Hello, and welcome back to the Intersection Podcast. 

This is the first installment of three entitled  "It’s Not You - Navigating Leadership As A Black Woman." The conversations over the next few weeks are near and dear to my heart.  As a Black woman who spent 20+ years in Corporate America, often feeling unseen and unheard, I wanted to give voice to our unique experiences and provide resources, tools, and a community to let you know you’re not alone.

Over the course of the series, we'll explore what it’s like to work in environments that were not designed by us or for us. And before you turn away and say…"I'm not a black leader” I encourage you to listen as we can all learn and grow from each other. 

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Heather Lofton, LMFT, Founder of Dr. Lofton, LMFT Therapy & Consulting.  She holds a doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies with a specialty in systems therapy. Dr. Heather also served as Core Faculty and Staff therapist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University's Master of Science Marriage and Family Therapy program.

Her specialty areas of treatment are professional women with depression, anxiety, and work-life balance concerns. Dr. Lofton's primary area of research and treatment specifically focuses on high-achieving black female professionals.

Welcome back! I hope your 2024 is off to a healthy and nurturing start.  

We’re kicking off this first episode of the season with a focus on money. Delving into what’s possible when organizations align financial objectives with their mission and values.

I’m thrilled to welcome Dana Britto, Founder & Principal of Cultivar Consulting.  Dana is a bold champion for greater equity within nonprofit management and philanthropy.  Her expertise as a Lender and Board Treasurer help organizations strengthen financial management systems which ultimately empowers leaders, teams, and the communities they serve. 

Join us as we explore the critical intersection of equity and financial practices, and how embedding equity into financial decision-making fosters a more inclusive and just workplace.

Welcome to a momentous occasion— celebrating the 100th episode of The Intersection Podcast! Your support, engagement, and commitment to not only this podcast, but fostering diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces, has been instrumental in making this podcast what it is today. Thank you for being a part of this remarkable community we've created.

In this special episode, I  reflect on how far we've come, celebrate accomplishments, and renew my commitment to the podcast’s mission. But that's not all! We're gearing up for what's to come in 2024, and it's going to be an exciting year filled with inspiring conversations and fresh insights.

We don’t often equate creativity and imagination with DEI.  My guest is busting that myth and bringing a unique lens to the way we approach DEI.

We’re joined by Michaela Ayers, a multi-disciplinary artist and Art Historian who blends creativity into DEIA. Michaela is a seasoned facilitator who offers a human-centered approach to learning that promotes true and lasting behavior change.

A spirited storyteller, Michaela is also the creator of the Black Her Stories project, a platform celebrating the leadership and contributions of Black women throughout history and in modern times.

Today we’re joined by Dr. Mira Brancu to discuss the imperative of equitable workplace cultures to attract, retain, and advance underrepresented leaders. Dr. Brancu shares specific advice for women navigating careers, guidance for male allies, and insights on changing systems versus dismantling them. 

Dr. Mira Brancu is the Founder and CEO of Towerscope, an award-winning social impact consulting firm. She’s held leadership roles at the US Department of Veterans Affairs and a faculty appointment at Duke University. Mira is the author of "Millennials Guide to Workplace Politics" and is a contributor on women in leadership for Psychology Today

We explore the following topics in our conversation today:

• How to increase visibility and find opportunities in your organization

• The importance of Sponsors and Allies 

• A Values-First approach to attracting and retaining talent 

Hello and welcome to another episode of the Intersection Podcast! This week we are joined by Sonia Thompson. Sonia is a luminary in the realm of inclusive marketing and branding. As an inclusive brand coach, strategist, and consultant, Sonia has carved out a niche by helping brands expand their reach by authentically catering to a diverse clientele. 

Not only does she boast a formidable resume with columns in prestigious publications like Forbes, but she also leads the conversation on belonging in the business world through her podcast, the 'Inclusion and Marketing' podcast. With an expansive career, insightful viewpoints, and the unique experience of having lived in diverse locales like Argentina, Sonia offers a refreshing perspective on why businesses must prioritize inclusivity for success.

We explore the following topics in our conversation today:

• Sonia's strategies on how brands can grow by effectively connecting with a diverse customer base and the significance of varying consumer journeys.

