What does it mean to truly belong, to feel seen, and to build a community where every thread of identity is honored? As a society, we often pride ourselves on progress, yet the persistent barriers to truly inclusive spaces reveal that we may be further behind in embracing equity and belonging than we’d like to admit. 

Join Vernā Myers for an extraordinary conversation with Prasanna (Pras) Ranganathan, a South Asian, queer, disabled consultant, filmmaker, ex-lawyer,  and tireless advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Pras has spent his 18-year career in tech, law, entertainment, and human rights dismantling barriers and fostering genuine inclusion. He challenges us to reflect on the distinctions between disability, accessibility, and inclusion while shedding light on the problematic ways society often conceptualizes disability.

With his remarkable gift for communication and teaching, Pras eloquently unpacks what many of us misunderstand about disability, allyship, and how to cultivate inclusivity in today’s social climate.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone striving to co-create a future where every individual is celebrated for their uniqueness, and collective collaboration drives the betterment of all.

Listen now, and join us in creating a world where everyone belongs.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share the episode to keep the conversation going!

Visit Vernā's Website for more information, bookings, and online inclusion training courses: www.vernamyers.com

Visit Prasanna's Website here to learn more about him, his work, and how to collaborate with him:

www.prasannaranganathan.com

In this powerful episode of Sundays with Vernā, New York Times bestselling author Charles Duhigg reveals the hidden dynamics that can make or break workplace communication. Drawing from his latest book "Super Communicators," Duhigg unpacks the critical skills leaders and employees need to break through organizational silence and create meaningful dialogue. 

Discover how workplace conversations are actually composed of three distinct types - practical, emotional, and social - and learn why misunderstanding these can lead to toxic communication breakdowns. Duhigg provides practical strategies for:

• Asking "deep questions" that reveal genuine understanding
• Creating psychological safety in difficult conversations 
• Listening beyond words to truly hear your colleagues
• Navigating sensitive topics without creating further division

Whether you're a manager seeking to build a more connected team or an employee wanting to improve workplace relationships, this episode offers transformative insights into how communication can either fracture or fortify organizational culture.

Key Takeaways:

• Why most workplace communication fails 
• Techniques to have more authentic conversations
• How to create trust in a divided workplace
• Practical communication skills that build stronger teams

A must-listen for anyone committed to creating more human, understanding workplaces in our increasingly complex professional landscape.

To connect with Vernā:

Verna Myers | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree www.vernamyers.com

To connect with Charles:

Charles Duhigg – Bestselling Author & Speaker

HBCUs receive just $1 for every $100 in endowment funds that predominantly white institutions enjoy. Now, under increased budget cuts, legislative challenges, and attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, their survival is being tested more than ever.

Join us for a compelling conversation with Morehouse College President David A. Thomas as he shares with Vernā a powerful blueprint for defending and uplifting Historically Black Colleges and Universities against the anti-DEI onsalught of the new Trump era.

He explains why this issue goes beyond funding. It's an attack on civil rights. Discover how HBCUs foster racial equity, drive economic mobility, and shape future leaders, making them a prime target for an administration intent on dismantling our collective steps toward a just and civil society.

Learn about the real-world impact these institutions have on students, communities, and local economies, and find out why your advocacy and action matter. With optimism and clarity, President Thomas shines a light on the path forward, encouraging allies to invest, educate, and empower.

Don’t miss this inspiring discussion about the enduring power of HBCUs in shaping a more just and equitable world.

For resources, updates, online DEI trainings, or bookings visit Vernā's Website: www.vernamyers.com

Get connected with Vernā: Verna Myers | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree

Watch video episodes of Sundays With Verna on YouTube: Vernā Myers - YouTube

In this episode of Sundays with Vernā, we celebrate Women's History Month with an uplifting and insightful conversation with tech trailblazer and business powerhouse Shelmina Abji. Shelmina is the CEO of Show Your Worth.AI and the author of Show Your Worth: Eight Intentional Strategies for Women to Emerge as Leaders at Work.

Shelmina shares her inspiring journey from humble beginnings in Tanzania to becoming one of the highest-ranking women of color at IBM, offering valuable insights on career advancement, leadership, and overcoming barriers.

The conversation delves into Shelmina's groundbreaking AI-powered platform, which offers personalized career guidance, her visionary approach to hacking career advancement and accelerating opportunities, and why people-pleasing and an overemphasis on hard work are obstacles in women's career paths.

Through personal anecdotes and professional wisdom, Vernā and Shelmina discuss the importance of intentionally defining success, maintaining work-life balance, and exuding the right energy to attract opportunity. This episode is an action-oriented guide for women to advance their careers while embracing balance, purpose, and the power of knowing their priorities!

