Intentional Conversations

Welcome to Intentional Conversations, where we intersect diversity, equity, and inclusion with leadership and business.

It was an honor to welcome a dear friend and fellow DEI practitioner, Natasha Bowman, to the Intentional Conversations mic. This was a conversation we had been looking forward to for a long time and it did not disappoint!

So, grab those headphones 🎧, press play, and let the conversation go!

Be sure to subscribe to our channel because we're all about keeping the great conversations flowing.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM NATASHA:

Language matters.

If we’re having the uncomfortable conversations for how we work and the organizational leaders are equipped, perhaps at the end of the day we can cultivate cultures of wellness.

Ask yourself… does your profession define you?

The needle is not moving forward, it is going backwards.

You cannot assess someone’s emotional capacity by just looking on the outside.

Be more disappointing.

The more families talk about mental health, the better. At some point we will all find ourselves challenged with mental health issues.

CONNECT WITH NATASHA:

Via LinkedIn

On her website

CONNECT WITH NIKA WHITE CONSULTING:

Connect on LinkedIn

Be Facebook friends

Engage on X

Connect on Instagram

Subscribe to the NWC YouTube channel (and never miss new content! Coming weekly!)

Visit the NWC website

Get your copy of Inclusion Uncomplicated

Welcome to Intentional Conversations, where we intersect diversity, equity, and inclusion with leadership and business.

In this first episode of Season 3, our host, Dr. Nika White, has a compelling dialogue with Shanté S. Gordon, a seasoned head of DEI strategy and wellness facilitator at the Norfus Firm.

Together, they explore the challenges and successes of individuals in DEI leadership roles, emphasizing the importance of personal well-being and advocating for equitable opportunities in the workplace.

So, grab those headphones 🎧, press play, and let the conversation go!

Be sure to subscribe to our channel because we're all about keeping the great conversations flowing.

This Week's Key Topics from Shanté:

1. Importance of DEI Strategy and Wellness for Employees:

- Aligning organizational values and strategies with actions

- Providing support to employees to champion DEI values

2. Navigating the New Normal: Remote Work and Employee Well-being:

- Impact of remote work on work dynamics and individual preferences

- Employers' communication and considerations for returning to the office

- Evolving role of people leaders and managers in a distributed workforce

3. DEI as Essential for Organizational Success:

- Framing DEI as good business practice for attracting and retaining talent

- Change management strategies for navigating diversity initiatives and remote work

4. Shanté S. Gordon's Career Journey and Experiences:

- Transition from the music industry to wellness and DEI work

- Challenges faced in the music industry, including discrimination and body representation

- Understanding the need for self-awareness and empathy in corporate environments

5. Shift in Mindset and Systemic Support:

- Shifting from a "sink or swim" mentality to address systemic oppression

- Promoting inclusive leadership and providing opportunities for underrepresented groups

6. Wellness, Mindfulness, and Employee Support:

- Importance of mindfulness and staying present in preparing for the new year

- Employer support and space for employees' concerns in the context of wellness

- Human-centered approach and building high-quality connections to support employees

7. The Zero Sum Game Concept and Equal Opportunities:

- Understanding the zero sum game concept and its relationship to DEI in the workplace

- Addressing "hyperindividualism" and resistance to creating equal opportunities

- The importance of believing in equal access to opportunities for success

8. Promoting Equity and Equal Opportunity:

- Cultural differences in approaching individualism and collective support

- The need for both individuals and the system to adjust to support diverse perspectives

- Emphasis on allowing people of color and underrepresented backgrounds to ascend to leadership roles

9. Focus on Wellness and Personal Development in the Workplace:

- Trend of people choosing one word or making resolutions in the new year

- Employers' role in holding space for employees' needs and wellness support

- Encouraging the sharing of resources and questions for audience engagement

10. Practical Tips for DEI in the Workplace and Engagement:

- Details of Shanté S. Gordon's podcast "What's the DEIL?" and its focus on DEI

- Offer for further conversation on DEI topics with the audience

Connect with Shanté:

Slide into her LinkedIn DMs.

Visit the website for an extra dose of inspiration.

CONNECT WITH NIKA WHITE CONSULTING:

Connect on LinkedIn

Be Facebook friends

Engage on X

Connect on Instagram

Subscribe to the NWC YouTube channel (and never miss new content! Coming weekly!)

Visit the NWC website

Get your copy of Inclusion Uncomplicated

We welcomed Priscilla Wallace to our weekly Intentional Conversations vodcast this past Friday and it was the perfect way to end this 3rd season of IC!

We can't wait for you to listen. Grab your headphones (or earbuds) and press play to listen to the full encore episode now!

