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In this episode of Smart Start Radio, host Eming Piansay examines how diversity, equity and inclusion work is evolving in today’s professional landscape.
Eming speaks first with Alexis Braly James, CEO and founder of Construct the Present, about inclusive leadership and organizational accountability, followed by a conversation with author and leadership consultant Shari Dunn, whose book Qualified: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work explores workplace bias.
The episode also addresses workplace conflict, competency bias and strategies for creating thoughtful, equitable environments for meeting planners and industry leaders.
Connect with Alexis: https://constructthepresent.com/
Buy Shari's book: https://thesharidunn.com/buy-now
Show Notes:
Episode: Reframing Equity in a Changing Workplace
Season/Episode: Season 3, Episode 27
Length: 56:28
Host: Eming Piansay
Guests: Alexis Braly James; Shari Dunn
Listen: https://www.smartmeetings.com/podcasts/smart-start-radio-reframing-equity-in-a-changing-workplace
Episode summary
In this episode of Smart Start Radio, host Eming Piansay explores what equity and inclusion look like in today’s shifting workplace landscape—and what that means for meeting and event professionals tasked with building spaces where people can participate fully and safely.
Eming speaks with Alexis Braly James, CEO and founder of Construct the Present, about inclusive leadership, organizational accountability and how DEI work is evolving amid political and corporate rollbacks. Then, Eming sits down with Shari Dunn, author of Qualified: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work, to unpack workplace bias, “competency checking,” and why so many professionals mislabel systemic barriers as personal shortcomings.
Why this matters for meeting pros
Equity isn’t a statement—it’s a set of choices planners operationalize through codes of conduct, accessibility, accountability processes and safety planning. This conversation offers practical ways to design events and workplaces that move beyond performative inclusion and toward clearer expectations, repair and real belonging.
Guests
Alexis Braly James — CEO + Founder, Construct the Present
Alexis helps organizations build healthier, more inclusive workplace cultures through strategic implementation, training and equity audits.
Shari Dunn — Author + Leadership Consultant
Shari is the author of Qualified: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work and works with organizations on leadership, communication and workplace equity.
Links & resources
Timestamps / chapters
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