Inclusion in Progress

#031 - In this episode, Kay Fabella discusses why it's so hard to talk about race at work, and ways you can lead courageous conversations about antiracism at your organization.

Kay also gives more historical context for how and why racism was codified — and why dismantling systemic oppression that's centuries-old takes courage and consistency.

Finally, she shares the three main reasons talking about race in a corporate setting is challenging — and how you can focus on creating psychologically safe spaces at work to keep conversations about race going.

#030 - Kay Fabella wraps up her three-part series on her latest whitepaper on diversity and inclusion at big tech firms, and key recommendations for inclusion-driven companies moving forward.

Kay also shares why building an inclusive work culture is not only beneficial to current teams but also tomorrow's future talent — and what that means for how you can lead DEI at your company.

Finally, she shares what strategies her roundtable participants were implementing at their big tech firms during the pandemic — and why diversity, equity and inclusion will determine the future survival of your organization.

#029 - In this episode, Kay continues to share her key findings from her latest whitepaper on diversity and inclusion for big tech, and what it means for the future of work culture.

Kay also shares why she's added the letter E to her role as a DEI Consultant, as a result of the conversation she had at the executive roundtable she hosted with big tech firms in April 2020 and what the small but symbolic change means.

Finally, she discusses why equity is critical to conversations around inclusion and why she remains hopeful as she watches individuals and companies commit to long-term change.

#028 - In this episode of Inclusion in Progress, Kay is discussing male allyship with Brian Ballantyne, Senior Program Manager at Amazon Luxeumbourg, and owner of Amazon's global D&I strategy. He is also the author of the book, Confessions of a Working Father, where he shares how men can step up in the caregiving duties at home.

Brian talks about how his multicultural, intersectional upbringing helped shape his worldviews early on and strengthened his commitment to D&I long before he started working. 

He also shares his ongoing allyship journey as a white British man based in Luxembourg, and talks about ways he's committed time, effort and energy to creating inclusive work environments.

#027 - As protests in the wake of George Floyd's death are on the rise in her come country of the US, Kay shares the strange journey she's gone through as her personal and professional world as a D&I consultant have collided.

Against this backdrop, she shares several specific calls to action for non-black allies, while reminding listeners that the work of achieving inclusion is a longer journey — and the unique opportunity we have to affect change in both our organizations and in society at large. This requires all hands on deck, as well as patience and persistence if we truly want lasting change.

To continue the dialogue for long-term solutions for D&I in companies, Kay talks about the launch of her whitepaper, sharing key findings from her April 2020 executive roundtable with big tech firms — and how companies can prepare for a future workplace that benefits us all.

#026 - For minority leaders, ERGs (employee resource groups) provide a sense of community and belonging in an organization — which is why they're critical to D&I initiatives.

And with more companies struggling to manage remote and distributed teams, ERGs have even more of a critical role to play in helping employees stay safe, connected and supported in uncertain times.

In this episode, Kay Fabella shares actionable ideas and strategies to help ERG leaders adapt their programming for a virtual environment.

#025 - In honor of May's Asian Pacific Islander Awareness (APIA) month, Kay walks through why we need to support Asian and Asian-American communities more than ever.

She also shares the history of how Anti-Asian xenophobia is nothing new — and why the conversation around racism isn't just black and white.

Finally, Kay discusses concrete ways API employees, ERG and D&I leaders, allies and advocates can contribute to leading inclusive conversations at work even after Covid-19.

#024 - In this episode of Inclusion in Progress, Kay speaks with Felicia Jadczak, Co-CEO, Co-Founder & Head of Training at She+ Geeks Out: a platform for womxn and their allies to advocate for gender equity and inclusion in technology.

In this discussion, Felicia shares how being the "only" in many rooms inspired her to create She+ Geeks Out, and why she believes that gender equity in tech can help level the playing field for women in other industries, too. 

She also talks about how women in tech can advocate for inclusion without burning out, and the important role of male allyship in creating inclusive work environments.

#023 - In honor of May's Mental Health Awareness month, Kay shares practical advice and tips for fellow D&I practitioners to avoid burnout.

She also dives into her own lessons from experiencing burnout early in her career — and how she prioritizes her mental health to continue to serve her clients and colleagues.

Finally, Kay discusses why emotional boundaries are critical to our D&I work and how self-care and self-preservation help us show up as better allies and advocates.

#022 - In this episode, Kay talks about five ways not to communicate in a crisis with your team, and what to do instead to foster inclusion and belonging. 

She also shares a deeply personal experience with grief — and what it can teach you about practicing empathy and inclusive leadership for others during hard times.

Finally, Kay walks you through the five specific ways not to talk to someone when they are experiencing trauma or pain to encourage the vulnerability needed for inclusive conversations.