Here Comes Everyone by The Conference Bard

Discover the intricate tapestry of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) that's shaping North America with "Here Comes Everyone."

Experts Peter Trevor Wilson and Rodney Patterson join us for an enlightening journey through DEI's past, present, and future. We tackle the tough issues—legislative hurdles, societal resistance, and the complex realities of fostering equity within the workforce. Our guests bring clarity to the multifaceted business case for diversity and pull back the curtain on the nuanced challenges of group-based DEI initiatives. 

Learn more about Human Equity®, as we explore how educational backgrounds can inadvertently foster groupthink and limit organizational growth. Rodney lends his profound insight on creating workplaces where every individual's knowledge, skills, and unique contributions are valued. We confront the misinterpretation and misapplication of meritocracy and how it affects women and people of color, drawing inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of a just society. 

Leadership takes center stage with strategies from "The No Asshole Rule," reinforcing the importance of a respectful and inclusive company culture. 

Join us for a thought-provoking episode that promises to spark conversation and inspire change.

For more info on my work as a conference emcee, spoken word artist, panel moderator and event designer check out my site at https://conferencebard.ca/

For the latest episode in our occasional series featuring poets my awesome co-host Kate Jenkinson and I are joined by Shane Schick.

I've known Shane for many years both through his excellent writing on Customer Experience, IT and Men's Fashion as well as his work designing and emceeing business conferences.  Given what an accomplished writer he is it should have come as no surprise that he is also a wonderful poet.

Shane is less of a performer than either Kate or I, but we found much common ground in this conversation,.  While Kate and I get on the stage, Shane sees his work as a "diary you want people to read".   What his "private" poetry and public journalism have in common is a focus on detail, the ability to create new, valuable insights,  and a lightness of touch that makes him easy to read even when he challenges how we see the world.

I hope you enjoy this conversation.  You can check out Shane's business writing at https://360magazine.com/

As always you can find out more about Kate, her poetry and HR practice at https://nextstephr.co.uk/

For more info on my work as a conference emcee, spoken word artist, panel moderator and event designer check out my site at https://conferencebard.ca/

I first came across Tucker and his poetry at the start of the pandemic and was blown away by the power of his imagery and the way his delivery of his words take you to whole different realm.  His words create worlds.

It was great to sit down with him and my co-host Kate to discuss his work - as a poet, keynote speaker and leadership guide.  It's wonderful to hear about how he create work that is deeply spiritual and then puts it to practical use with business audiences.

I've witnessed the magic he can create for an audience (it was at a DEI event) and I hope our brief conversation here which includes him sharing his work, gives you a glimpse of the magic he can bring to your events.

You can find out more about Tucker at https://www.tuckerbryantspeaks.com/

For more info on my work as a conference emcee, spoken word artist, panel moderator and event designer check out my site at https://conferencebard.ca/

Forpartu this second episode my wonderful co-host Kate Jenkinson and I are joined by Phil Isherwood who is a Hospice Poet.  In this role he spends time with patients and their families and helps them navigate their illness and final journey through writing poetry.

Phil demonstrates the power of poetry in this particularly challenging environment.  He speaks about the comfort his work brings and the kinds of thoughts that occupy the minds of those nearing the ends of their lives.

While addressing the pain of grief,  Phil's work is above all a celebration of the lives of those he serves.  It was a privilege to sit with him and get a view into his world for half an hour.  I'm sure our listeners will feel the same.

You can connect with Phil on Linked in at https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-isherwood-39a4ab23/

Kate's website is https://nextstephr.co.uk/

For more info on my work as a conference emcee, spoken word artist, panel moderator and event designer check out my site at https://conferencebard.ca/

For this first proper episode of Poetry Not Powerpoint, my co-host Kate of Next Step HR are delighted to have and our guest Rashad Rayford aka Rashad Tha Poet.

This is a fitting place to start our exploration of poetry and business as I first met Rashad when he opened The Conference Board's DEI event back in June 2020.  It was the first time I'd included a poet/spoken word artist on a conference agenda and he immediately created an emotional engagement with the audience that carried over for the following three days of the event.

I can only imagine the impact he has at in person events....

In addition to being a great poet, Rashad is an inspirational speaker.  In this conversation he shares his approach to his work and how poetry enriches the experience of those who attend his speaking gigs.  

As with all our guests he shares one of his own works as well as a poem that inspires him.

You can connect with Rashad on his site at https://www.rashadthapoet.com/

And Kate can be found at https://nextstephr.co.uk/

For more info on my work as a conference emcee, spoken word artist, panel moderator and event designer check out my site at https://conferencebard.ca/

POETRY NOT POWERPOINT is a new series of conversations published as part of the podcast Here Comes Everyone.

