Diversity Matters with Oscar Holmes IV - Corporate DEI Initiatives

Corporate DEI Initiatives

03/18/23 • 37 min

Diversity Matters with Oscar Holmes IV Season 4 Episode 3 Episode Title: Corporate DEI Initiatives Guest: Dr. Anthony C. Hood Diversity Matters with Oscar Holmes IV is a podcast that explores all things diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related. In each episode, Oscar and his guests have lively discussions around DEI topics, explore the latest research on the topic, and discuss the implications so that listeners will be more knowledgeable about the topics and be able to apply the insights to their lives. Show Summary: “If you're looking for somebody to do diversity recruiting or put on panel discussions, Women's History Month, Black History Month, go find somebody else. But if you want to impact and drive workplace change, I'm interested - Dr. Anthony C. Hood” In today's rapidly changing world, diversity, equity, and inclusion have become essential elements for organizations looking to succeed and stay competitive. More and more organizations in corporate America recognize the value of creating a diverse workforce. However, achieving true diversity, equity, and inclusion goes beyond addressing race. It commits to building an environment where everyone is treated equitably and given equal opportunities, regardless of background, ethnicity, or other personal characteristics. My guest today is Dr. Anthony Hood, an exceptional academic and corporate executive who is deeply involved and entrenched in diversity, equity, and inclusion activity within Alabama and beyond. In this episode, we talk about his experiences as a Chief DEI officer in corporate America and how he leads with evidence-based data when presenting strategies for progress and measuring success through KPIs, metrics, goals, and visions. Join us as we delve into the challenges and opportunities of promoting real, meaningful change that goes beyond mere performance. 3 Exceptional Highlights: The holy grail in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work is when it ties up with all areas of the organization, impacting compensation and performance evaluation. Anti-black racism still exists in corporate America, and most companies are not ready to discuss it. It's essential to approach diversity research and literature nuanced and complexly to grasp its full implications for organizations. Show Highlights: 03:09 - Why Dr. Anthony Hood made the bold decision to leave academia and return to corporate America 05:36 - Is the Chief DEI Officer role more performative than effective following the tragic death of George Floyd? 11:25 - How to collaborate with respected colleagues without giving off perceptions of superiority or stepping on their expertise 13:15 - Why Dr. Hood wants to create a safe environment as a Chief DEI officer where people feel psychologically safe with him 15:02 - Lessons learned from some of the most challenging initiatives in the workplace encountered by Dr. Hood 17:27 - The importance of speaking corporate slang to gain traction in DEI initiatives 19:25 - Why are DEI metrics so crucial, and which ones should companies focus on? 28:45 - If it's not equitable for one, it's not equitable for everyone 30:32 - Leaders often hoard talent to the point of sabotaging their mobility 34:31 - Several community DEI initiatives Dr. Anthony Hood is most involved in Important Links: Episode Sponsor Links: Producer Links: Host Social Media Links: Subscribe to Diversity Matters Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher

Previous Episode

Critical Race Theory

Diversity Matters with Oscar Holmes IV Season 4 Episode 2 Episode Title: Critical Race Theory Guest: Dr. Victor Ray Diversity Matters with Oscar Holmes IV is a podcast that explores all things diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related. In each episode, Oscar and his guests have lively discussions around DEI topics, explore the latest research on the topic, and discuss the implications so that listeners will be more knowledgeable about the topics and be able to apply the insights to their lives. Show Summary: “It’s frustrating when people who know nothing about racism in American history misrepresent critical race theory, ban books, and target scholars genuinely reckoning America's racial order.” Although civil rights movements and social justice movements have made significant progress over the years, systemic racism and discrimination continue to plague American society to this day. Critical race theory reveals the underlying causes of racial inequality and the ways in which power, privilege, and oppression can contribute to progress as well as undermine it. And in this episode, Dr. Victor Ray, a renowned public scholar whose work has been featured in outlets such as the Washington Post, Harvard Business Review, and Boston Review, and author of the book, On Critical Race Theory: Why It Matters and Why You Should Care, shares his expertise on what critical race theory entails, how it is being misrepresented in ongoing debates in education and society, and its impact on the ongoing fight for racial equality in the United States. 3 Exceptional Highlights: Growing up as a mixed-race individual and witnessing differential treatment between his family members opened Dr. Victor’s eyes to the social construction of race. Organizations are already infused with racial processes, from access to education and legal protection to capital. It is crucial to organize as groups and resist those who are waging a war against critical race theory, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Show Highlights: What is the history behind Critical Race Theory and how is it being viewed in this time period? 02:49 Dr. Victor Ray Critical race theory was pioneered by scholars such as Derrick Bell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, and Richard Delgado that originated from the backlash of the civil rights movement in the 60s and early 70s. Ideas from this theory spread beyond the law to explain why racial inequality is so deeply entrenched in American society and why progress toward equality is often temporary and fiercely opposed. How Dr. Victor Ray’s personal experience deeply shaped his research and pivotal moments in his understanding of race 09:15 Dr. Victor Ray My experiences differed greatly from my dad and brother growing up, who would get stopped by cops or called on security. However, as a professor in a predominantly white space, folks would attempt to bond with me through racist jokes or assumptions about black people. Can you explain the concept of whiteness as a property? 15:00 Dr. Victor Ray Whiteness as a credential allows white people to move into and up organizations in a way that often appears neutral but is deeply shaped by their racial identity. How do we grapple with the rise of authoritarianism, fascism, and racism as a society? 19:05 Dr. Victor Ray The rise of authoritarianism, fascism, and racism can be countered by organizing ourselves to regain control of school boards, legislatures, and voting. How do you view folks attempting to delegitimize the term ‘woke’ in relation to critical race theory? 24:15 Dr. Victor Ray Wokeness is a term that originated in the black vernacular to describe awareness of social inequalities in the United States. Criticizing the concept of "woke" is similar to criticizing equal opportunity. Will we ever get to a point where we can make our own racial progress without having to suffer backlash? 27:22 Dr. Victor Ray Many believe that the fight against racial inequality has an endpoint, but history doesn’t work that way. Ongoing collective action and scholarship are needed to come up with real lasting solutions. Important Links: Episode Sponsor Links: Producer Links: Host Social Media Links: Subscribe to Diversity Matters Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher

