85. How to Become a Competent DEI Practitioner: { Tina Gilbert }
08/31/23 • 16 min
In today’s episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue welcomes Tina Gilbert, the Managing Director of Advisory Services at Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT). MLT is a distinguished organisation in the U.S. that strives to elevate African Americans, Hispanic Latinx, and Native Americans into roles that foster their growth and leadership. Tina's pivotal role is ensuring the recipient organisations have the right policies, practices, and culture in place to help these individuals thrive. In this episode, she shares valuable insights into how companies can create cultures of equity even during a recession, and the importance of strategic planning, understanding DEI practices, negotiation, communication, and influence in this process. Tune in to hear Tina discuss the importance of empathising with lived experiences and empowering others, creating a potent narrative around what makes a truly inclusive and equitable environment.
“ Especially in my role as a managing director, where I have people underneath me who are spending the day with the employers working with them, it is how are you empowering those beneath you, across from you and with you. So you are not doing this alone. This can be a very lonely job, and especially in this time of economic transition, where you might be the only one who has the formal title of D&I. And so what are you doing both formally and informally, to bring others along on this journey with you. So you are not alone, I spent a lot of time talking about the level of engagement that you need to be able to bring and have with individuals, so that you are growing kind of your force, the people that are working with you, for you and beside you. And so in these times where it might get harder and harder to get the people formally on your team, what are you doing to empower those through volunteerism, through champion through sponsorships, so you're not in this alone. ”
Episode Highlights:
● Dig into the lived experiences of the populations you work with
● The business case for diversity, equity and inclusion
● Developing skills and competencies in the field
About Tina Gilbert:
Tina Gilbert (she / her) is the Managing Director of Advisory Services responsible for delivery of client services and development of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion leading practices and insights. Tina brings 10 years of DEI Leadership (4 years global), 15 years of Strategic Consulting, and 25 years of corporate experiences across six industries to this role. Throughout her career, she has led efforts to transform organizations' operating models, business processes, and employee culture to create measurable impact. As an I&D Leader over the last ten years, she has partnered with Business and HR leaders in designing strategies and metrics that align with talent strategies and desired business outcomes.
Prior to joining MLT, Tina was the Inclusion and Diversity Leader for Teva Pharmaceuticals and Accolade (Healthcare Navigation and Data). As the first I&D leader at both organizations, she guided each organizations’ evolution from diversity compliance management to recognizing its value as a business imperative. Her work at Teva was recognized in 2017 by Diversity Inc. Magazine as one of their Noteworthy Companies. More recently she was named as one of Hive Learning’s Most Influential D&I Leaders and by FindSpark as one of the 30 Must-Follow Diversity & Inclusion Thought Leaders Transforming the Workplace.
Before working as a full-time Diversity Practitioner, Tina was a Partner/Managing Director with Accenture’s Strategy Practice leading large transformation projects, business strategic planning programs, and operations/organizational design. At Accenture, she sponsored a variety of DEI programming, recruiting and training initiatives. She holds a BS from Spelman College, an Industrial Engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She is based out of the Philadelphia, PA area.
If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: [email protected]
If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: [email protected]
If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email:
Stay Connected with Ashanti:
LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue
In today’s episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue welcomes Tina Gilbert, the Managing Director of Advisory Services at Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT). MLT is a distinguished organisation in the U.S. that strives to elevate African Americans, Hispanic Latinx, and Native Americans into roles that foster their growth and leadership. Tina's pivotal role is ensuring the recipient organisations have the right policies, practices, and culture in place to help these individuals thrive. In this episode, she shares valuable insights into how companies can create cultures of equity even during a recession, and the importance of strategic planning, understanding DEI practices, negotiation, communication, and influence in this process. Tune in to hear Tina discuss the importance of empathising with lived experiences and empowering others, creating a potent narrative around what makes a truly inclusive and equitable environment.
“ Especially in my role as a managing director, where I have people underneath me who are spending the day with the employers working with them, it is how are you empowering those beneath you, across from you and with you. So you are not doing this alone. This can be a very lonely job, and especially in this time of economic transition, where you might be the only one who has the formal title of D&I. And so what are you doing both formally and informally, to bring others along on this journey with you. So you are not alone, I spent a lot of time talking about the level of engagement that you need to be able to bring and have with individuals, so that you are growing kind of your force, the people that are working with you, for you and beside you. And so in these times where it might get harder and harder to get the people formally on your team, what are you doing to empower those through volunteerism, through champion through sponsorships, so you're not in this alone. ”
Episode Highlights:
● Dig into the lived experiences of the populations you work with
● The business case for diversity, equity and inclusion
● Developing skills and competencies in the field
About Tina Gilbert:
Tina Gilbert (she / her) is the Managing Director of Advisory Services responsible for delivery of client services and development of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion leading practices and insights. Tina brings 10 years of DEI Leadership (4 years global), 15 years of Strategic Consulting, and 25 years of corporate experiences across six industries to this role. Throughout her career, she has led efforts to transform organizations' operating models, business processes, and employee culture to create measurable impact. As an I&D Leader over the last ten years, she has partnered with Business and HR leaders in designing strategies and metrics that align with talent strategies and desired business outcomes.
