Blog Posts Across Diversity Executive Network

Deanna Hartley Vanity Fair Controversy

OK, if you’re like me and your guilty pleasure is to keep abreast of all things Hollywood, then you’ve probably noticed the ire of myriad individuals toward the “New Hollywood” issue of Vanity Fair. Apparently, the magazine features nine up-and-coming starlets, such as Anna Kendrick from “Up in the Air” and Kristen Stewart from the “Twilight” series. There’s just one catch, though: Critics note that there is simply no diversity in the group of women that was eventually selected and that… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on February 25, 2010 at 10:00am — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Managing Diverse Expectations

I just finished working on an article for Talent Management magazine on the appropriateness of workplace romances and when managers should get involved. There were a few interesting tidbits, found in a recent Workplace Options study, that I’d like to share in this blog. First, the study found discrepancies in the way that the different generations in today’s workplace perceive and engage in office romances. For instance, wh… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on February 12, 2010 at 10:16am — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Effecting ‘Magical’ Change

Not too long ago, I sat across the table from Magic Johnson. But what was even more exciting and inspiring to me than being in the presence of one of the most widely recognized sports legends was the message he and his new business partner — Leonard McLaughlin, president of Aon Cornerstone Innovative Solutions — were propagating. I don’t want to give everything away here because we have an exciting upcoming Diversity Executive e-newsletter article outlining this news, but what I can divulge is… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on January 28, 2010 at 12:00pm — No Comments

Diversity Executive Editor Slow and Steady Wins the Race?

More than 40 years after racism forced her family from their home, this past Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Sallie Sanders, a retired state employee, got the keys to a new house in Hamtramck, Mich. Sanders’ new home was built as part of a settlement in one of the longest-running cases of housing discrimination in the U.S. According to a Yahoo article http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100119/ap_on_bi_ge/us_michigan_housing_discrimination, Sanders’ former home, a rental, was razed when she was a teenager… Continue

Posted by Diversity Executive Editor on January 20, 2010 at 11:20am — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Open Your Eyes to a Qualified Demographic

I have about a three-and-a-half-hour commute to work and back each day — which gives me plenty of time to be observant of my surroundings (particularly on the days I forget my iPod!). I take public transportation, which allows me to run into my other regular traveling companions on a daily basis. Among them are a handful of individuals who are blind, yet are perfectly comfortable and require no assistance to accomplish everyday tasks, regardless of how seemingly complex they are. Of course, my… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on January 12, 2010 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Diversity Executive Editor Another Category

In order to get a more complete idea of the immigrant population, for the first time ever, the Census Bureau will count indigenous immigrants in the 2010 census. According to a recent Yahoo article, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100104/ap_on_re_us/us_census_indigenous_immigrants migrants, Native Americans from Mexico and Central America, often need more than one box because their ancestry may cover multiple Census categories. I’m not sure what to think here. On the one hand, it’s great we’re se… Continue

Posted by Diversity Executive Editor on January 7, 2010 at 4:21pm — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Tackling a Racist Comment

I was chatting with a friend recently about something that peeved her at work. A male colleague of hers made an offhand comment or joke referencing African-Americans within earshot of my friend, who happens to be one, and she — rightly so — took offense to her co-worker’s insensitivity. Could the gentleman have thought his remark would not penetrate his cubicle walls? Perhaps. Could he have been just plain ignorant and not known the comment was racist? It’s probable. Or it may just be that his… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on December 30, 2009 at 3:43pm — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Please Make Me Sound Less Black…

Ah, the holiday season is upon us — and while this time of year typically conjures up lightheartedness and good cheer, a good number of individuals around the country continue to face grim realities, such as layoffs and dealing with one unsuccessful job interview after another. And as if a job search weren’t daunting enough, there are numerous individuals of color who have the added hassle of contending with direct or indirect racial discrimination. I recently read a New York Times… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on December 15, 2009 at 5:00pm — No Comments

