diversity Female, ex-Military Veteran, that looks at Diversity as an individual situation within every single company. Erika brings 21 years of D&I experience in the military, government agency, and private sectors and paints a unique picture that we often do not think about. 
 
 Podcast Notes:

• How do government agencies and the military differ when it comes D&I initiatives and the advancement of these initiatives. 
• Training is there but just lacking and the bare minimum - the most value you receive depends on the commanding officer or person running the organization
• Overall the government doesn't do broad enough and extensive training
• In the military - people with long names - they would Americanize people by shortening long names into nicknames without asking the person if that was OK.
• What was it like for an African American Female 10 years ago
• Being female was challenging in 2000; being African American Female, you didn't feel comfortable
• Women were frequently viewed as objects - sexual contentations
• Diversity in organizations can be a lot of things, even things not defined by the EEO
• Diversity doesn't always mean if you are African American you are Diversity
• Organizations are all different, self-reflecting on the organization on the makeup of a company defines Diversity 
• How does the military prepare people for the private sector - exposure
• Challenges culturally around the globe being female in the military 
• Being in the military can even cause people to be discriminating on
• Military stigma impacting people when finding work
• How do we hire Diversity without causing reverse discrimination?
• What does Belonging mean in the phrase Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging
• Companies have to create a work culture where everyone feels they belong in the organization
• Companies need to self reflect as an organization on what Diversity means to self and us reflect on our own biases
• Everyone has biases no matter who you are and what you stand for
• Teaching people about their biases and how it impacts an organization

 Guest Info

Erika Fountain Shorter
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-fountain-shorter/
   
 GLINTER SOCIAL MEDIA AND CONTACT INFO
  [email protected] (Email)
  https://www.michaelglinter.com/podcast-1 (Podcast)
  http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelglinter2 (Linked In)
  #MichaelAGlinter (Twitter)
  http://www.facebook.com/michael.glinter (Facebook)
  https://www.youtube.com/c/MichaelGlinter (YouTube)
  www.michaelglinter.com (Website)