Uplifting Impact

Trisch Smith is the Global Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion officer of Edelman, the world’s leading global communications marketing agency. In her role, she oversees all diversity equity and inclusion, strategic planning, education, cultural development, external partnerships, and recruitment efforts to ensure Edelman’s workforce reflects the increasingly diverse marketplace. She has been featured as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America” and one of the “Most Influential Women in Corporate America” by Savoy Magazine.

In their conversation, Justin and Trisch discuss how her family and her faith have laid the foundation that she brings to the work she does in the workplace and in her community. She shares that one of her core values revolves around inclusion and belonging, which is key to doing the work of DEI. Justin and Trisch take a look at how to start the work of DEI, and how to create accountability strategies that inspire teams and individuals within an organization. To connect with Trischa, find her on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trisch-smith-9948777

Topics In This Episode

• Bridging the gap between where you are and where you want to go
• Adjusting strategies based on events of the past few years
• Answering “What does DEI mean to our organization?”
• The need for continued education of DEI trends, developments, and research
• You must know where you are to know where you are going
• The relationship between maintaining progress and accountability
• Creating metrics for accountability and progress

Connect

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trisch-smith-9948777
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trischlsmith/

Other Conversations We’ve Enjoyed

• Intent Versus Impact
• Creating an Environment of Transparency and Accountability

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Ashley M. Hines is an advocate, strategist, and entrepreneur dedicated to equipping communities to advance equity and create spaces where everyone is safe, valued and respected. She currently serves as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Advocate Aurora Healthcare, a top 12 U.S. not-for-profit health system. In her role, Ashley focuses on partnering with leaders as a strategic advisor to achieve system-wide goals and launching, scaling, and sustaining DE&I programs and initiatives. Ashley also dedicates her time to causes with emphasis on communities of color, youth, and health equity. She envisions a community where everyone is empowered and has the tools needed to fulfill their purpose.

In this episode, Ashley and Deanna talk about just how crucial it is for organizations to understand the why behind diversity, equity, and inclusion work and the importance of embedding this work organization-wide rather than limiting the work to one person or one department. Ashley is passionate about feedback and looking at the gap between intent versus impact, and how organizations can close that gap. As a recent attendee of Uplifting Impact’s How to Be an Ally Summit, Ashley also shares a debrief about the event and the impact it had on her and her team as well. To connect with Ashley, you can find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-hines-7810a67b

Topics In This Episode

• Critical questions DEI leaders should be asking themselves and their organizations
• Supporting and investing in leadership
• Different areas within an organization that may be overlooked when it comes to DEI strategy and implementation
• Ways organizations can invest in DEI without spending resource dollars
• Acknowledging resistance and examining it
• The role that foundational trainings have in an organization in order to set the tone and provide shared language.

Connect

• Advocate Aurora Health: https://www.advocateaurorahealth.org/

Other Conversations We’ve Enjoyed

• Creating an Environment of Transparency and Accountability
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Education

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Ashton Henderson works as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Detroit Pistons, the tenth organization in the association to add this important role. He is a native of Tallahassee, Florida, but he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Advertising from Michigan State University in 2010. He was a four year letterman, playing cornerback for the Michigan State football team, and while he was a graduate assistant at Michigan State University he developed and administered a freshmen mentoring program for football players called “Keeping It Real Mondays” which still exists today.

Ashton shares that from the time he joined the NBA in this role, at least 15 other organizations have added DEI positions within the association and that the larger association is really focusing in on this area of DEI. Ashton talks about some of the plans he had when he joined the Pistons, and some initiatives that he has created in this role since. He details the importance it had for him to conduct a listening tour when he took on this role, and how we can all do better in the spaces we are in on order to make them more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. To connect with Ashton, find him on Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn through the links below.

Topics In This Episode

• Creating a better experience for those that come behind you
• The relationship between transparency and accountability
• Vulnerability lays the groundwork for change
• Allowing for flexibility and change when it comes to strategies and programs
• Recognizing the responsibility that comes with the platforms we have
• Sports allow for opportunities to be human, share our vulnerability and passions with others, and to lift each other up

Connect

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_henderson31/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/A_Henderson31
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashton-henderson-m-a-mba-78339522

Other Conversations We’ve Enjoyed

• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Education
• Justice Looks Different for Different People

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Dr. Decoteau Irby is an associate professor of Educational Policy Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. His research examines the relationship between equity-focused school leadership and the quality of Black youth academic achievement and overall well-being. He is the author of Stuck Improving: Racial Equity and School Leadership, which analyzes the complex process of racial equity reform within K12 schools. Dr. Irby’s research is applied through his work with Derute Consulting Cooperative, where he helps leaders and teams create anti-racist organizational learning and improvement.

