Operationalizing with Dr. Melissa Vogel

12/10/24 • 24 min

5 Things In 15 Minutes: Good Vibes in DEI

Dr. Melissa Vogel (she/her), Business Anthropologist, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week, our conversation is about Breaking Fashion Barriers, Rising Wages (but Not Enough), Theme Parks Ditching Paperwork, TJ Maxx's Inclusion Win, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

Breaking Barriers in Fashion
Wages Are Rising—But Not Enough!
Theme Parks Drop Disability Paperwork!
TJ Maxx Teams Up for Inclusion!
History is Made for Trans Rights

Good Vibes to Go:

Bernadette’s GVTG: Listen to this episode of the How I Built This podcast featuring the story of Fawn Weaver and Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. It’s great for business nerds like me and anyone who loves a feel-good story.

Melissa’s GVTG: 1. Keep having conversations around DEI and try to stay open to understanding different perspectives. Personalizing things with simple language and relevant examples works better than statistics.

2. Look for ways to use common courtesy. Be aware of when you might be experiencing privilege at someone else’s expense. For example, speak up if the cashier overlooked the person ahead of you in line, or give the floor to a work colleague who hasn’t been able to break into the conversation or had a chance to speak.

3. Anyone can put on their “anthropologist hat” and learn more about the world and people with which they’re less familiar. The holidays are a great time to do that and to celebrate both the similarities and differences we have across cultures. Take the opportunity to teach your kids or other family members about traditions different from your own.

Read the Stories.

Connect with Dr. Melissa Vogel.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

Breaking Barriers in Fashion
Wages Are Rising—But Not Enough!
Theme Parks Drop Disability Paperwork!
TJ Maxx Teams Up for Inclusion!
History is Made for Trans Rights

Good Vibes to Go:

Read the Stories.

Connect with Dr. Melissa Vogel.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Previous Episode

Rebroadcast: Recovery with Rex Wilde

Rex Wilde, LGBTQ+ educator, speaker, and consultant, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about anti-racist layoffs, disabled models and designers, and more!

There was a recurring theme this week in my conversations with clients: how to recover after you’ve been called out or accidentally offended someone. Here’s the short answer: don't get dramatic. Apologize sincerely once without diminishing their experience. If you’re corrected, say thanks. Educate yourself, rather than asking them, so you can do better next time.

During an in-person keynote for a corporate client, I was asked a question that took the topic a step further. I was asked, “How much responsibility do I need to continue to take after I’ve offended someone when, after my sincere apology, they remain angry and/or aggressive?”

Here are a couple of guidelines: Remember you don’t know what it’s like to walk in their shoes and it’s a good idea to acknowledge that when speaking with the person. And, after an appropriate period of time, it’s OK to ask, “Is there anything I can do to repair this relationship?”

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

Disabled Models and Designers Take Center Stage at New York Fashion Week
Hearst Joins Employers Expanding Benefits to Include Divorce Support
Twilio Promises ‘Anti-racist’ Layoffs as Ceo Says 11% Job Cuts Won’t Hit Workers From ‘Marginalized Communities’ More Than Others
Hot Chicken Takeover’s Mission Is to Hire People Who Might Be Passed Over Elsewhere, Whether Because of Prior Incarceration, Drug Addiction, or Homelessness
Interior Department Completes Removal of “Sq___” from Federal Use

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-recovery

To learn more about Rex, visit: https://www.rexwilde.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Next Episode

Family with Anna DeShawn

Anna DeShawn (she/her), Founder & Podcaster, E3 Radio & The Qube, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week, we’re talking about Tokyo’s big bet on work-life balance with a four-day workweek, how Lego is building inclusion one brick at a time for hidden disabilities, the Vatican’s rainbow-hued welcome during Holy Year, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

Four-Day Workweek Coming to Tokyo
Hidden Disabilities Get Brick-by-Brick Representation
Holy Year, Rainbow Welcome!
Doula Love Saves Lives!
Boards Are Better With Women

Good Vibes to Go:

Bernadette’s GVTG: I’m buying some holiday gifts from FreeFrom, a social enterprise where “100% of every purchase helps survivors of gender-based violence build wealth, safety, and power through their handcrafted products. For survivor-entrepreneurs, creating these items nurtures their healing, giving customers even more of a reason to gift abundantly.” There’s even a new documentary about this program called Survivor Made.

Anna’s GVTG: Get yourself some E3 Radio & The Qube merch! Save 5% by end end of 2024 with code 5Things.

Read the Stories

Connect with Anna DeShawn

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/