Be sure to subscribe to our channel to never miss an episode.

You can also watch the full replay on the NWC YouTube channel HERE 

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM PRISCILLA:

1. Be a part of the solution, not the problem!
2. We can’t say change your organization and we’re not willing to change our own organization.
3. Keep the main thing, the main thing. You can be in the workplace and be a man or woman of faith.
4. Have people around you speaking life to you, reminding you of who you are. This is important in having a foundation.
5. Your peace, your joy, your foundation matters… it is what defines you. It is what helps you make the hurdles of life.
6. When people read your obituary are they going to focus more on your accomplishments or how you made a difference in the world?
7. When decluttering, one of the biggest questions to answer is “What needs to go?” And "Are things in my current lifestyle reflecting the season that I’m in?"

CONNECT WITH PRISCILLA:

Via LinkedIn

Visit the website

CONNECT WITH NIKA WHITE CONSULTING:

Follow NWC On Facebook

Engage with NWC on Twitter/X

Be a part of the conversation on Instagram

Watch all the new NWC videos on their YouTube channel

Learn more about NWC

Be a part of the conversation on NWC's LinkedIn

Get your copy of Inclusion Uncomplicated

We welcomed Marie Deveaux to our weekly Intentional Conversations vodcast this past Friday and our hands hurt from taking so many notes!

We can't wait for you to listen. Grab your headphones (or earbuds) and press play to listen to the full encore episode now!

Be sure to subscribe to our channel to never miss an episode.

You can also watch the full replay on the NWC YouTube channel HERE 

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MARIE:

1. Often it is the experiences of trauma that allows us to figure out what we need to do. If it can happen to me, it can happen to other people.

2. Workplace trauma does require healing and introspection to push through.

3. When you’re in difficult situations, instead of asking ourselves “Do I stay” ask “Why do I stay here?”

4. “I am enjoying the sound of my feet walking away from something that no longer serves me.” 

5. When others refuse to acknowledge you, your greatness and gifts, it is always your job to validate yourself.

6. You don’t need external validation to do what you’re doing.

7. Your experiences are real and the value you bring is real, so remind yourself of that when others make you smaller.

8. Trauma directly impacts our mental health.

9. We are not defined by our experiences.

10. People are not their behaviors and they need to hear this.

11. When you deal with trauma at work, remember your first priority is to yourself and your well being.

12. Asking people what they need is a powerful question because they don’t hear it enough.

13. 2 powerful questions for people who work in difficult spaces:

How can I acknowledge you?

What do you need?

14. Once we’re good at understanding and owning our triggers, we can then start to feel empowered when we address what is happening for someone else.

15. Are you grounded enough in who you are and your position that when someone comes at you, you can absorb it. It’s ok if you don’t have the capacity to absorb other peoples stuff! Allow yourself some grace and compassion.

CONNECT WITH MARIE:

Connect on LinkedIn

Visit her website

CONNECT WITH NIKA WHITE CONSULTING:

Follow NWC On Facebook

Engage with NWC on Twitter/X

Be a part of the conversation on Instagram

Watch all the new NWC videos on their YouTube channel

Learn more about NWC

Be a part of the conversation on NWC's LinkedIn

Get your copy of Inclusion Uncomplicated

We welcomed Minal Bopaiah to our weekly Intentional Conversations vodcast this past week and she shared so much wisdom!

We can't wait for you to listen. Grab your headphones (or earbuds) and press play to listen to the full encore episode now!

Be sure to subscribe to our channel to never miss an episode.

You can also watch the full replay on the NWC YouTube channel HERE 

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MINAL:

When we design for equity we have to question some of the assumptions we make for this.

You have to design for how humans are, not how you think they should be.

We have to think beyond this just being about people being nice or good.

Equity and equality are not synonymous!

If you have to think about how long you have to wait until you get the end stage of justice, you will be disappointed. The world evolves… We will never hit the state of equality and equity for all. The question is “How do you spend your time on earth?”

Doing the work of DEI is about your effectiveness in it.

Allyship gets very problematic when people want to base their identity as being a good person. People who’s identity is built on being a good person has a hard time hearing when they’re doing something wrong.

How do you avoid falling into the divide and conquer mentality? Be aware you’re being played.

I’m not going to be used as your pawn to oppress another group so my group can get ahead.

As a leader you need people you can trust and that comes down to the quality of the relationship.

Take time in the winter months to rest and spend time with people you love. Everything is on fire, but everyone I know is doing something they love and making the world better.