In this conversation, Justin and Dr. Irby discuss the universal language and understanding of music and family, and how these really help build a sense of humility. With a gained sense of humility and understanding that we are all smaller parts of a greater story, we each gain regard for others, which produces harmony that is key to DEI work. Decoteau shares that equity is truly at the focus for what he does, and how it then overflows into diversity and inclusion. Finally, Dr. Irby details the upcoming book that he co-edited with Charity Anderson and Charles Payne, Dignity-affirming Education: Cultivating the Sombodiness of Students and Educators.

Topics In This Episode

• Balancing humility with confidence
• The unifying nature and connection through music
• DEI in the education space
• Looking at how equity provides options
• Discussing reparations and the generational disparities of equity

Connect

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/decoteauirby
• Derute Consulting Cooperative: http://www.deruteconsulting.com/decoteau-j-irby
• Stuck Improving: https://stuckimproving.com/

Other Conversations We’ve Enjoyed

• Justice Looks Different for Different People
• The Underrepresented and The Represented

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Kisha Brown is an established civil rights attorney and the Founder and CEO of Justis Connection, an organization committed to empowering the community about their rights and responsibilities and deliver personalized lawyer referrals. Justis Connection is the nation’s only Black lawyer referral and legal resource platform, and is particularly dedicated to assisting individuals and businesses of all sizes with culturally competent legal counsel.

Deanna and Kisha address the importance of considering how our justice system is experienced by marginalized populations. They also discuss the relationship that exists between the lack of Black lawyers in the industry and it’s impact on personal networks, and how it plays a role in the legal counsel people of color have access to and their level of understanding. In addition to meeting the needs of individuals seeking legal counsel, Kisha also explains the importance for enterprise organizations to work with lawyers of a diverse background in order to build the most holistic legal strategy possible. To connect with Kisha, email her at: kisha@justisconnection.com

Topics In This Episode:

• Justice looks different, for different people, at different times
• The importance legal counsel can add to our daily lives
• Black lawyers only make up 4.7% of the entire industry
• Building relationships in the black legal community
• Sharing knowledge and expertise to a community that largely doesn’t know about the importance of legal counsel
• The educational component of being a legal resource
• Why cultural competency is important for a lawyer

Connect:

• Kisha’s Email: kisha@justisconnection.com
• Justis Connection Website: https://www.justisconnection.com/
• Justis Connection LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/justisconnection/

Other Conversations We’ve Enjoyed

• Measuring Success In DEI
• Advocating DEI For All: The Underrepresented and The Represented

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Cecilia Ogude is the Senior Vice President and Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at IRI, working with leadership to facilitate the development, implementation, and continuous evolution of IRI’s DEI strategy, initiatives, programs, tools, and resources. She previously held roles at JPMorgan Chase & Co and McKinsey & Co where she worked to drive intersectional and inclusive experiences for employees and senior leaders. Cecilia currently lives in New York and is an active volunteer with several organizations there.

In order to have an engaged team, some key components that must be in place include a sense of belonging and connection. And in these times of working from home and distance from each other, it can be more important than ever to intentionally seek out and create connections with colleagues. In this conversation, Deanna and Cecilia discuss some of the impactful ways colleagues have reached out to them, and some of the ways in which they share and create intersectional relationships within the workplace. They also discuss staying committed to DEI every day, and how those in leadership roles can create space for growth. To connect with Cecilia, find her on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliaogude

Topics In This Conversation

• Finding the silver linings of social distancing
• DEI doesn’t only mean making huge changes
• The value of sharing things about yourself that you can’t find on a LinkedIn page
• The relationship between representation and talent, skill, and knowledge
• Examining fundamental gaps within an organization
• Addressing a red flag for senior leadership that Deanna has seen across many organizations
• What it means to be an advocate for all

Other Conversations We’ve Enjoy

• Dr. Johné Battle: Measuring Success In DEI
• Guillermo Gutierrez: Creating An Atmosphere Where DEI Can Thrive

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Welcome to the Season 2 finale of the Uplifting Impact podcast! In this special episode, Deanna Singh and Justin Ponder sit down to talk about their own journeys and perspectives as they think about DEI and how DEI shows up in their day-to-day lifestyles. You’ll hear them each talk about how they continue to grow and develop in this space, and about some of the people who have had the biggest impact on them and their growth. You will also hear them answer the question they ask each of their guests: what brings you joy?

