SPECIAL EPISODE: Diversity Matters in the Middle Market, brought to you by the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) and Connection Builders.

Building a career without coming from a background rich in resources can lead to many challenges and struggles. But it can also develop unique qualities that bring perspective and diversity into the workplace and sets you apart as someone with unique value to your team. Today's guest, Charmone Adams, a senior manager with Grant Thornton, is the youngest of seven children and the first person in his family to have pursued tertiary education. During our conversation, Charmone gets candid about feeling like he was behind and how lacking resources can hold people back from reaching success. We also discuss why diversity is a tool to grow your perspective and can often strengthen your team. 

 Key Points From This Episode: 

• Some of the challenges that came with being the first person in his family to complete higher education.
• How having a lack of resources prevents people from being successful.
• The gratitude and appreciation he has as someone who did not come from resources.
• How the mentality of working harder and smarter has enabled him to be successful.
• Why diversity is an essential tool to grow your perspective. 
• The importance of understanding that everyone comes from a different background.
• Why Charmone believes it is not sustainable to be traditional in your approach.
• Why it is vital to create a welcoming environment.
• Where you should look for talent outside of the conventional pathways.
• Why Charmone would recommend that young students study accounting to understand business.
• Why Charmone believes resilience is the most important quality to create success. 

Charmone Adams on LinkedIn
Charmone Adams on Email
Grant Thornton
ACG DEI Committee Mission and Resources
Connection Builders
Alex Drost on LinkedIn