Imagine Belonging at Work

Nearly a decade ago, the State of North Carolina enacted HB2, the first statewide anti-trans bathroom bill introduced in the United States. It required transgender people to use public restrooms inconsistent with their gender identity, which sparked widespread political backlash and severe economic consequences. Estimates suggest the legislation costs the state almost $5 billion annually.

Since that time, nearly every state across the country has attempted to pass similar, or even more restrictive laws. In just the past two years, we've seen over 1,000 anti-LGBTQ+ bills - many of which target the lives and well-being of transgender children. As a result, a growing number of families are uprooting their lives and relocating to more supportive and affirming states.

While public policy over the past two decades has led to significant legislative wins for LGBTQ+ people – the freedom to marry, the ability to openly serve in the military, and protections against hate crimes - these basic freedoms are under siege, and this assault is having adverse impacts on our workplaces.

Many businesses have met these legislative efforts with formal rebukes from chambers of commerce, business advocacy organizations, and at shareholder meetings. Yet, many business leaders struggle with how to effectively communicate why pride at work is essential for their businesses to grow into the future. If you're among this group of leaders, you're in the right place.

Our featured guest, Erin Uritus is here to help. Erin is the CEO of Out & Equal, which is the premier nonprofit working to advance LGBTQ+ representation, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace, and beyond. She is a passionate advocate for creating diverse and thriving workplaces where everyone can reach their full potential. During our conversation, you will:

---Discover the alarming impact of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, which is causing a talent exodus and hindering business growth.

---Gain insights from a recent Out & Equal report, Talent on the Move, revealing the needs and expectations of LGBTQ+ employees in today's climate.

---Explore actions business leaders can take to gain a competitive advantage by doing the right thing and investing in LGBTQ+ DEIB interventions to enjoy business growth.

Our conversation is designed to support people like you – visionary people leaders, and those on their way to joining us. Savor this insightful talk, and if you're looking for more ways to connect with inspiring leaders like Erin, be sure to join the Belonging Membership Community – a community of practice committed to putting our values of belonging, community, and collaboration in action. Members have the unique opportunity to connect with guests like Erin for 1:1 laser coaching sessions.

Join the community here: belongingmembershipcommunity.com.

Stay connected with Rhodes here: www.rhodesperry.com/subscribe

Learn more about Out & Equal here: www.outandequal.org

Interested in learning more about Out & Equal and the benefits of an Out & Equal Partnership? Visit Become a Partner | Out & Equal.

Thanks for growing our #BelongingMovement!

Do you ever feel like you're stuck in a professional persona? You show up, put your head down, and power through the workday, but a nagging sense of inauthenticity lingers. Maybe you crave deeper connections with colleagues, or you dream of a career that aligns with your true values. Here's the good news: authenticity isn't just about feeling good at work; it's the key to unlocking a more fulfilling and successful professional life.

Yet, the idea of being your authentic self at work might sound daunting. After all, wouldn't that mean sharing every quirky detail of your personality? The good news is authenticity isn't about unfiltered self-disclosure. It's about bringing your core values, strengths, and passions to the table in a way that feels appropriate for the situation.

Think of authenticity as the foundation of trust. When you show up as your authentic self, you create an environment where others may consider doing the same. Yet when you lack the agency, or the choice to determine how much of your real self you want to bring into your work, authenticity won't be an option. And if authenticity isn't an option, then growing trust, the ultimate business currency, won't be an option either.

Agency is about power, and naturally, those of us who hold more power at work may treat authenticity as a dial that you can turn up or down depending on how relevant a personal detail is to the work at hand. Yet for those of us who hold less power at work, showing up as our real selves on the job is not a choice – it's a liability. So how do we grow our collective agency to realize the authenticity advantage?

Fortunately, today's featured guest, Don Mamone, offers their insights on this episode of the Imagine Belonging Podcast. Don is a renowned identity coach who teaches others how to reach their maximum potential and impact by discovering and embracing their true identity. As a nonbinary person, Don supports their clients build safer spaces that support and encourage unapologetic authenticity.