CONNECT WITH MINAL:

On LinkedIn

On Instagram

On X / Twitter

Website

Get Minals' Newest Book

CONNECT WITH NIKA WHITE CONSULTING:

Follow NWC On Facebook

Engage with NWC on Twitter/X

Be a part of the conversation on Instagram

Watch all the new NWC videos on their YouTube channel

Learn more about NWC

Be a part of the conversation on NWC's LinkedIn

Get your copy of Inclusion Uncomplicated

Christine Scott, founder of Christine Scott Lanagues was our Intentional Conversations guest co-host this past week!

Being bi-lingual is a gift, she said. We can't wait for you to listen to this episode.

Grab your headphones (or earbuds) and press play to listen now!

Be sure to subscribe to our channel to never miss an episode.

Or if you prefer to watch the encore episode, you can do that HERE 

CHRISTINA'S KEY TAKEAWAYS:

* It is never too late to learn a language! It is a gift to be bi-lingual.

* Being from a different family allowed me to be open to learning something different.

* An adult can become fluent in a new language in a shorter amount of time by:

• Getting connected to the community and / or colleagues that are fluent in the language you want to learn.
• Encourage your colleagues to practice with you in their native language.
• Take a sabbatical and immerse yourself by being in the country.

* The more we show up as unicorns in spaces, we feel a sense of belonging.

* The work that DEI practitioners are doing is making leaps and bounds for language services.

* A benefit to having language services is they come in as a neutral voice.

* The goal when using language services is to alleviate stress, not add to it!

* Do no trust Google Translate, they don’t get it right every time.

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:

Christine’s Spanish On the Go Manual (Coming in 2024) - You can DM Christina to get information prior to the launch

Duo Lingo

Word Reference

CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA:

On LinkedIn

On Facebook

On Instagram

On X / formerly Twitter

CONNECT WITH NIKA WHITE CONSULTING:

Follow NWC On Facebook

Engage with NWC on Twitter/X

Be a part of the conversation on Instagram

Watch all the new NWC videos on their YouTube channel

Learn more about NWC

Be a part of the conversation on NWC's LinkedIn

Get your copy of Inclusion Uncomplicated

We welcomed Dr. Mary B. Rice-Boothe to our weekly Intentional Conversations vodcast this past week and she shared so much wisdom!

We can't wait for you to listen. Grab your headphones (or earbuds) and press play to listen to the full encore episode now!

Be sure to subscribe to our channel to never miss an episode.

You can also watch the full replay on the NWC YouTube channel HERE 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Let me give something that I wish I had was the impetus for writing the book!

3 Tips from Dr. Mary's Book: Leading Within Systems Of Inequity In Education

1. Practice LOVE and RAGE
2. Take a STAND.
3. Create a COALITION
   

People who are leaving DEI are not leaving the work, they are leaving the institution. This is a huge call for our educational systems to ask them, how are you taking a stand? 

Our next generation is something else… they have strong beliefs and opinions and they are not interested in following the status quo. They want something different and will say and do whatever they need to to make things happen.

How do I keep the work going? I may have to say it differently. 

Do not do this work alone, do it in community. Find your people. 

Push the system… we’re in an inequitable system that needs to change. Be sure you don’t get distracted by window dressing changes, so the work will stay. 

Ask yourself “What more can I do today?” 

If I’m making a decision that doesn’t make me feel uncomfortable in my belly, I’m probably not doing enough. 

CONNECT WITH DR. MARY:

Get connected on LinkedIn

Be a part of the conversation on Instagram

Join the newsletter

Learn more about Dr. Mary's work here

CONNECT WITH NIKA WHITE CONSULTING:

Follow NWC On Facebook

Engage with NWC on Twitter/X

Be a part of the conversation on Instagram

Watch all the new NWC videos on their YouTube channel

Learn more about NWC

Be a part of the conversation on NWC's LinkedIn

Get your copy of Inclusion Uncomplicated

We welcomed Dr. Marilyn Fraser to our weekly Intentional Conversations vodcast this past week and she shared so much wisdom!

We can't wait for you to listen. Grab your headphones (or earbuds) and press play to listen to the full encore episode now!

Be sure to subscribe to our channel to never miss an episode.

