After a decades-long career advising leaders in some of the largest companies in America and beyond, Dr. Gena Cox concluded that the pace of workplace inclusion change was unacceptably slow. She harnessed her organizational psychology and executive coach insights, her understanding of c-suite dynamics, and her personal workplace experiences to write a book, ‘Leading Inclusion’. Her book helps leaders connect unfamiliar dots to drive inclusion from the top of their organizations. Gena asks her clients to remember one simple idea: “Inclusion tops diversity!”

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• Gena Cox’s childhood in Barbados before moving to the United States
• What events spurred Gena to write her book
• How personal revelations drove her writing
• What behavioral-based leadership means
• Why inclusion is more vital than diversity
• The difference between a passive and an active leader
• The meaning behind Gena’s acronym REDI
• Two pieces of terminology Gena uses to describe effective leadership
• Gena’s thoughts on positive leadership trends moving forward
• Gena’s favorite chapter in her book ‘Leading Inclusion’

In this episode…

Dr. Gena Cox is a corporate advisor and executive coach who recently authored a book titled “Leading Inclusion”. Along with her professional coaching certification, Gena holds a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Dr. Cox works to set the standard for building inclusive work environments, the ones everyone deserves.

The events of 2020 involving Ahmed Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd proved a trigger point for Dr. Cox, affecting her profoundly, and leading to the writing of her book. She explains how the book is composed of insights and experiences she’s had for decades, driven by a new desire to work towards solutions to the events engulfing the country. Inclusion, rather than diversity, is what Dr. Cox stresses and she breaks down the differences in the terms. Gena and Martin discuss how much more vital inclusion and belonging are to employee safety and satisfaction in the workplace.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Dr. Gena Cox dive into the insights that formed her book, ‘Leading Inclusion’, and the necessity of leaders who put inclusion over diversity. Their conversation includes experiences around privilege, behavioral-based leadership, and key terminology Dr. Cox uses to explain the foundation of inclusive leadership. This honest and insightful episode with the wonderful Dr. Gena Cox will inspire every leader it reaches.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• URGEO
• Contact email: [email protected]
• Martin Hunter on LinkedIn
• Gena Cox on LinkedIn
• Gena Cox, PhD website
• ‘Leading Inclusion: Drive Change Your Employees Can See and Feel’ by Gena Cox, Ph.D
• Breonna Taylor information
• AJ Harper
• What CEOs Talk About Episode ‘If You Don’t Have Inclusion, You Don’t Have Anything’ with Katarina Polonsky
• ‘Leadership Reckoning’ by Thomas Kolditz, Ph.D, Libby Gill, and Ryan P Brown, Ph.D
• ‘The Warmth of Other Suns’ by Isabel Wilkerson
• ‘Caste’ by Isabel Wilkerson

Recommended resources for CEOs:

• Monday.com
• BambooHR

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