Don will explain how authenticity can lead to increased trust with your colleagues, leading to better feedback, career development opportunities, and potentially even promotions. You'll also learn how authentic connections with colleagues can create a more positive and supportive work environment, boosting your overall well-being and happiness.

This conversation is specifically designed to support organizational leaders, DEIB practitioners, and HR professionals seeking everyday actions they can take to maximize the power of the authenticity advantage. During this conversation, we will gain:

--Strategies to balance authenticity with professionalism.

--Fresh ideas to bring your authentic self to work.

--Answers for why genuine connections are essential for success.

--Awareness of how authenticity builds trust with your manager and colleagues.

--Practical tips to identify your values & translate them into your career.

Savor this insightful talk, and if you're looking for more ways to connect with inspiring leaders like Don, be sure to join the Belonging Membership Community – a community of leaders, visionaries, and change makers committed to advancing their DEI goals while practicing community care. Members have the unique opportunity to engage with our featured thought leaders 1:1 after our podcast recordings where they can participate in a private laser coaching session with our guests.

To learn more about the Belonging Membership Community, please visit: www.belongingmembershipcommunity.com.

And now…let's jump into today's conversation…

In the wake of last year's Supreme Court decision to overturn affirmative action, certain media personalities and recalcitrant business leaders have falsely claimed that "DEI is dead." This claim may very well be true for the businesses that were never serious about setting this work up to succeed.

Yet, for businesses that want to remain relevant for the workforce and customers of the future, many are doubling down on their commitment. In fact, 75% of HR leaders believe DEI interventions are a crucial strategy to prepare for the future of work, which may be why 60% are increasing their DEI investments in 2024.

While the demand for DEI interventions remains high, employers are seeking evidence and evaluation that these interventions are working. They want to know if the needle is moving in the direction of building healthier workplace cultures and diverse teams, which lead to better decisions, innovative ideas, business success, and even industry breakthroughs.

So how do we design and evaluate the effectiveness of our work? Given the volatile, uncertain, and complex times we are living through, it's first important to ask better questions, starting with what kind of interventions does this current moment demand, and how can we link those interventions to our organization's broader strategic goals?

Fortunately, McKensie Mack, founder of MMG Earth offers their insights on this episode of the Imagine Belonging Podcast. McKensie's company recently partnered with Catalyst, a global nonprofit designed to accelerate progress for women through workplace inclusion, to design the Virtue Economy survey to better understand how organizational leaders, DEI practitioners, and other change-makers continue to learn grow and evolve as they strive to build healthier workplace cultures in the face of systemic and political adversity.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/953FGN2

McKensie is a leading voice on power, politics, and pop culture in a global marketplace. A trilingual tech enthusiast, future economist, and award-winning entrepreneur from the Southside of Chicago, they are the Founder and CEO of MMG EARTH, the first Black and nonbinary-led research and change management firm in the U.S. and Boundary Work, a public service platform dedicated to raising collective awareness on boundaries and offering educational information for the betterment of culture, systems, and society.

This conversation is specifically designed to support organizational leaders, DEIB practitioners, HR professionals, and other people leaders seeking everyday actions they can take to better assess the kind of L&D required to support, grow, and nurture leaders to advance their DEI interventions to build healthier workplace cultures.

Together, we will:

--Learn about the Virtue Economy and how it's influencing our workplace culture.

--Strategies on how to assess the kind of L&D support org leaders and DEI professionals need.

--Actions required to survey such a large group of professionals, and ways we can support.

--Ways to leverage the MMG World & Catalyst report to ensure our DEI interventions succeed.

Savor this insightful talk, and if you're looking for more ways to connect with inspiring leaders like McKensie, be sure to join the Belonging Membership Community – a community of leaders, visionaries, and change-makers committed to advancing their DEI goals while practicing community care. Members have the unique opportunity to engage with our featured thought leaders 1:1 after our podcast recordings where they can participate in a private laser coaching session with our guests.

To learn more about the Belonging Membership Community, please visit: www.belongingmembershipcommunity.com.

And now…let's jump into today's conversation…

Talking through tough issues at work can help initiate change and influence others by presenting different perspectives and approaches to solving problems. When we engage in healthy debate and work through conflict, our team is much closer to realizing its next innovative idea, product, or service.