This week on Sundays with Vernā, Vernā sits down with Mahlet Getachew, Managing Director of Corporate Racial Equity at PolicyLink, for a robust conversation about redefining leadership in corporate America. Mahlet shares her inspiring journey from corporate law to becoming a passionate advocate for equity, shaped by her experiences as a first-generation immigrant from Ethiopia. 

Together, they discuss PolicyLink’s groundbreaking Business Standards for 21st Century Leadership, a bold framework that empowers companies to embed equity into every facet of their work, from governance and leadership to community impact and political engagement. Mahlet highlights how these standards support businesses in prioritizing people and the planet alongside profits, offering a path toward a thriving and fair society.

She emphasizes the essential benefits companies achieve by prioritizing equity while underscoring how her work transcends racial boundaries to address universal issues of economic disparities and access to a high standard of living for all. 

Tune in to explore how equity-driven leadership can pave the way for a harmonious future where our values, ambitions, and lived experiences come together.

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Patrice Gordon, a multi-award-winning professional with extensive leadership experience at British Airways, Royal Mail, and Virgin Atlantic. Her pioneering work in reverse mentoring, including her role as a reverse mentor to Virgin Atlantic's CEO, Craig Krieger, has transformed organizations worldwide. Vernā and Patrice discuss the origins of her Reverse Mentoring methodology and her subsequent development of structured reverse mentoring programs for organizations.

Patrice shares her journey from accountant to executive coach and author, publishing her book, Reverse Mentoring: Removing Barriers and Building Belonging in the Workplace, in 2022. Their conversation explores the unique challenges and experiences Vernā and Patrice have faced as Black women navigating corporate spaces, highlighting the contrasts shaped by their different generations, geographical contexts between the U.S. and the U.K., and personal journeys.

Reverse mentoring is an essential tool for building more inclusive workplace environments. Throughout the episode, Patrice emphasizes the importance of psychological safety, authentic leadership, and meaningful action beyond surface-level exercises in diversity and inclusion initiatives. This approach is crucial for creating workplaces that are not only innovative and inclusive but also foster psychological safety, empowering everyone to thrive. Tune In!

Join Sundays with Vernā for an inspiring conversation with Ginny Clarke, a former Google executive and renowned leadership expert. Ginny's extraordinary career, which has spanned multiple disciplines and sectors, has paved the way for her to guide top executives at global powerhouses. Through her visionary "Five Dimensional Leadership" model, she continues to challenge leaders to rethink traditional approaches, driving meaningful change across organizations and empowering individuals to lead with purpose.

The 5D leadership model is a framework centered on self-awareness, truth, love, consciousness, and personal mastery, enabling leaders to achieve an optimized state of what she calls “conscious leadership”, driving progress for individuals, team members, and the organization as a whole.

Together, Vernā and Ginny unlock powerful leadership strategies for building truly inclusive workplace cultures, driven by their unwavering faith in humanity’s boundless capacity for positivity, connection, and meaningful change. Ginny opens up about how spirituality and personal loss influence her leadership style, combining purpose and self-awareness. Together, they take a thoughtful look at the future, addressing the overlooked pitfalls leaders face, strategies for navigating toxic workplaces, and the pressing need for both personal growth and societal evolution.

In this special conversation, Vernā interviews former mentee, Brenda Rodriguez, CEO of Lynn Community Health Center in Massachusetts. Brenda shares her journey from overcoming challenges like pre-teen pregnancy and homelessness to becoming a passionate healthcare leader. She reflects on the vital role of community health centers in delivering inclusive, comprehensive care. 

Together with Verna, who played a pivotal role in her youth, Brenda revisits their shared past and they discuss the lessons they’ve learned from one another. She also offers a heartfelt perspective on leadership, emphasizing equity, transparency, staff development, and a commitment to creating patient-centered spaces for marginalized people. She shares stories which illustrate how deeply rewarding it is to lead with a focus on advocating for others who are overcoming challenges she once faced herself. Through personal stories of growth, purpose, and the importance of family and faith, Brenda delivers a powerful message about resilience, accountability, and the strength of community.

Don’t miss this engaging episode filled with wisdom, inspiration, and powerful stories of perseverence, as well as actionable insights to personal and professional development.

Join us in this episode with Rodney Bolden, the Executive Director of Industry Engagement and Learning at Morgan Stanley at Work, as we explore the impact of equitable workplace benefits and the data-driven strategies behind creating inclusive benefit packages. Rodney offers invaluable advice on financial planning, breaking down the formula to reach your financial goals. He and Vernā reflect on their personal journeys toward social mobility and mastering financial literacy from scratch. The conversation highlights the critical role of employee perks in fostering an inclusive workplace and tailoring them to meet the needs of marginalized groups. As they discuss the changing intergenerational workforce, they explore how to accommodate disability and neurodivergence to create a more inclusive environment. Additionally, the episode examines how historical and cultural factors influence financial attitudes, providing a comprehensive outlook on enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within organizations.