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Advancing DEI: The Necessary Journey

Diversity Matters with Oscar Holmes IV Season 4 Episode 4 Episode Title: Advancing DEI: The Necessary Journey Guest: Dr. Ella F. Washington Diversity Matters with Oscar Holmes IV is a podcast that explores all things diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related. In each episode, Oscar and his guests have lively discussions around DEI topics, explore the latest research on the topic, and discuss the implications so that listeners will be more knowledgeable about the topics and be able to apply the insights to their lives. Show Summary: “Passion does not create more hours in the day. It's unfair to expect those most impacted by the lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion to fix the problem without compensation. Organizations with limited budgets should find creative solutions.” – Dr. Ella Washington. Many organizations today recognize the importance of workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion. However, many struggle to implement effective strategies that promote diverse perspectives, create equitable opportunities, and foster an inclusive workplace culture. As a result of this struggle, organizations may experience a lack of innovation, reduced employee engagement, and exclusion of underrepresented groups, negatively impacting both their employees and the entire organization. Thus, there is a need to explore practical solutions and insights to help these companies reach meaningful and sustainable outcomes and achieve their DEI goals. In this episode, we have a fantastic scholar and consultant, Dr. Ella Washington, who shares her insights and expertise on the topic of DEI, which is also the subject of her new book, The Necessary Journey. Dr. Washington has extensive experience in the human capital space, impacting clients across various industries, including finance, entertainment, and higher education. She is a professor of practice at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business and the Founder and CEO of Ellavate Solutions. Whether you're a leader, employee, or academic, Dr. Washington's unique perspective will inspire you to think outside the box and build a truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. 3 Exceptional Highlights: The journey toward diversity, equity, and inclusion is a gradual process that requires sustained effort and time to achieve structural and systemic change. Diversity of thought should not replace demographic diversity, which should remain a foundational goal until representation goals are achieved at every level. A workplace utopia is a space where bias and exclusion are dismantled, and individuals are valued for their strengths, allowing everyone to thrive. Show Highlights: 03:18 - What inspired Dr. Ella Washington to write The Necessary Journey? 09:29 - Discover the five stages of the DEI Maturity Model 13:54 - Hesitations most companies face when being classified in early stages, such as Awareness or Compliance 15:38 - How to foster diversity of thought and allow for constructive discourse to achieve optimal business outcomes 18:53 - The most common pitfalls organizations encounter on their DEI journey 23:14 - The impact of inadequate DEI support and lack of real commitment from organizations 24:54 - The emotional and visceral toll employees face when DEI initiatives are not supported in the workplace 27:18 - Senior leadership can improve their understanding of DEI through cost-effective strategies 29:19 - When to hire a Chief Diversity Officer and how to prepare for the hiring process 33:38 - Foster innovation to build a truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace 35:23 - How can organizations ensure that their employee resource groups (ERGs) are not used to exploit the labor of their members? —-- Important Links: - - - Episode Sponsor Links: Producer Links: Host Social Media Links: Subscribe to Diversity Matters Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher