What happens when a layoff becomes your runway?
Christopher Bylone tells the story of walking out of corporate predictability and building Innovation Unbiased, a practice that treats belonging like both data and devotion. He shares the “belonging formula” and real examples of accessibility failing where it counts.
If you want practical steps to lead with heart and measure inclusion, this episode will challenge how you think about equity, bias, and the everyday choices that make people feel (or not) like they belong.
Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments
- Christopher’s turning point – how being laid off sparked the launch of his consulting business.
- Belonging is actionable – Christopher’s formula: equity + diversity × inclusion^accessibility.
- Equity as policies and practice – diversity as representation, inclusion as leadership behaviors, accessibility as real-world access.
- Why small design choices – like office layouts, send big messages about who belongs.
- Unconscious bias is inevitable – the goal is shifting to purposeful, unbiased behavior.
- Authenticity speeds opportunity – leaning into identity opens more doors, not fewer.
- Network nourishment matters – relationships fuel traction and transformation.
- Vulnerability is strength – childhood lessons shaped Christopher’s lifelong commitment to dignity.
Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode
- “Fear shows up on every bold move — the trick is making it ride in the backseat, not drive.” — Courtney Turich
- “Owning your path isn’t a destination; it’s the daily choice to show up as you.” — Courtney Turich
- “When someone dares to be authentic, they don’t make you less — they make the room better.” — Courtney Turich
- “Bold choices don’t wait for permission; they ask for practice.” — Courtney Turich
- “If you want people to belong, start by designing workplaces that would welcome you.” — Courtney Turich
- “Belonging isn’t a feeling you hope for — it’s an it you can measure and build toward.” – Christopher Bylone
- “Your bias may exist, but being purposefully unbiased means your behavior doesn’t harm others.” – Christopher Bylone
- “Equity is the policy; inclusion is the action; accessibility is the proof.” – Christopher Bylone
- “The day I was laid off I didn’t lose my job — I gained permission to make my work my purpose.” – Christopher Bylone
- “Humanity isn’t optional in business; it’s the metric we keep ignoring at our peril.” – Christopher Bylone
About Christopher
Christopher Bylone is the founder of Innovation Unbiased and host of I Know I Belong When…, where he amplifies bold voices and stories of inclusion and impact. A cancer survivor and lifelong advocate, he has led global belonging strategies at Krispy Kreme and IFF, driving ERGs, inclusive policies, and multimillion-dollar DE&I initiatives. From launching a Gay-Straight Alliance in college to shaping corporate ESG strategies, Christopher’s journey is rooted in resilience and authenticity. Living in the Charlotte Metro area, he’s also a proud dad of two and a leader who proves that belonging isn’t just a value—it’s a movement.
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