Yet when we engage in challenging conversations, they have the potential of straining our professional relationships. They can also erode our health and well-being. As a result, many of us are conflict-avoidant, and there are good evolutionary reasons we exercise caution when conflict arises.

Our brains are wired to keep us safe from harm. When conflict arises, internal alarm bells ring loud, and we cling to what feels most comfortable. Tension arises, and psychological safety deteriorates. Specifically, we may fear negative consequences should we engage in a challenging conversation where we are uncertain of the outcome.

So how do we build the stamina required to talk through tough issues that arise at work when our instinct is to run in the opposite direction? Meaningful dialogue in any form requires two key ingredients: 1) risk, and 2) vulnerability. Risk arises because we are uncertain of the outcome, and vulnerability is necessary to maintain our presence as the dialogue continues to unfold.

Fortunately, this episode's featured thought leader, Dr. Elisa Glick, will offer suggestions based on her deep experience about how to create and maintain the conditions required to skillfully talk through tough issues at work.

Dr. Glick is a DEIB consultant, thought leader, and inclusive teaching expert. She is the first openly gay faculty member specializing in queer studies to be tenured at the University of Missouri, where she is Associate Professor Emerita. As the Founder and President of Elisa Glick Consulting, Elisa helps leaders and teams to have courageous conversations, overcome barriers to connection, and foster trust and collaboration.

This conversation is specifically designed to support executive leaders, DEIB practitioners, HR professionals, and other people leaders seeking everyday actions they can take to tame the tension that often arises when dialogue around tough issues is required. Together, we will explore:

---Strategies on how to override the brain's instinct to avoid conflict at all costs.

---Actions required to frame the conversation and establish community agreements.

---Behaviors that promote a shared sense of trust among participants in the dialogue.

---Ways to repair the environment if the trust they have created is eventually tested.

https://elisaglick.com/blogtest

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisa-glick-phd

Savor this insightful talk, and if you're looking for more ways to connect with inspiring leaders like Dr. Elisa Glick, be sure to join the Belonging Membership Community – a community of leaders committed to advancing their DEIB goals while practicing community care. Members have the unique opportunity to engage with our featured thought leaders 1:1 after our podcast recordings where they can participate in a private laser coaching session with our guests.

To learn more about the Belonging Membership Community, please visit: www.belongingmembershipcommunity.com.

Are you concerned about the #InclusiveLeadership skills gap in today's workforce? Are you curious about how to change this reality? You're not alone.

In this year's State of the Union, President Biden mentioned a recent meeting he had with nearly all Fortune 500 CEOs. He asked them what they needed most.

They unequivocally said, "a better-educated workforce." Yet many of these same CEOs resist making investments in their L&D programs, with 51% saying they are:

"A waste of time."

Past learning workshops my company delivered have enumerated the significant ROI gained from these programs, including higher engagement and retention rates. We've also discussed the C-Suite's responsibility in up-skilling their workforce.

Yet, to what degree of responsibility does the U.S. education system also have when it comes to equipping the next generation with inclusive leadership skills?

To answer this BIG question, Rhodes had a thought-provoking discussion with Rebecca Kling to explore the roles both businesses and the education system play in building a future-ready workforce.

Rebecca is the co-author of The Advocate Educator's Handbook, and is the co-founder of A Better World Collaborative. In this episode, you'll discover:

1) The surprising truth behind why CEOs might see learning programs as a "waste of time."

2) How recent legislative attacks on critical race theory (CRT), LGBTQ+ inclusive and book bans harm future leaders.

3) The alarming rise in school bullying and its impact on students' social-emotional skills (3).

4) Practical strategies for equipping younger generations with the leadership skills needed to thrive in a diverse workplace.

The conversation is a value-add for C-suite executives, DEIB professionals, social justice champions, and anyone passionate about building belonging at work.

Don't miss your chance to connect with a nationally renowned expert on this latest episode of the podcast.

