Inclusion Revolution

11Persist

I never anticipated an easy road on the journey to create more diverse, inclusive, and equal workplaces. Countless before me have fought to prevent discrimination in the workplace. Yet I quickly learned that succeeding in workplaces would still be more difficult for me than for white people, and the world told me so. I knew that the going would be tough at times, as with all things worth fighting for, but that I could make a difference, that I could add to the growing body of work fighting for justice, fairness, and equity in the workplace. Over the course of two decades as a professional and leader in some of the most admired global corporations, finding hope in progress has sometimes been difficult.

It's easy to throw your hands up. I can't tell you how many times I have felt defeated, enraged, and demoralized by my bosses, colleagues, lack of progress, broken promises, and diluted goals, and what I read in the news. We all want to be where we are supported and encouraged to grow; instead, many of us are tolerated yet not accepted. All while we're put on display for optics. Despite the good intentions and efforts over the past three decades, progress in addressing racism has been disappointingly slow. The year 2020, with its significant challenges, demanded an accelerated pace of change, yet racism remains deeply entrenched. This issue permeates even among individuals and organizations publicly committed to driving change, highlighting the complexity and depth of ...