Diversity Executive Editor No Second Chances

Image is everything in the workplace. No, really. Best-selling author and executive coach Marshall Goldsmith has said in more than one forum that executives have long memories: screw up once, well, once is all you need to experience devastating impact. Case in point, my friend told me a story about an ex-friend she met on the job. The ex, we’ll call her Mary, is known for, shall we say, uncouth behavior. My friend arranged for a few vendors to come to the office to give presentations. One repr… Continue

Posted by Diversity Executive Editor on December 8, 2009 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Taming the ‘Diversity-Challenged’

Over the past few weeks — and to some of my friends’ delight — I’ve literally become addicted to the NBC show “The Office,” watching season after season on Netflix every chance I get. In case you haven’t caught an episode of the show, it basically portrays the manager of a paper company and his group of employees in what could be described as traditionally mundane scenarios, but what I would imagine really triggers viewers’ interest is the colorful character sketches of the co-workers. To me, o… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on December 1, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Lessons Over Lunch

I recently accompanied my uncle to a Chinese restaurant for lunch and was amazed at the red carpet treatment we received. The owner came out, greeted us warmly and led us to the best table in the restaurant. This shouldn’t have surprised me since I know my uncle is a regular customer and a generous tipper, but there was one detail that seemed out of place: She repeatedly referred to my uncle as “Dr. D’Souza” — even though he worked at BP for most of his career and never shared plans to attend m… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on November 17, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Diversity Executive Editor I’m Sorry

I ran across an article http://www.good.is/post/is-saying-sorry-better-than-prison/?gt1=48001 that asked “Is Saying Sorry Better Than Prison?” At first I thought it was a joke because the logical answer would be “of course,” but the headline achieved its goal; I read more. It discussed an unusual program for teenage criminals in Northern Ireland called Youth Conference. “Instead of sending kids who commit assault, theft, or ‘motoring offences’ to a prison, the government sends them to a meeting… Continue

Posted by Diversity Executive Editor on November 12, 2009 at 3:00pm — No Comments

Diversity Executive Editor Men Need Work-Life Balance Too

The WorkLifeFit Inc. article "Stop Talking About Work+Life Flex Solely in the Context of Women…Really, Seriously, Once and for All" makes an excellent point: Women do not have the greatest need for flexibility in work and life. Men need it too. Why depends on the individual, but another important piece of the article came in the form of a chart that outlined the organizational benefits that can manifest from workplace flexibility. They include: working better/smarter; more effective talent manag… Continue

Posted by Diversity Executive Editor on October 28, 2009 at 1:00pm — 2 Comments

Adrianne George Black Women in Europe™ is a Media Partner for the World Diversity Leadership Summit in Europe

WDLS

The Black Women in Europe™ Blog is proud to announce that we are a media partner of the World Diversity Leadership Summit Europe taking place in Vienna Friday, March 12, 2010 The World Diversity Leadership Summit-WDLS brings together global diversity CEOs, policy and decision… Continue

Posted by Adrianne George on October 28, 2009 at 8:41am — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Lessons From the Biracial Marriage Debacle

It was splashed all over the mainstream news last weekend and left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth, to say the least. I’m sure you’ve heard by now about the interracial couple who was denied a marriage license based solely on one gentleman’s presumption that their marriage would have been doomed simply because they belonged to different racial groups. The matter was of personal interest to me since I’m half of an interracial couple as well, and I found it disheartening to think my marriage woul… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on October 20, 2009 at 2:00pm — 1 Comment

Diversity Executive Editor Golden Nuggets

The advent of the Internet has done much to change the media landscape and the way we gather and process information. Now it’s all about the bite-sized information chunk, small pieces of information that are available in real time. Even magazines (thank goodness) are jumping on the bandwagon, and one of my favorites, Essence, has a few pages — Our News — where it features small, hopefully insightful facts. In the October issue, two such chunks caught my eye: One, under the heading “Food for Tho… Continue

Posted by Diversity Executive Editor on October 13, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Deanna Hartley (Miss)Communication

While some women tend to be more forward and assertive in a workplace setting — qualities many view as leadership traits — others tend to be more demure and may even shy away from accepting credit for a job well done. Some women who could be classified in the former group often risk coming across as excessively aggressive when they exhibit what the general population would refer to as male-like characteristics. Others, who fall under the latter category, may inadvertently find themselves stuck… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on October 6, 2009 at 11:17am — No Comments

