She+ Geeks Out Podcast

Joining us on today's pod episode is the always lovely and brilliant HR unicorn, Christofer Peterson. Christofer lends us her invaluable insights as we dive into DEI in the creative industry.  Listen to how Christofer shifted gears from a native New Yorker to becoming an influential DEI advocate. We dig deeper into her experiences and reflections about the intersection of power, performance and positivity in DEI work.

We explore the importance of gender equity in HR practices and discuss tangible steps such as implementing pay equity reviews and prioritizing financial and career growth to level the playing field for women. We also discuss the challenges of working in a creative agency, the potential for burnout, and the generational differences that shape the industry. We look at how diversity impacts the industry and discuss the need to create a balance between professional and personal lives. 

Note that Felicia and Rachel have a longer intro than normal, discussing the upside-down world of agreeing with people on the other side of the political spectrum, so fast forward 10:37 to get right to the interview if it moves you!

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.

Ever wondered why we use the acronym DEI and what it truly signifies? Join Felicia Jadzak and Fatima Dainkeh, as we dive into a conversation about the words Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, what they mean, and why we use them in our work. As we navigate the often complicated language of DEI, we challenge ourselves to continually revisit our language, ensuring it accurately mirrors our objectives. From examining the significance of challenging our language to the evolution of DEI terms, we focus on creating a space where everyone feels valued and experiences belonging.

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.

Ever wondered why inclusion matters in the workplace? Get ready for a transformative ride as we unleash a brand new season of She+ Geeks Out with Mita Mallick, Head of Inclusion, Equity, and Impact at CARTA and author of the new book Reimagining Inclusion! We unpack Mita's journey from feeling excluded during her formative years to becoming an influential leader, debunking prevalent myths that inhibit progress in creating a more inclusive workspace.

Mita offers practical tips for creating a more inclusive workplace and debunks prevalent myths that stand in the way of progress. Listen in as we discuss everything from the complexities of allyship and the importance of sponsorship, to the potential of hybrid work driving inclusion, and the power of authentic apologies.

• Grab Mita's book, Reimagining Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workplace
• Follow Mita and Dee C. Marshall's podcast, Brown Table Talk
• Find Mita on  LinkedIn

Episode Breakdown:

(0:00:07) - Season 4 Welcome and Introduction
We discuss goals to make the world brighter, YouTube, darkness and pain, and self-care for balance.

(0:03:34) - Inclusion and Leadership
Mita Mallick shares her journey from exclusion to inclusion, offering practical tips and her book's success in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller lists.

(0:11:27) - Navigating Discomfort and Inclusion in Conversations
Mita shares experiences of exclusion, challenges to traditional leadership, and navigating conversations without answers.

(0:18:09) - Navigating Allyship and Inclusion in Crisis
We discuss allyship complexities, tangible receipts, individual conversations, and joy to counter grief.

(0:28:06) - Busting Myths and Reimagining Inclusion
We bust meritocracy myths, explore remote-first companies, and discuss complexities of allyship.

(0:35:16) - Hybrid Work and Importance of Sponsorship
Mita breaks down how hybrid work drives inclusion and why sponsorship is so important.

(0:47:56) - Authentic Apologies and the State of DEI
Apologizing, admitting mistakes, allyship, DEI, and hybrid work discussed to drive inclusion.

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.

Learn more about Luke's work at https://www.joinnamesake.com/ and https://www.visiblehands.vc/!

(0:00:08) - Remembering Sinéad O'Connor & Exploring Startups
We close out the season discussing Shanae DeConnor's art and activism, and Luke Gleden's work investing in BIPOC entrepreneurs and helping trans people.

(0:07:26) - Building With Intention
Visible Hands revolutionizes venture capital with values-based investments, family support, childcare, and the Visionaries Accelerator.

(0:18:15) - Funding Changes and Namesake Collaborative
Darnell Moore shares insights on changing funding landscape, his company namesake streamlining identity management for transgender and non binary individuals, and the unique challenges they face.

(0:29:41) - Concerns in LGBTQ+ Community About Bad Actors
Visible Hands simplifies the process of changing queer and trans names, while protecting against bad actors and considering the state of Pride Month.

(0:35:28) - Boston's Challenges and Opportunities
Exploring brands, capitalism, queer/trans business owners, student influx, segregation, fragmentation, green space, luxury/accessibility.

(0:42:08) - Ocean Sprite Cranberries and Self-Care Discussion
Felicia shares her love of learning, her internship, her passions, her rescues, and her self-care routine.

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.

Learn more about Betsy!

(0:00:03) - Upcoming Plans and Work Culture Discussion
We discussed sabbaticals, festivals, team retreats, culture, benefits, and unlimited holidays.

(0:10:30) - Journey and Career Transitions in Sustainability
Betsy shifted to coaching and supporting her team through change and transition, leveraging her experience in politics, environmentalism, and the non-profit sector.

(0:21:19) - Transitioning to a Fulfilling Nonprofit Career
Betsy transitions from for-profit to non-profit, achieving work-life balance and using her skills to pursue her passion for environmentalism and democracy.

(0:27:38) - Rare's Philosophy and Climate Change Impact
Rare works to foster change in communities to help people and nature thrive, using behavior science and individual action.

(0:42:33) - Environment and Corporate Responsibility Intersection
Walmart's sustainability efforts, greening supply chains, reducing emissions, engaging employees, and individual action are discussed to meet environmental goals.