Savor this insightful talk, and if you're looking for more ways to connect with inspiring leaders like Rebecca, be sure to join the Belonging Membership Community – a community of inclusive leaders committed to advancing their DEIB goals while practicing community care. Members have the unique opportunity to engage with our guests 1:1 after our podcast recordings where they can participate in a private Q&A session with our guest.

To learn more about the Belonging Membership Community, please visit: www.belongingmembershipcommunity.com.

To connect with Rebecca Kling please visit: www.rebeccakling.com.

The Advocate Educator website, Better World Collaborative

Many listen to this podcast to gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to build a workplace where we feel seen, connected, supported, and have a sense of pride on the job – these elements are what it takes to build belonging. To achieve this emotional outcome of belonging, we must be willing to explore and appreciate other people's worldviews. This exploration includes getting curious about the worldviews of others who may be opposed to our own – especially the values we hold closest to our hearts.

Learning about another person's worldview encourages us to practice sonder, the realization that each random person you pass is living a life as vivid and complex as your own. Sonder reminds us that each person's world is filled with their ambitions, friends, fears, routines, joys, beliefs, and behaviors, and until we engage in a respectful dialogue…this rich inner world is 100% invisible to us.

Now in our Belonging Membership Community, we have the opportunity to practice the art of sonder. When we practice sonder, it aligns with our community's shared value of seeing the humanity in another person, even when we don't agree with their worldviews. Practicing sonder helps us hone one of the peacebuilding skills many DEIB leaders have, which is the ability to understand human behavior…as unpredictable as it may be…

And today, we have the pleasure of learning from Diana Cutaia, Founder of Coaching Peace Consulting, who will share what it takes to build peace at work and beyond. She will share why these skills are so critical considering the current cultural and political environment we are living through. Diana founded her practice in 2012, with the goal of creating positive and safe cultures that empower its members to lead with empathy and understanding.

Together, our conversation supports DEIB professionals, along with other executives, and those on their way to joining us, by sharing her coaching philosophy and why peacebuilding skills are necessary for current and future workplace leaders. Topics explored during this episode include:

--Diana's calling to explore the meaning of peace earlier in her life.

--The power of play and connection to cultivate cultures of peace.

--Tactical strategies build cultures that feel like they were designed for you.

Savor this insightful talk, and if you're looking for more ways to connect with inspiring leaders like Dr. Carter, be sure to join the Belonging Membership Community – a community of leaders committed to advancing their DEIB goals while practicing community care. Members have the unique opportunity to engage with our guests 1:1 after our podcast recordings where they can participate in a private Q&A session with our guest.

Website: https://coachingpeace.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/coachingpeacelive/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianacutaia/

To learn more about the Belonging Membership Community, please visit: www.belongingmembershipcommunity.com.

Dorothy Enriquez, Founder of the Ellevate Collective, shares her wisdom about what's required to change the face of leadership to fully reflect today's workforce.

Workplace demographics are rapidly changing. Researchers predict that somewhere between 2045 to 2050 the US will become a majority-minority nation. This reality impacts all aspects of our lives, including the face of leadership in our workplaces.

Many executive teams I work with recognize this shift. They want to build inclusive workplaces that fully reflect these shifting demographics. Yet, many feel overwhelmed because they are uncertain where to begin. They juggle competing priorities. First, they must transform their current workplace culture to prepare for this future workforce. Second, they also must develop the next and most diverse generation of U.S. leaders.

In the Belonging Membership Community, we recognize that the next generation of leaders expect so much more from their workplaces and their career velocity. They hold high expectations for their employees, and status-quo companies refusing to transform their cultures consistently fail to meet them. They also recognize to fully prepare for the future, the face of leadership – and the way we lead - must also change.

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to chat with, Dorothy Enriquez, Founder of the Elevate Collective on the latest episode of the Imagine Belonging podcast. Dorthy generously offered tangible solutions for leaders who recognize the opportunity this moment presents. As a 15-year corporate veteran and author of Be Accountable, Be Fabulous, Dorothy helps leaders maximize their influence across all levels.

Listen Here

Watch Here

Together, our conversation supports inclusive leaders, visionaries, change makers, DEIB professionals, and social justice champions of all backgrounds and identities as we imagine and build the future of leadership. Some topics we explored include:

--Naming specific trends reshaping the face of leadership.

