Uplifting Impact

Cecilia Ogude is the Senior Vice President and Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at IRI, working with leadership to facilitate the development, implementation, and continuous evolution of IRI’s DEI strategy, initiatives, programs, tools, and resources. She previously held roles at JPMorgan Chase & Co and McKinsey & Co where she worked to drive intersectional and inclusive experiences for employees and senior leaders. Cecilia currently lives in New York and is an active volunteer with several organizations there.

In order to have an engaged team, some key components that must be in place include a sense of belonging and connection. And in these times of working from home and distance from each other, it can be more important than ever to intentionally seek out and create connections with colleagues. In this conversation, Deanna and Cecilia discuss some of the impactful ways colleagues have reached out to them, and some of the ways in which they share and create intersectional relationships within the workplace. They also discuss staying committed to DEI every day, and how those in leadership roles can create space for growth. To connect with Cecilia, find her on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliaogude

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Welcome to the Season 2 finale of the Uplifting Impact podcast! In this special episode, Deanna Singh and Justin Ponder sit down to talk about their own journeys and perspectives as they think about DEI and how DEI shows up in their day-to-day lifestyles. You’ll hear them each talk about how they continue to grow and develop in this space, and about some of the people who have had the biggest impact on them and their growth. You will also hear them answer the question they ask each of their guests: what brings you joy?

Deanna and Justin also want to say thank you, on behalf of the entire Uplifting Impact team, for tuning into this podcast each week. We're deeply grateful that you've joined us for this season and we are excited about what's coming up! It’s important that this be a two-way dialogue, so we encourage you to join us by subscribing, sharing, and going to our website (UpliftingImpact.com) to share your ideas for Season 3 with us.

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Dr. Johné Battle is the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for Dollar General Corporation and oversees the strategy for diversity, equity, and inclusion for over 157,000 associates. Within this role, he works across the organization to make data-based decisions using tools such as belonging indexes, talent-flow analysis, and inclusive leader assessments. Dr. Johné Battle is recognized by the National Diversity & Leadership council as one of the Top 100 Diversity Officers in 2021 and is renowned as a Global Business Executive and thought leader who brings the powerful combination of skillful talent development and human capital expertise.

Dr. Battle has quite an impressive BHAG (big, hairy, audacious, goal) of transforming the lives of 10 million people over 10 years. In this conversation, he shares how he created this goal, and how he brings that to his work of DEI. He also shares some really key strategies for not only getting leadership on board with DEI, but ensuring that it starts with leadership and is woven into the fabric of any organization. To connect with Dr. Johné Battle, you can find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnebattlemba/

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Guillermo Gutierrez and Deanna Singh have quite a lot in common, including their drive to travel across the globe, investing themselves into communities, and sharing that with others. In this conversation, Guillermo and I discuss how important their experiences with travel have impacted their DEI journeys and have helped them exercise empathy and understanding, which we carry with us in our day-to-day.

After graduating from university with a BA in marketing, he spent the next two and a half years working abroad, where he really discovered his professional calling in learning and development and cultural coaching. He later received his MS in Organizational Development, which lead him to a career of over 22 years, with different corporate roles in Human Resources and as a consultant to Fortune 500 companies. In his current role, he serves as the Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity for ManpowerGroup. To connect with Guillermo, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gutierrezguillermo/

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Dr. Anthony C. Hood serves as the Executive Vice President and the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for First Horizon Bank. In this role, he leads the development and execution of a firm-wide strategy for embedding DEI into the DNA of the organization. He previously served as the Director of Civic Innovation in the Office of the President at UAB as well as a tenured Associate Professor of Management in the Collat School of Business at UAB. Dr. Hood is a board member of a number of organizations, including the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, Birmingham Education Foundation, Urban Impact, and the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District.

In our conversation, Dr. Hood discusses the importance of using data as a powerful tool for driving better outcomes in DEI work. He shares that DEI within an organization must be integrated into the DNA, beyond just HR practices and policies, and in order to build and implement the best strategies data must be ground zero. We also discuss ways to approach DEI work when facing opposition. To connect with Dr. Anthony C. Hood, you can find him on social media or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonychood

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Sheilina Henry is the Senior Vice President of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. She's responsible for cultivating an environment that celebrates diverse backgrounds while providing equitable access to opportunity. Sheilina has had a variety of roles within the company, but is now leading their diversity, equity and inclusion work. She is working to help make sure that everybody, whether you're coming into the dining space or whether you're on the team, is having a wonderful and inclusive experience.

The restaurant industry is no stranger to diversity. However, Sheilina shares that the past 18-months have revealed diversity gaps within the industry, disparities, and lack of resources. She also details some of her personal experiences that have shaped the way she approaches both DEI work and work that she does within the food industry, and how important it is to share these experiences to build trust and safe spaces with others. To connect with Sheilina, you can find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilina-henry-07036617

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Andre Nellams is a human resource leader with more than 20 years of HR experience. In his current role as Senior Director of Talent Acquisition & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Accolade, Inc., he focuses on strategies that introduce, build and implement human resources programs and initiatives that deliver key results. He also enjoys creating and being a part of a work environment where the sense of belonging is true and honest.

In our conversation, Andre shares many helpful strategies for approaching this work for those that may be new to DEI as well as for those who have been doing this work for a while. We discuss inherent bias, the importance of one-on-one conversations, and how to use the data that you gather to build policies and practices that will result in positive change. Andre also shares a strong sense of family and community, and how his passion for success shows up for him and impacts those around him. To connect with Andre, you can find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anellamshrleader

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Asif Sadiq has had a long and rich career in the equity and inclusion space with senior executive roles at Adidas, the Telegraph and EY Financial Services. He's been listed as one of the Most Influential Global D&I Leaders by Hive Learning, CIPD’s Top 20 Power List, and was honored with an MBE in 2017 by the Queen. As the Senior Vice President of Equity and Inclusion at WarnerMedia International, Asif works on globally driving the agenda around diversity.

In our conversation, we address the growth that is happening in the DEI space, and important considerations organizations should think about when filling DEI related positions. We talk about how to approach DEI work within different organizations and how it requires more than a blanket approach, and we discuss some important tools for driving widespread change. Asif also explains the important relationship between activism and DEI work, along with how activism drives DEI and what they look like in our personal lives versus inside the workplace. To connect with Asif, you can find him on LinkedIn at https://uk.linkedin.com/in/asif-sadiq-mbe-b8a58b14

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Joseph Machicote is the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer of Premier Inc. Joe partners with the CEO, executive team, and other stakeholders to formalize a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within the company. He also serves as premier spokesperson on matters related to DEI. Some of his specialties include human resource management, diversity and inclusion, organizational psychology and development, organizational design, employee relations, employment, labor law, and labor relations.

In our conversation, Joseph shares that even though he is not new to this work, he never stops seeking new information and development that he can apply to his practices and his role. He shares his recommendations for those that may be new to DEI work on how to get started. He details the four categories of DEI within Premier, and the strategies for implementation within the organization. To connect with Joseph, you can find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-machicote-a3858a5

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Sheri Crosby Wheeler is the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for Fossil Group Inc, a global design marketing, distribution, and innovation company with distinctive watches, accessories, and wearables that are all created from some of the greatest brands in the world. She is a diversity leader, employment lawyer, and an avid community volunteer. She's also a member of the state bar of Texas. In our conversation, we really dive into DEI work within corporations, and the importance of both the individual and the structural levels, how to accomplish both, and why both are equally important.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shericrosbywheeler

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