Ep110: Season Finale – Are We Ready For Real Change?

12/21/20 • 10 min

Changing Lenses: Diversify Your Perspectives

As I reflect back on the first season of the podcast, it’s become clear to me that systemic change starts with personal change. I believe true inclusion and equity requires sacrificing some of our self-interests, like power, position, even profit. The question is – are we willing to make change happen, if it means changing and sacrificing ourselves?

In this season finale, I share my thoughts on the “business case” and the costs of true inclusion, equity and diversity; why inclusion policies and training are not enough; and what’s next for Changing Lenses. (The podcast will take a short hiatus, but will be back in 2021!)

In this episode:

Reflecting on the journey so far
The big question: are we willing to do what it takes to change?
The “business case” is the side effect, not the reason, for inclusion, equity and diversity
Having inclusion and equity in more than name only is going to cost us something
My personal experience of inclusion policy vs. practice
It’s not about whether you say you believe in inclusion, equity and belonging. It’s what you do to make it happen – or not.
Looking ahead to 2021 and Season Two

Full episode transcript available here.
Music Credits
Intro Music:
What Words Can't Describe, by Vlad Gluschenko
License: CC BY 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

Outro Music:
Beautiful Modern Rock Pop Guitar All Goodness Background Music, by Royalty Free Music
License: CC BY-NC-ND 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

In this episode:

Reflecting on the journey so far
The big question: are we willing to do what it takes to change?
The “business case” is the side effect, not the reason, for inclusion, equity and diversity
Having inclusion and equity in more than name only is going to cost us something
My personal experience of inclusion policy vs. practice
It’s not about whether you say you believe in inclusion, equity and belonging. It’s what you do to make it happen – or not.
Looking ahead to 2021 and Season Two

Outro Music:
Beautiful Modern Rock Pop Guitar All Goodness Background Music, by Royalty Free Music
License: CC BY-NC-ND 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

Previous Episode

Ep109: Diversity Isn’t Just Skin Colour, with Rev. Dr. Timothy Tang

“I think our greatest fear is that people are jumping into it just because it's good opportunity, or it's good PR. As opposed to knowing, and thinking, and believing that this could actually make us all better as a people.”

Rev. Dr. Timothy Tang, Director of Tyndale Intercultural Ministries, shares with us what cultural competency means, how it benefits us in life and work, the challenges that practitioners face, and easy (and fun!) ways we can all grow our intercultural awareness. (No training programs required!)

In this episode:

We talk about:

What to call intercultural _____, and what it is
Cultural differences in names and titles
Sometimes the biggest challenge is realizing what your existing lens is (or that you have one)
Applying cultural competency at work and in leadership
Diversity is skin colour, but it's not just skin colour
Pulling your “diversity muscle”
Practical (and easy) ways to start your intercultural learning
Meeting people where they’re at – through movies, food, dance

Full transcript available here.

Guest Bio and References/Links

Reverend Dr. Timothy Tang was a pastor at East Toronto Chinese Baptist Church for over 15 years, during which time he obtained his doctorate in leadership, specializing in intercultural development. He's now the Director of Tyndale Intercultural Ministries (the “TIM Centre”), which is part of Tyndale University in Toronto.

Just some of the services that the TIM Centre provides are: intercultural resources for networking, training, and research; a certificate program in ministry and organizational leadership; and intercultural assessment, training and coaching for teams and individuals.

References:

The websites Tim mentioned on the podcast are:

http://www.timcentre.com

ureachtoronto.ca

ureachcanada.ca

Music Credits
Intro Music:
What Words Can't Describe, by Vlad Gluschenko
License: CC BY 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.enOutro Music:
Beautiful Modern Rock Pop Guitar All Goodness Background Music, by Royalty Free Music
License: CC BY-NC-ND 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

Next Episode

Ep201: Immigrants Need Not Apply, with Ali Ahmed

Ali Ahmed is a professional designated accountant who worked for one of the Big Four international accounting firms before immigrating from Pakistan to Canada. But despite having that professional experience, he couldn't get an accounting job in Canada until he got some "Canadian experience" under his belt.

As a former recruiter myself, I can verify that the prejudices Ali describes are real. I’m really glad that he's willing to share with you the unnecessary obstacles he faced in a country that supposedly welcomes immigrants and diverse ethnicities. After all, it's one thing to let people in the front door. It's another thing to let them sit at the same table with us.

So as you listen to Ali's story, I challenge you to think about what you deem essential job requirements and whether they're really that essential. And if your first thought is “they're all essential,” – think again.
Contact Rosie and find JEDI resources at: https://www.changinglenses.ca/
In this episode, we talk about:

[04:41] Immigrating to Canada (and challenges for his Pakistani family after 9/11).

[08:34] First impressions of Canada.

[09:33] Looking for work as an immigrant without “Canadian experience”.

[20:16] When Ali felt included at work.

[21:44] When Ali felt excluded at work.

[24:41] Having identities / labels put on him, instead of choosing his own.

[26:16] Ali’s advice for new immigrants and people looking for work.

Full transcript available here.

Guest Bio and References/Links

About Ali Ahmed:

Ali Ahmed is a forward-looking finance leader who works with organizations to help achieve their potential by making financially informed decisions. He provides strategic direction, develops budgets, and provides useful critical financial information. Ali’s superpower is to present complex financial information simply and concisely.

He is currently the Manager, Strategic Financial Management at Canadian Blood Services.

You can contact Ali via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-ahmed-cpa/

References and resources in this episode:

Woodgreen Community Services: https://www.woodgreen.org/

Canadian Blood Services: https://www.blood.ca/en

Changing Lenses: Diversify Your Perspectives - Ep110: Season Finale – Are We Ready For Real Change?

Transcript

Transcript
Episode 10: Season Finale – Are We Ready For Real Change? Intro

[intro music plays]

Hi! I’m Rosie Yeung, your host on Changing Lenses. In this podcast, we change our lens, to change what we see. Because seeing differently, lets us live differently.

[intro music ends]