Episode 43. Many of our workplaces lack diversity. Whether it be across the company, in a particular meeting or at the leadership level, it is rare to see a group of people that match the ethnic and gender diversity of our communities. So, what does it feel like when you look different?
Brenda Harrington, the author of a book called Access Denied, a compilation that explores discrimination and disparity in the workplace. Whether this subject personally resonates with you or not, this episode will teach you a lot about business culture and open the door to understanding new perspectives.
Brenda believes that when you know where you excel and what you enjoy, you can pivot to a career that feels fulfilling and purposeful. Brenda focuses on emphasizing diversity in the workplace, and during the episode she shines a light on her own personal experiences as well as what being inclusive really looks like.
Key Takeaways and Discussion
- Brenda’s career journey and what lead her to start Adaptive Leader Strategies
- Why she refers to her path as non-linear as opposed to a journey.
- The importance of knowing what you’re good at, what you like, and what you don’t.
- Why waiting for Friday, week after week, is not the answer to a satisfying career.
- How to show up in your work in a more purposeful way and why it matters.
- The secret of using open questions to communicate more dynamically.
- Why being vulnerable beats having all the answers.
- The settlement Brenda received over an incident with a previous employer.
- Why inclusion is a leadership imperative.
- What the research shows about diversity.
- What the reader will discover inside Brenda’s book Access Denied.
- The course Brenda is piloting right now and what it addresses.
- Being equitable in the workplace and where holding people accountable comes in.
- Why we’re often blinded to the instances of exclusion or even aggression in our own workplaces.