--Overcoming anti-Blackness hindering career velocity for Black professionals.

--Holding ourselves and other executives accountable to lead with our stated values.

--Distinguishing the roles your sponsors, mentors, allies, and cheerleaders play.

Savor this insightful talk, and if you're looking for more ways to connect with inspiring leaders like Dorothy, be sure to join the Belonging Membership Community – a community of inclusive leaders - and those on their way to joining us - committed to advancing their DEIB goals, practicing community care, and activating their belonging vision.

Members have the unique opportunity to engage with our guests, established thought leaders like Dorothy Enriquez, 1:1 after our live podcast recordings. There they can participate in a private Q&A session with our guests.

To learn more about the Belonging Membership Community, please visit: www.belongingmembershipcommunity.com.

Check out our next live podcast recording by joining our complimentary Belonging at Work Facebook or LinkedIn communities.

To connect with Dorothy Enriquez and enjoy 15% of The Ellevate Collective products, please visit: www.theellevatecollective.com, and use the promo code: belong15

Thanks for growing our #BelongingMovement!

In 2020, current US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy authored a powerful treatise on the impact of loneliness and the benefits of human connection. Drawing on rich science, compelling personal stories, and beautiful prose, it explores the high costs of loneliness and considers how individuals, societies, and governments can tackle the problem by promoting human connection by building a belonging society.

The book discovered one of the most common underlying themes of ill health was loneliness, without exemption by wealth, education, or accomplishments. The Surgeon General labeled this as an epidemic and said, "Loneliness and isolation have been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health." He went on to say that human relationships – connection and belonging – are the medicine that can allow us to heal and live healthier, more fulfilled, and productive lives.

Now in our Belonging Membership Community, we recognize that one important ingredient to building this belonging society is the role of the workplace. Sadly, building belonging cultures at work has yet to take root – it's a stretch for some of us to even permit ourselves to imagine what a belonging workplace can look and feel like on a full sensory level. As George Washington Carver once said, without vision, there can be no hope.

Fortunately, today we are joined by Cordell Carter, the Aspen Institute's Founding Director, who will us imagine what a belonging society can be, and we'll explore how the workplace can play a key role in activating this vision. Cordell is a transformative leader in championing democracy, DEIB, and promoting the greater good. His career journey is as diverse as it is impressive, spanning roles at the White House, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and IBM.

Together, our conversation supports DEIB professionals, along with other executives, and those on their way to joining us, by sharing his belonging society vision. He will also share practical strategies on how our workplaces can play a role into making this vision a reality. Topics explored during this episode include:

--Cordell's calling to serve as the Founding Director of the Aspen Institute's Project on Belonging.

--The importance of having a vision, even if that vision feels elusive, and how it can make what feels impossible become a reality.

--The threat of not addressing the global epidemic on exclusion and loneliness, and how building a belonging society and upend it.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cordellcarterii/

https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/cordell-carter-ii/

https://expectantadvisory.com/#about

https://www.festivalofthediaspora.org/

Savor this insightful talk, and if you're looking for more ways to connect with inspiring leaders like Cordell, be sure to join the Belonging Membership Community – a community of leaders committed to advancing their DEIB goals while practicing community care. Members have the unique opportunity to engage with our guests 1:1 after our podcast recordings where they can participate in a private Q&A session with our guest.

To learn more about the Belonging Membership Community, please visit: www.belongingmembershipcommunity.com.

And now…let's jump into today's conversation…

The different people, cultures, and ideas stitched throughout the fabric of your organization are at the end of the day your most powerful assets. Your workplace has the capacity to embrace all parts of these powerful differences, and the CEOs who recognize this truth will have a competitive advantage moving into the future of work.

CEOs who sponsor their organization's DEIB commitments say the need for these programs is stronger than ever given the stubbornly persistent inequities that create challenges to recruit top talent – including younger generations that demand working at organizations committed to building belonging at work.