• Unraveling the challenges of ageism in the digital space, the importance of diversity within teams, and how homogenous thinking can hinder a brand's potential for inclusivity and growth.

• Exploring the profound impact of feeling seen and acknowledged in the business world, especially for women and people of color.

Welcome to another episode of the Intersection Podcast!

In 2020 during the height of the Pandemic, I joined Clubhouse and found myself in a room called Shared Sisterhood co-facilitated by Dr. Tina Opie and Dr. Beth A. Livingston. The conversations in that room had a tremendous impact on me. They went on to coauthor Shared Sisterhood: How to Take Collective Action for Racial and Gender Equity at Work.

Dr. Tina Opie is an Associate Professor of Management and a prominent voice in the fields of research, teaching, consulting, and public speaking. Dr. Opie is the founder of Opie Consulting Group LLC, where she guides corporations towards transformative change.

Dr. Beth A. Livingston is the Ralph L. Sheets Associate Professor in Industrial Relations at the University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business. With a prolific career studying gender, stereotyping, discrimination, and work-family dynamics, Dr. Livingston's insights enrich our understanding of complex workplace issues.

We explore the following topics in our conversation today:

• Goals and metrics are crucial for DEIJ but reaching goals does not signify true equity. The work is perpetual.

• With the recent SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action, how can leaders and organizations best prepare for the eventual impact on the workplace?

• The Shared Sisterhood Powerful practice of Dig, Bridge, and Collective Action

Welcome to another edition of The Intersection Podcast!  

Today's guest is Stacye Thrasher Brim, the Founder and Principal Consultant of STB Consulting.  STB partners with organizations to develop and execute meaningful strategic plans. Stacye has over 20 years of experience leading corporate and nonprofit clients in project management, process improvement, and strategic planning.  

We explore the following topics in our conversation today:

• What it looks like to embed DEIJ into your strategic plan.

• The common challenges organizations face when operationalizing their plan. 

• Developing quantifiable goals that are realistic and actionable.

Welcome to another enlightening episode of The Intersection Podcast. This week, we delve into the transformative power of The Libertory Consciousness Framework, with our special guest, Julye Williams. This framework consists of four essential pillars: awareness, analysis, action, and accountable allyship.

Julye Williams founded The Project 2043 Institute, whose mission is to educate and prepare organizations for the multiracial society we live in today and in the future.

Julye spent 20 years in education where she led international youth exchange programs, co-founded a public elementary school, and develped resources on race & diversity, trauma, and social-emotional learning. Julye is a passionate advocate for racial and social justice, fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, and holds an MBA from Florida A&M University.

During this conversation, we explore the following topics:

• The Libertory Consciousness Framework - what it is and how leaders can utilize it

• The common challenges that organizations encounter as they progress through the framework.

• The importance of understanding historical context and its implication on DEIJ

Julye says, “If I had a magic wand, I would magically make everyone understand the history of how we got to where we are.”

Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Intersection Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe and stay tuned for more thought-provoking conversations. Together, we can create a world where diversity is celebrated, and everyone thrives.

Welcome back to The Intersection Podcast. In this episode, I am speaking with Dr. Lisa Bowleg. Lisa Bowleg, PhD, MA, is a leading scholar of the application of intersectionality to social and behavioral science health research. She is Professor of Applied Social Psychology in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the George Washington University (GW) and a Co-Director of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Core of the DC Center for AIDS Research (DC CFAR). She is also the Founder and President of the Intersectionality Training Institute (www.intersectionalitytraining.org).

Informed by intersectionality and critical race theory, her research projects examine the effects of social-structural stressors (e.g., unemployment, incarceration, police brutality), intersectional stigma, and protective factors on the health of Black men at diverse intersections of socioeconomic status and sexuality.

Leaders need to embark on their own DEI learning journey. It is not your ERG’s responsibility to lead DEIJ within your orgnaiation. Don’t ask employees to committ time, expertise, and passion for free, it is essential to provide compensation. If budgets are limited, organizations can offer learning opportunities or professional development to demonstrate their commitment. By allocating monetary resources to DEI, organizations align their actions with their values, demonstrating that DEI is not merely lip service.

“We are co-creating our workspace, culture, and potentially societal structures. This is a very abstract, high-level vision and what I’ve learned is many organizations aren’t ready.”