Adrianne George Black Women in Europe™ Anniversary Opportunity

Black Women in Europe™ Blog and Social Network Anniversary The award winning Black Women in Europe™ Blog launched in 2007 and the Black Women in Europe™ social network grew out of the blog in 2008 with currently over 600 members. We would like to celebrate our 2nd and 3rd anniversaries by giving gifts to our website visitors and social network members. Call for sponsors Adrianne George, founder of the Black Women in Europe™ blog and social network is requesting businesses and individual… Continue

Posted by Adrianne George on October 4, 2009 at 11:16am — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Is The U.S. Losing High Performers?

The answer appears to be a resounding yes, as research indicates that as many as 200,000 skilled immigrants will return to India and China in about half a decade. And employers need to think again before associating those numbers solely with the economic downturn. According to a recent article in USA Today, while the recession may have played a small role in what appears to be this mass exodus t… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on September 22, 2009 at 10:04am — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Conducting Business on a Global Scale

The unspoken rules of conducting business have changed and evolved over the years as multinational corporations have come to the fore and business procedures aren’t confined to a single country or continent anymore. With this diversity of race, ethnicity, culture, thought and experience arises the need for companies that conduct business overseas to manage employees within the cultural setting in order to effectively leverage their talents and abilities and gain significant business impact. I… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on September 9, 2009 at 5:59pm — No Comments

Deanna Hartley An Uphill Climb for Working Mothers

Does being a mom lower one’s chances of securing a job? This question might make some of you scoff, given the fact that working mothers don’t seem to have a problem running multinational corporations — off the top of my head I can think of Indra Nooyi of PepsiCo; Irene Rosenfeld of Kraft; and Mary Sammons of Rite Aid who are living, breathing examples of this. On a more personal note, I can attest to the fact that my own mom did an exemplary job running our household as well as an advertising a… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on August 25, 2009 at 12:37pm — No Comments

Diversity Executive Editor Motivation

Which is better motivation for the diversity and inclusion practice: social or business context? Now, for the purposes of Diversity Executive, the answer is: the business case rules. The magazine’s content is built on the premise that it is only when the emotion and historical baggage is removed from the diversity equation that sustainable progress that benefits both minorities and the organizations they work for can be made. I believe this. But then a co-worker shared an insight she heard in… Continue

Posted by Diversity Executive Editor on August 18, 2009 at 3:30pm — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Musings on Affirmative Action

I recently came across an NPR article that outlined Norway’s progress in the diversity arena over the past few years. What was more interesting to me than how far the nation has come in terms of leveling the playing field for women in the boardroom is how they’ve managed to achieve this feat. Apparently, the country has mandated that at least 40 percent of the boards of all publicly traded as well as public limited com… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on August 11, 2009 at 9:15am — No Comments

Diversity Executive Editor An Unspoken Threat

A friend asked me for advice recently and the conversation stuck with me, perhaps because I’ve heard it many times before from other people. She asked if I thought she was crazy because she couldn’t get over the feeling that her boss was out to get her. Not explicitly. There hadn’t been any obvious gestures to illustrate that he was blocking her progress, but she said she’d been the recipient of some odd stares. Plus, she suspected he treated her differently than other employees — that he was h… Continue

Posted by Diversity Executive Editor on August 4, 2009 at 10:30am — 2 Comments

Deanna Hartley ‘Mature’ Workers Shake Up Norms in the Workplace

If you’ve been following recession-related news over the past few months, you’re probably aware of the fact that droves of mature workers — or those over the age of 55 — have put their retirement plans on the back burner and are continuing to slog it out in the workforce. Delaying retirement has proved to be beneficial to many employers, a recent CareerBuilder… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on July 28, 2009 at 9:47am — 1 Comment

Deanna Hartley Fostering Diversity at a Price?

The recent Supreme Court decision in favor of the white New Haven firefighters has not only saturated media outlets, it has also raised questions and discussions around the notion that trying to promote diversity efforts could come at a price. For instance, the court ruled that in this case, the white firefighters failed to receive the promotions that were due to them simply because New Haven was afr… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on July 14, 2009 at 5:00pm — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Recession Aftermath: Who Has it Affected Most?