Co-hosted by Kate Jenkinson who is an executive coach and poet, each episode will feature a guest poet.  The guest will share a piece of their work as well as a poem that has inspired and influenced them.

Together we will explore their approach to verse and spoken word and talk about the value that they as artists bring to their audiences particularly to businesses.  

As The Conference Bard I firmly believe business events would benefit from featuring more poetry and fewer powerpoint presentations.  My hope is that hearing directly from some outstanding poets will convince you of this as well

(you can find out more about Kate at her website https://nextstephr.co.uk)

For more info on my work as a conference emcee, spoken word artist, panel moderator and event designer check out my site at https://conferencebard.ca/

One of Canada's most respected experts in the field of Diversity and author of The Human Equity Advantage, Peter Trevor Wilson joins us to discuss his upcoming article in Profiles in Diversity Journal.

Our conversation begins with his encounter with Desmond Tutu over 20 years ago and how the Archbishop inspired a journey for Peter that continues to this day.  We quickly move on to discuss Peter's work over the years and how for him diversity has always been about the unleashing of the potential in all of us, at work and in life.  

Given the influence Tutu has had on Peter he shares his perspective on our current moment informed by the idea of Ubuntu.  This idea which Tutu applied in the Truth and Reconciliation process in South Africa is taking on new relevance now in North America as on the one hand there is increased recognition of the inequities and injustices in our society while at the same time divisions seem to be deepening and becoming more volatile.

Peter touches on his admiration for Obama ("the best President ever"),  the pointlessness of guilt ("you can't change anything by feeling guilty"),  the fundament truth that to be human is to screw up and the need to practice diversity built on recognizing every individual's uniqueness as well as our shared humanity.

For more info on my work as a conference emcee, spoken word artist, panel moderator and event designer check out my site at https://conferencebard.ca/

Since before he developed the concept of Human Equity and wrote the book The Human Equity Advantage: Beyond Diversity to Talent Optimization in 2013, Peter Trevor Wilson has focussed on making lasting fundamental change in organizations.

Having discussed the murder of George Floyd and the trial of his murderer in previous episodes, Peter is the ideal final guest of 2021 as he reflects on how to make the changes we have seen begun in the last year stick in organizations.  It is now more than a year and a half on from the murder of George Floyd after which many employers made bold public statements committing to greater equity and it is important that we explore how to ensure those commitments result in actions that produce lasting change.

As with all my conversations with Peter his many years experience, deep humanity and wisdom mean we sometimes stray a bit from our planned discussion - but one thing you can be sure of is time with Peter is always well spent.

To contact Peter and find out more about Human equity, visit his new site at https://www.humanequityadvantage.com

For more info on my work as a conference emcee, spoken word artist, panel moderator and event designer check out my site at https://conferencebard.ca/

Having been inspired to host this podcast by the response I received at work to tragic loss (and by my friendship with my awesome co-host Sarah Hines), I urge you to listen to this important conversation with Sam Lillemoen.

Sam lost his husband Brad suddenly two years ago.  While leadership and many colleagues at work were very supportive, Sam still found himself struggling with grief while at the same time having to perform at work and interact with a wide range of people.  Feeling alone, isolated and useen in his grief at times he decided to launch a "Friends of Grief" group modelled on the Affinity Groups for DEI at Expedia.   He was overwhelmed by the response.

You see those who grieve at work are not really alone - it is such a common experience and through Friends of Grief Sam was able to connect with others living after loss - of loved ones, work, health, pets - and those wanting to support colleagues in these situations. Conversations began, sub groups formed and friendships were made.

Grief is not an event, it is a journey and one that we don't need to travel alone.  Friends of Grief stands as a tribute to the memory of Brad and also shows how an individual can take the initiative on grief and create a community that brings comfort to so many grieving in the workplace.

For more info on my work as a conference emcee, spoken word artist, panel moderator and event designer check out my site at https://conferencebard.ca/

Marilyn Johnson is Senior Director Sustainability at Clarivate and was recently named by The American Energy Society as one of the top 500 Global Sustainability Thought Leaders.

Marilyn and her work are great examples of how DEI is increasingly influencing thought and action in other functions across the organization.  While the impact of DEI is perhaps most obvious in HR related areas such as Talent Management or Employee Wellbeing,  Marilyn explains how it has become a core principle guiding sustainability at Clarivate.

Sustainability and Diversity both share a common characteristic - to be effective they can't be a function bolted on to the organization, they have to inform all activities in the organization.  They are thus natural partners in organizational transformation and culture.

This is a thought provoking, stimulating conversation that invites listeners to think more expansively about DEI to drive lasting change.

For more info on my work as a conference emcee, spoken word artist, panel moderator and event designer check out my site at https://conferencebard.ca/