You can also watch the full replay on the NWC YouTube channel HERE 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Arthur Ashe created the Institute for research, community engagement, and preventative care for POC in the US and abroad.
• The Institute created middle and high school programs to increase the pipeline for students of color to the healthcare profession.
• Health care professions sometimes weed out BIPOC students within the first year because of monetary and social reasons. The Arthur Ashe Institute creates support for these students.
• The Institute created the Barbershop Talk with Brothers and Heart of A Woman to visit barbershops and salons to integrate health messages in genuine conversations.
• Meet communities where they are to increase access to information and make an impact.
• Stress impacts the body and health.
• People of color have gone through a lot of trauma and continually do that creates a layered weathering effect. Stresses have been compounded.
• There are different cultural ways people of color have dealt with stress. It’s important to go back to those traditional ways to address stress.
• As POC we have normalized heightened stress.
• COVID has put us into a cocoon; we need to get back to the community.
• Radical self-care- Make sure to take care of yourself so you can take care of others.

Things we can do for radical self-care to address daily stresses:

• Go for a walk
• Write down what you’re grateful for
• Call a friend
• Eat fruits and vegetables
• Meditate or praying
• Journaling

CONNECT WITH DR. MARILYN:

Be a part of the conversation on LinkedIn

CONNECT WITH NIKA WHITE CONSULTING:

Follow NWC On Facebook

Engage with NWC on Twitter/X

Be a part of the conversation on Instagram

Watch all the new NWC videos on their YouTube channel

Learn more about NWC

Be a part of the conversation on NWC's LinkedIn

Get your copy of Inclusion Uncomplicated

We welcomed Dr. Ella Washington to our weekly Intentional Conversations vodcast this past week and she showed up!

We can't wait for you to listen. Grab your headphones (or earbuds) and press play to listen to the full encore episode now!

Be sure to subscribe to our channel to never miss an episode.

You can also watch the full replay on the NWC YouTube channel HERE 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Be aware of the cultural differences when teaching DEI abroad.
• Rally around centering humanity and amplifying difference in the workplace.
• How do you have conversations with someone with a different opinion? Studies from Duke University show that we struggle to have conversations with people with different opinions even though we know we should.
• Allyship can look different for different people. What’s the best way you can show up and be effective?
• What is the DEI journey? “The Necessary Journey” by Dr. Ella Washington demystifies DEI with 9 business case studies.
• We’ve all felt the DEI whiplash. Since the 1960s the pendulum has swung back and forth. The challenge is knowing that it will and will continue to swing. I’m surprised by how quickly the pendulum swung...it usually takes a decade.

Trends for the changing DEI landscape:

• Organizations that weren’t committed can now use this to move away from DEI and pull back like not backfilling DEI positions or not using resources to continue DEI strategy.
• Committed organizations may be confused about how to continue with the changing landscape. They are now working closely to their law department.
• What does the workplace look like that you can thrive in? This is different for each person... what is your workplace utopia? Share this with leadership and see what overlaps.
• Organizations can’t make change when we keep running into the same pitfalls and don’t learn from historical challenges.

CONNECT WITH DR. ELLA:

Engage on X / Twitter

Be a part of the conversation on LinkedIn

Learn more on her website

Get your copy of The Necessary Journey

CONNECT WITH NIKA WHITE CONSULTING:

Follow NWC On Facebook

Engage with NWC on Twitter/X

Be a part of the conversation on Instagram

Watch all the new NWC videos on their YouTube channel

Learn more about NWC

Be a part of the conversation on NWC's LinkedIn

Get your copy of Inclusion Uncomplicated

We welcomed Y-Vonne Hutchinson to our weekly Intentional Conversations vodcast this past week and what a fantastic conversation it was!

We can't wait for you to listen. Grab your headphones (or earbuds) and press play to listen to the full encore episode now!

Be sure to subscribe to our channel to never miss an episode.

You can also watch the full replay on the NWC YouTube channel HERE 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Our job is to help people and support people through the chaos and we don’t get to opt out of it.

2. Regarding Israel/ Palestine: Be thoughtful, deliberate, cheerful and kind in our response. If we do not meet this moment, the criticisms of what DEI is, and what it is supposed to be, become more salient.

3. Identity confers benefits and disadvantages.

4. When in a difficult conversation, we need to know how we’re being perceived. You need to think strategically, be honest with yourself about how the other person is seeing you.

5. Your identity and power impacts your message.

6. Do not do this alone.

7. Change does not happen through the sheer force of one person’s individual will, it is a collective force.

8. How do you keep yourself resilient during times of chaos?

Reconnecting with friends

Therapy

Exercise

Prayer

Clarity breaks

9. True change does not happen within a conversation. You’re going to have to check back and follow up on it.

CONNECT WITH Y-VONNE:

On LinkedIn

CONNECT WITH NIKA WHITE CONSULTING:

Follow NWC On Facebook

Engage with NWC on Twitter/X

Be a part of the conversation on Instagram

Watch all the new NWC videos on their YouTube channel

Learn more about NWC

Be a part of the conversation on NWC's LinkedIn