The economic downturn sent employers and employees everywhere into a tailspin, but it also caused quite a shakeup in the landscape of today’s workforce. For example, one of the changes prompted by the recession has been the meteoric “rise” of women in the workforce. According to an article on CBS MoneyWatch.com, the job loss rate among women between the ages of 25 and 64 fell… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on June 29, 2009 at 3:45pm — No Comments

Joe Gerstandt Kick a bystander today.

Is bystanding becoming the new “great American pastime?” I have written before about how intentions can get us in trouble if we are not careful. Here and here. One of the ways our happy, fuzzy, wonderful intentions can get us in trouble is that they can convince us that we are not a part of the problem…and we can easily fi… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on June 18, 2009 at 4:56pm — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Are We Thwarting Efforts for Inclusion?

I have to admit I was outraged to learn of some goings-on in an agency that’s highly esteemed by the public: the FBI. A black former FBI agent experienced varying levels of racial discrimination at the workplace, ranging from humiliation tactics — including a colleague inserting an image of a monkey over his son’s face in a family picture — to death threats, according to an NPR article. What’s even more appalling is hi… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on June 15, 2009 at 2:00pm — 1 Comment

Meagan Polakowski Rallying Cry of the Millennials

I must admit, some of the arguments I hear against Generation Y’s work values have rung true for me. Yes, many us crave flexible work arrangements, like to listen to iPods while working, and some of us value electronic communication over face-to-face in any situation. To be fair, though, putting us all in that box is not only unfair, it’s incorrect. Personally, I think an employee should be allowed a chance to telecommute if he or she wishes, and benefits like a gym membership and commuting cos… Continue

Posted by Meagan Polakowski on June 9, 2009 at 10:04am — 2 Comments

Diversity Executive Editor A Worldview of Diversity

I love elevator news. It’s so modern. Bite-sized little chunks of useful information delivered conveniently via TV monitor while you have nothing better to do. This morning I saw that the world’s view of the U.S. has improved by more than 45 percent since Obama took office, including a significant jump in Turkey, which has a large Muslim population. I’m no political guru, so I can’t lay a plethora of facts related to the new president’s activities before you as evidence, but I can say that he s… Continue

Posted by Diversity Executive Editor on June 4, 2009 at 11:45am — No Comments

Tory Clarke - Partner, Bridge Partners LLC Response to "New research provides context on business case for diversity"

Because objective data is valued more than anecdotal evidence in the business world, quantitative research on the advantages of diversity is the sharpest weapon in the arsenal of those fighting for increased diversity-inclusion in the workplace. While the results of Professor Herring’s research do not come as a shock to the team at Bridge Partners LLC, we imagine business leaders who previously dismissed the bottom-line and economic imperative benefits of diversity in the workplace might be sur… Continue

Posted by Tory Clarke - Partner, Bridge Partners LLC on June 4, 2009 at 7:23am — No Comments

Colette Ellis Tell Us What YOU Think: NEW Survey on Workforce Issues

Hello Diversity Executives! My firm, InStep Consulting LLC, and LASD Resource Development have created a NEW SURVEY to analyze the impact the economic climate has had on the workforce. In particular, we are seeking to find out the types of investment businesses are making to support workers who have been displaced as a result of layoffs (e.g., outplacement services). If YOU either make or are involved in hiring decisions at your… Continue

Posted by Colette Ellis on June 2, 2009 at 7:52am — No Comments

Pegine Exposing Ourselves - The key to growth

When working with women or girls of African American, Hispanic and Asian ethnicity two processes are critical when seeking to build connections and relevancy. Over the last year, I've used the same technique with the Jacksonville Women's Business Center on their outreach initiative to reach African American, Hispanic and Asian women entrepreneurs. Reach out to me A personal call, a specific meeting to address specific concerns and appeal to their individual concerns. To find out what those con… Continue