Over the past 3 years, many workplaces have made significant investments to establish and advance their DEIB commitments. Sadly, some of these efforts have lost momentum, primarily due to politicians, courts, and sometimes customers challenging this work with false claims. These claims overlook over four decades of research and case studies underscoring the significant return on investment DEIB programs deliver to improve a company's profits, employee engagement, and customer loyalty.

The increasing polarization of DEIB interventions spawns new and unexpected challenges, which is why we are hosting this very important conversation with Paolo Gaudiano. Paolo is the Founder and Chief Scientist of Aleria, an impact startup that measures inclusion to help organizations have happier employees and superior financial performance – without guesswork or backlash.

Together, our conversation supports DEIB professionals, along with other executives, and those on their way to joining us, by offering practical strategies to diffuse today's backlash. Topics explored during this episode include:

--Paolo's calling to write his forthcoming book, "Measuring Inclusion: Higher Profits & Happier People, Without Guesswork or Backlash."

--The power of metrics capable of measuring the impact of DEIB interventions to help diffuse backlash and inform a strategic and beneficial approach that centers the workforce.

--The harms anti-DEIB legislation inflicts upon good business practices and employee morale, and how DEIB professionals can proactively respond to the backlash that left unchecked harms progress.

Savor this insightful talk, and if you're looking for more ways to connect with inspiring leaders like Paolo, be sure to join the Belonging Membership Community – a community of leaders committed to advancing their DEIB goals while practicing community care. Members have the unique opportunity to engage with our guests 1:1 after our podcast recordings where they can participate in a private Q&A session with our guest.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pgaudiano

https://www.aleria.tech/

To learn more about the Belonging Membership Community, please visit: www.belongingmembershipcommunity.com.

And now…let's jump into today's conversation…

Somatic practices, or body intelligence (BQ), offer an antidote to compassion fatigue and burnout. These practices help us locate and release stress, tension, and trauma by becoming more aware of the felt sensations within our bodies. This inner wisdom also has the potential to help us become more resilient and self-compassionate at a time of massive disruption and break-neck change on a global scale.

Somatic practices can be especially beneficial for those of us at the forefront of social justice movements – particularly for those of us who have lived experiences of racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of oppression. These practices can be especially healing for DEIB practitioners like us. They offer support in the following ways:

--Grounding and connecting with our inner strength and body intelligence.

--Developing healthier coping mechanisms for dealing with stress and trauma.

--Cultivating more compassion and understanding for ourselves and others.

If you are interested in learning more about the power of somatic practices and how they can help you build resiliency as you advance your DEIB goals during these transformative times, then join us on Thursday, October 26 at 10 am Pacific Time for a live podcast recording with Sarah Rimmel, Founder of Slow Integration Coaching, along with members of our Belonging Community. https://youtube.com/live/-pR99Tc7Gz0

As the Founder of Slow Integration Coaching, Sarah is deeply committed to the belonging ingredient of support – ensuring that each person on our team gets what they need so that they can do their best work. As an ICF-certified somatic coach, team coach, facilitator, and intercultural development educator, Sarah supports DEIB professionals and BIPOC people in centering their mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being while doing the external work they are committed to. https://www.instagram.com/slowintegrationcoaching/

Together, our conversation supports DEIB professionals, along with other inclusive leaders, to become more aware of our bodies' intelligence and deep wisdom. Topics explored include:

--Sarah's calling to leave a career in higher education to support DEIB professionals in avoiding and overcoming the harms of burnout, so that they can continue to support others.

--The power of how somatic practices can support us as we seek belonging and healing in our relationship with ourselves and those surrounding us.

--Somatic practices we can use in our personal and professional practice to help us embrace compassion for ourselves and those we interact with daily.

https://linktr.ee/SarahRimmel

https://www.sarahrimmel.com

Savor this insightful talk, and if you're looking for more ways to connect with inspiring leaders like Sarah, be sure to join the Belonging Membership Community – a community of leaders committed to advancing their DEIB goals while practicing community care. Members have the unique opportunity to engage with our guests 1:1 after our podcast recordings where they can participate in a private Q&A session with our guest.

To learn more about the Belonging Membership Community, please visit: www.belongingmembershipcommunity.com.