Deanna and Justin also want to say thank you, on behalf of the entire Uplifting Impact team, for tuning into this podcast each week. We’re deeply grateful that you’ve joined us for this season and we are excited about what’s coming up! It’s important that this be a two-way dialogue, so we encourage you to join us by subscribing, sharing, and going to our website (UpliftingImpact.com) to share your ideas for Season 3 with us.

Topics In This Episode:

• The ripple effect this work has had on Deanna and Justin, even within their family
• Helping others move from a place of fear to a place of hope and possibility
• The shift in the workplace from viewing employees simply as employees, and instead, recognizing the full person that they are
• The key difference with millennials in the workforce
• Justin’s current research
• The power in listening more than you speak

Other Conversations We’ve Enjoyed

• Measuring Success In DEI
• Creating An Atmosphere Where DEI Can Thrive

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Dr. Johné Battle is the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for Dollar General Corporation and oversees the strategy for diversity, equity, and inclusion for over 157,000 associates. Within this role, he works across the organization to make data-based decisions using tools such as belonging indexes, talent-flow analysis, and inclusive leader assessments. Dr. Johné Battle is recognized by the National Diversity & Leadership council as one of the Top 100 Diversity Officers in 2021 and is renowned as a Global Business Executive and thought leader who brings the powerful combination of skillful talent development and human capital expertise.

Dr. Battle has quite an impressive BHAG (big, hairy, audacious, goal) of transforming the lives of 10 million people over 10 years. In this conversation, he shares how he created this goal, and how he brings that to his work of DEI. He also shares some really key strategies for not only getting leadership on board with DEI, but ensuring that it starts with leadership and is woven into the fabric of any organization. To connect with Dr. Johné Battle, you can find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnebattlemba/

Topics In This Episode

• Measuring success
• The importance of grit and a growth mindset as a key for success, and defining those characteristics
• The relationship between our individual journeys of DEI, and bringing that to the workplace as a leader
• Answering the question: how can I lead better?
• Being adaptable to change, because change is inevitable
• Identifying the difference between training and transformation
• If you are a leader of people, you must be part of the solution

Other Conversations We’ve Enjoyed

• Creating An Atmosphere Where DEI Can Thrive
• More than numbers: Data and DEI

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Guillermo Gutierrez and Deanna Singh have quite a lot in common, including their drive to travel across the globe, investing themselves into communities, and sharing that with others. In this conversation, Guillermo and I discuss how important their experiences with travel have impacted their DEI journeys and have helped them exercise empathy and understanding, which we carry with us in our day-to-day.

After graduating from university with a BA in marketing, he spent the next two and a half years working abroad, where he really discovered his professional calling in learning and development and cultural coaching. He later received his MS in Organizational Development, which lead him to a career of over 22 years, with different corporate roles in Human Resources and as a consultant to Fortune 500 companies. In his current role, he serves as the Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity for ManpowerGroup. To connect with Guillermo, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gutierrezguillermo/

Topics In This Episode:

• Illustrating what it looks like to have a broad impact on those around you
• Making connections and developing communication skills through living abroad
• Finding ways to expand your horizons, without having to travel far
• Intentionally seeking out understanding and cultural experiences of others
• Effective recruitment and retention strategies
• Being an organization where diversity can truly thrive
• What makes diversity difficult

Other Conversations We’ve Enjoyed

• More than numbers: Data and DEI
• Use Your Privilege to Uplift Others

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Dr. Anthony C. Hood serves as the Executive Vice President and the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for First Horizon Bank. In this role, he leads the development and execution of a firm-wide strategy for embedding DEI into the DNA of the organization. He previously served as the Director of Civic Innovation in the Office of the President at UAB as well as a tenured Associate Professor of Management in the Collat School of Business at UAB. Dr. Hood is a board member of a number of organizations, including the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, Birmingham Education Foundation, Urban Impact, and the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District.

In our conversation, Dr. Hood discusses the importance of using data as a powerful tool for driving better outcomes in DEI work. He shares that DEI within an organization must be integrated into the DNA, beyond just HR practices and policies, and in order to build and implement the best strategies data must be ground zero. We also discuss ways to approach DEI work when facing opposition. To connect with Dr. Anthony C. Hood, you can find him on social media or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonychood

Topics In This Episode

• Driving creativity and innovation within teams
• Ensuring involvement in DEI implementation at every level of an organization
• Systems to look at to apply a DEI lens
• Tracking data on qualitative aspects of an organization and of DEI work
• The importance of keeping data well-organized and understanding the “why” behind it
• Data alone doesn’t drive results and momentum
• Creative allyship within your organization

Other Conversations We’ve Enjoyed

• Use Your Privilege to Uplift Others
• Bringing the Human Back to Human Resources

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