Prior to joining MLT, Tina was the Inclusion and Diversity Leader for Teva Pharmaceuticals and Accolade (Healthcare Navigation and Data). As the first I&D leader at both organizations, she guided each organizations’ evolution from diversity compliance management to recognizing its value as a business imperative. Her work at Teva was recognized in 2017 by Diversity Inc. Magazine as one of their Noteworthy Companies. More recently she was named as one of Hive Learning’s Most Influential D&I Leaders and by FindSpark as one of the 30 Must-Follow Diversity & Inclusion Thought Leaders Transforming the Workplace.
Before working as a full-time Diversity Practitioner, Tina was a Partner/Managing Director with Accenture’s Strategy Practice leading large transformation projects, business strategic planning programs, and operations/organizational design. At Accenture, she sponsored a variety of DEI programming, recruiting and training initiatives. She holds a BS from Spelman College, an Industrial Engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She is based out of the Philadelphia, PA area.
If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: [email protected]
If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: [email protected]
If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email:
Stay Connected with Ashanti:
LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue
Previous Episode
84. Unveiling the Truth: The Power and Perils of Employee Surveys on Inclusion
In this episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue delves into the intricate world of employee surveys, with a specific focus on their crucial role in fostering an inclusive work environment. Ashanti shares valuable insights from years of working with numerous organisations, shedding light on both the challenges and opportunities that come with surveys related to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Through her firsthand experiences, she explores the resistance, anxieties, and misconceptions that leaders often exhibit towards such surveys, and how to navigate these difficult waters. She also offers her perspective on the importance of data transparency post-surveys and the need for well-researched, carefully constructed survey questions. This episode provides a unique blend of practical advice and in-depth understanding for HR professionals, leaders, and anyone keen to enhance employee experience and inclusion in their organisations. Tune in to gain a better understanding of the human elements at play when executing employee surveys and how to overcome the obstacles that may arise in the process.
If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: [email protected]
If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: [email protected]
If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email:
Stay Connected with Ashanti:
LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue
Next Episode
86. How to Become a Competent DEI Practitioner: { Davina Majeethia }
In today’s enlightening episode, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue welcomes Davina Majeethia, the EDI Lead at Nesta, an innovation foundation and charity, providing a captivating insight into her journey and experiences in the realm of EDI work. As a second-generation immigrant with a South Asian background and neurodiversity, Davina's personal experiences have driven her passion for this critical field. She discusses her transition from consulting to an in-house role, emphasising the importance of understanding the internal dynamics and challenges faced by organisations in implementing EDI strategies. Davina delves into the essential skills required for success in this field, highlighting prioritisation and compartmentalization. She also offers valuable advice to aspiring DEI professionals, emphasising the importance of humility and finding your genuine passion within the diverse landscape of EDI. This episode serves as a powerful resource for anyone interested in the intricate world of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
“ My understanding is that most EDI practitioners come into this because of a sense of their own lived experience. I also think for a lot of people, it's actually a way of channelling trauma in quite an effective way. So you're never going to have good deep understanding and experience, as in you're unlikely to in every single aspect of EDI. So know what you can know about, but also know what you don't know about and be humble about that.”
Episode Highlights:
•Transitioning from Consulting to In-House
•Advice for aspiring DEI professionals
•Skills needed to develop in internal role prioritisation, prioritising and compartmentalising
About Davina Majeethia:
Davina is the Senior Lead for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI).
She has a passion for underpinning EDI thinking with intersectionality and is keen to foster an environment of open and honest dialogue. She believes education to be the most powerful tool in moving forward the EDI agenda. Prior to Nesta, Davina worked at Accenture where she specialised in Talent & Organisation strategies. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies and NGO clients to formulate bespoke solutions to culture, talent and EDI issues.
While at Nesta, Davina is focused on delivering our EDI Strategy, ensuring it is continuously evolving so it remains relevant and effective for all.
If you would like to apply to be a guest on the show email: [email protected]
If you would like to schedule a capability briefing call with our team, email: [email protected]
If you would like to apply for DEI PRO Coaching, email:
Stay Connected with Ashanti:
LinkedIn: Ashanti Bentil-Dhue
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