(0:51:39) - Gender, Hobbies, and Music Equality
Rare works to empower fishers and women globally, discussing DEIJ and Felicia's cathartic experience of gardening and boxing.

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.

If you'd like to watch us on video, we've finally done it! Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD1QHflnO1s&t=555s today! 

You can find Trish at https://www.linkedin.com/in/trishf/ and https://www.trishofalltrades.com/!

(0:00:08) - AI's Future in Personal Branding (6 Minutes)
We continue our conversation about community, personal branding, volunteering and more. We discuss the potential implications of AI technology, the potential for a gender-neutral voice for AI technology, and how the technology we use can affect how we hear ourselves and the world around us. We also discuss how different manufacturers can affect the sound of our hearing aids, and how our perception of ourselves and the world around us can change with new technology. Join us for part two of this conversation, now available on our YouTube channel at Shaking Sound.

(0:06:23) - Starting a YouTube Channel, Hand Gestures (10 Minutes)
We explore how shame can manifest differently in different cultures, like the Asian and Jewish cultures, and how shame can be passed down through generations. We reflect on our own experiences with shame, from our own parents to a traumatic language class experience. We discuss the importance of understanding our own experiences of shame, and how we can use it to our advantage.

(0:15:57) - The Value of Workplace Community (5 Minutes)
We discuss the role of community managers and the impact they can have, as well as the presence of virtual tools like Donut to help bridge the gap between employees. We also explore how different cultures manifest shame and how it can be passed down through generations.

(0:20:30) - The Evolution of Niche Communities (9 Minutes)
We examine the transition from Community Manager Appreciation Day to Community Manager Development Day and discuss the importance of investing in people in order to build social capital. We also consider how the pandemic has pushed people towards niche communities and the value of finding people with a range of shared experiences. Finally, we explore how shame can manifest differently in different cultures and how it can be passed down through generations.

(0:29:19) - Personal Branding and Authenticity (9 Minutes)
We examine how society, personal branding, and reclaiming our own identities shape our ideas of professionalism. We reflect on our experiences with hair straightening, curling, and the beauty of our natural texture. We explore the transition from Community Manager Appreciation Day to Community Manager Development Day, and the importance of investing in people through training and development.

(0:38:03) - Podcasting Events, Personal Branding, and Volunteering (10 Minutes)
We look at how AI technology can influence personal branding and the role of community managers. We transition from Community Manager Appreciation Day to Community Manager Development Day and how investing in people can help to build and strengthen communities. We explore the presence of shame in different cultures and how society, personal branding, and reclaiming our own identities can shape our ideas of professionalism. Lastly, we reflect on our own experiences with shame and how to move forward in spite of it.

(0:48:29) - Volunteering and Filipino Community Engagement (8 Minutes)
We can volunteer in many ways - from donating money to donating feminine products and coffee, to mentoring and talking to people. It is important to take mental health breaks at work, and we can use social media and other forms of communication to share the positive experiences we have volunteering. AI technology can influence personal branding, as well as the role of community managers.

(0:56:55) - Obsession With Pie and Pie Preferences (13 Minutes)
We explore the controversy of what constitutes a pie and how it can reveal a lot about someone's job. We discuss the potential for pies to be calzone-like desserts and the variety of pies around the world. We also discuss the importance of investing in people, the implications of AI technology, and the power of volunteering in our communities. We reflect on our own experiences with shame and how it can manifest differently in different cultures. Finally, we explore how society, personal branding, and reclaiming our own identities shape our ideas of professionalism.

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.

• Learn more about Chioma Azi
• Check out the Norah Anena Foundation

--------- HIGHLIGHTS ---------

0:03:40 - Flexible Work Schedules and No Meetings

0:07:51 - December Shutdown and PTO Limits Discussion

0:15:12 - Success, Career, and Community Advocacy 

0:18:30 - Advocacy for African Immigrants in Immigration

0:21:56 - Evolving Challenges in Immigration Advocacy

0:33:44 - Climate Change's Impact on Immigration 

0:38:51 - Navigating Predominantly White High School 

0:42:28 - The Value of Female-Focused Environments 

0:45:46 - Philly Nigerian Professionals & Nora Arena 

0:50:53 - Spotlighting African Immigrant Achievements 

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.

How can we bridge the widening gap in higher education and create a more equitable system? Join us for an insightful conversation with JAKE Small, the Director of Strategic Alliances at Leadership Brainery, as we explore the challenges faced by students from low-income backgrounds and communities and the role of institutions in providing fee waivers and tuition limitations. We also discuss JAKE's personal experiences as a mono-racial Black student attending predominantly White institutions and the importance of representation and inclusion in higher education.

In this episode, we dive deep into the work of Leadership Brainery and their efforts to operationalize social justice through leadership development, career coaching, and equity initiatives. We examine the stark statistics of the number of Black men in medical school throughout the years, emphasizing the need for a more equitable educational system. We discuss the significance of partnerships and open conversations to support those in need, as well as the idea of fixing a broken system versus burning it to the ground and building something new.

Lastly, we geek out about art, creativity, and family legacy. We learn about the importance of core values, self-care, and podcasts in shaping his journey as an educational consultant. Don't miss this compelling episode packed with valuable insights and inspiring stories from JAKE and his work at Leadership Brainery!

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.

Visit The Female Quotient and join the movement!

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.