Inclusion in Progress

#071 - In this episode, Kay Fabella is pleased to welcome Cornell Verdeja-Woodson, DEI Director at Headspace and the Founder of Brave Trainings, LLC,  to discuss why employee mental health matters in DEI.

Cornell dives into the often elusive topic of mental health at the workplace, and the cultural connection between employee mental health and DEI. He also reiterates the importance of embedding diversity and inclusion across organizational functions in design, and shares the work he is leading at Headspace and in his ongoing research.

Finally, Cornell and Kay discuss ways through which organizational leaders can move away from reactionary actions to giving consistent attention to psychological safety, especially for historically marginalized populations at work.

#070 - In this episode in honor of her birthday, Kay Fabella shares true reflections as an international DEI consultant.

After receiving numerous questions from podcast listeners about what it's like to work in diversity, equity and inclusion, Kay peels back the curtain to share the hard and heartwarming lessons, reflections and insights for others looking to get into this work.

Finally, Kay shares a birthday offering in the form of a song and mantra that has helped her to stay committed as her team's international consultancy grows.

#069 - In this episode, Kay Fabella shares three DEI lessons she and her team have learned from working with non-US clients.

After working with global teams from both within her birth country, the US, and outside of it as an expat in Spain, Kay talks openly about what's challenged and shifted her team's approach to DEI, and helping client partners redesign their workplaces for greater equity and inclusion.

Finally, Kay offers some ideas for how you can expand your equity and inclusion initiatives in a culturally agile, mindful way that benefits your organization as a whole.

#068 - In this episode, Kay Fabella welcomes Dawn Osbourne, the chair of Adobe's UK Black Employee Network (BEN) to discuss the benefits of employee networks for non-US teams.

Dawn shares why and how she was motivated to start a Black employee resource group (ERG) in the UK with the support of Adobe, and outlines the importance of cultivating belonging for an employee network-based outside of the US. Dawn shares how she was able to quickly scale BEN's business impact around a mission that gave members and partners purpose and direction.

Finally, Dawn reflects on how the diversity and inclusion conversation has developed over the last 20+ years since she started working in tech, and the critical role of non-US employee networks in the conversation.

#067 - In this episode, Kay Fabella shares reflections as a DEI practitioner on how the global antiracism movement looks like inside global companies, one year later.

Kay discusses how organizational priorities and corporate language shifted in the wake of George Floyd's murder, what commitments were made to investing in equity and racial justice, and what has and hasn't changed in the past year.

Finally, Kay shares three ways organizations with global teams can continue building freer, fairer workplaces for all.

In this episode, Kay Fabella welcomes Nancy Kasvosve, founder of Philips Women Lead (PWL) and passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, to discuss her lessons from driving and growing the organization's largest employee resource group to influence Philips' global DEI strategy.

Nancy highlights the importance of employee-led "bottom-up" movements, detailing how she created and scaled PWL at Philips with the support of colleagues, mentors and sponsors — alongside her day job and entrepreneurial ventures. She also outlines how ERGs can continue to scale to support global teams and drive business strategy.

Finally, Nancy and Kay discuss how women's ERGs can ensure DEI strategies meet the needs of women across all identities and intersections — and drive gender equity in the workplace.

#065 - In this episode, Kay Fabella discusses why mental health and DEI go hand in hand.

Kay talks about the importance of mental health policies and protocols in corporate organizations, especially after the 2020 pandemic, the racial justice movement, and the compounding of personal challenges for employees. She also shares her personal mental health story, which she draws from to support other underrepresented professionals through her diversity and inclusion work.

Finally, Kay goes behind the scenes of how she and her team have been supporting client partners in their latest workshop on DEI and mental health, to ensure the sustained well-being of their inclusion advocates.

#064 - In this episode, Kay Fabella is excited to welcome Aisha Suleiman, ERG expert and the founder of Amazon UK's Black Employee Network (BEN), to discuss the critical role of employee resource groups within organizations.

Aisha discusses what she's learned running and growing BEN, and dives into how ERGs can enable internal networking, increase collaboration, and improve talent retention. She also discusses how ERG leaders and members can support a company's larger DEI strategy.

Finally, Aisha and Kay explore how the structure and function of ERGs could evolve after the pandemic to create greater equity and inclusion.

#063 - In this episode, Kay Fabella talks about why our longstanding notions of professionalism and culture fit undermine diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in organizations.

Kay starts the episode by discussing the intersectional violence against historically excluded communities in her birth country, the US, and why feeling pressured to stay "professional" as someone working in DEI can be challenging in the face of social inequity and injustice.

Finally, Kay breaks down the history of the workplace, how professionalism standards and ideas of culture fit came to be, and shows you what you can do instead to attract and maintain a diverse and inclusive talent pool.

#062 - In this episode, Kay Fabella welcomes Mechelle Roberthon, VP and Director of Talent Development at Home Bank, to discuss why DEI often fails Black women in leadership and how it could be improved.

Mechelle dives into how Black women end up actively increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as advocating for employees across other marginalized groups. She also exemplifies how organizations benefit from their increased representation in leadership.

Finally, Mechelle shares findings from her doctoral research on the lack of Black women in executive-level leadership roles in the corporate world — and specific ways for companies to better support and center them and others on their DEI journey.