Posted by Pegine on May 26, 2009 at 6:53pm — 1 Comment

Deanna Hartley ‘Diverse’ Pick for U.S. Supreme Court

Major news outlets have been abuzz lately regarding speculation that President Obama was set to appoint a woman to the U.S. Supreme Court — a safe bet considering all four finalists for the position were women with varying professional experiences. Following Justice David Souter’s announcement of his plans to retire this year, several published reports showed individuals urging the president to nominate a diverse candidate — a woman or minority — to the bench to better reflect the country’s inc… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on May 26, 2009 at 1:49pm — 1 Comment

Colette Ellis Are YOU an HR InSider? - Check out our NEW Podcast Series

Coach Colette and the team at InStep Consulting recently launched our NEW podcast series called InSide the HR Studio. This series features conversations with senior corporate HR leaders who provide an insiders perspective on career transition and success. The current guest… Continue

Posted by Colette Ellis on May 20, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

Colette Ellis Hello from Coach Colette!

Thank you for taking time to visit my blog! Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary offers several definitions for competent, including: * Having requisite or adequate ability or qualities * Legally qualified or adequate * Having the capacity to function or develop in a particular way It also provides various definitions for advantage, including: * Superiority of position or condition * Benefit resulting from some course of action When I created the… Continue

Posted by Colette Ellis on May 19, 2009 at 11:14am — No Comments

Meagan Polakowski Acknowledging Older Americans

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure to go see a musical legend perform on-stage in Chicago at the age of 74. Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen has outlasted his peers and continues to inspire standing ovations of sold-out proportions. As I sat and listened to his performance, my thoughts turned to older Americans in general and our perceptions of them. Young people in the U.S. tend to dismiss the aging and elderly as not really contributing a whole lot to the rest of us. As I watched… Continue

Posted by Meagan Polakowski on May 18, 2009 at 9:27am — No Comments

Joe Gerstandt Diversity: What It Is NOT

Diversity. As issues of diversity and inclusion are becoming increasingly business critical, there remains a great deal of evidence that these are still largely misunderstood issues. On a very basic level, there does not seem to be a good understanding of what diversity is and what its value is for a group, organization or community. I recently posted some thoughts on what diversity is, and thanks to a lot of e-mail from re… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on May 12, 2009 at 8:57am — No Comments

Joe Gerstandt Diversity. What It Is.

Diversity. Still quite possibly the most poorly understood, misunderstood dyanmic in the world of business (and education, politics, human resources, leadership development, etc.). Diversity means difference. Difference shows up in many different forms...but before we even take a look at that, I think having a better understanding of what difference actually means can be helpful. Here are some of what I consider to be the fundamental characteristics of difference: Diversity is RELAT… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on May 6, 2009 at 11:55am — No Comments

Murray A. Mann Connect with Corporate Diversity Employee Networks to Improve Job Search and Career Success

Connecting with company-based Diversity and Multicultural Employee Networks (also called Affinity or Employee Resource Groups) is an important career management strategy. These are in-house organizations represent minorities, women, people with disabilities, GLBT or employee groups of other backgrounds and often receive formal corporate support for their activities. Affinity groups play a key role in improving a company’s diversity competence. Most networks are active participants in the recrui… Continue

Posted by Murray A. Mann on May 5, 2009 at 6:30am — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Diversity Quandary: Did DelDOT Cross the Line?

Here’s an interesting example of a well-intentioned diversity-related effort gone awry. The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) recently published and distributed a diversity newsletter internally to a majority of its 2,600 employees. The ultimate objective of the newsletter, which was penned by a staff member, was to mitigate or counter incidences of workplace discrimination. However, the newsletter apparently contained a number of blatantly insensitive and derogatory terms and ste… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on May 4, 2009 at 9:26am — No Comments

Meagan Polakowski Religious Inclusion and Atheism

Organizations are trying to be more inclusive by allowing workers flexibility in their religious wear and rituals. Companies increasingly allow various head coverings to be in worn in the office, they allow for prayer breaks, and some give employees time off for religious observances on holidays. But one group that’s not being talked about might show up on the radar soon: atheists. According to a recent New York Times a… Continue

Posted by Meagan Polakowski on April 27, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Diversity and the Olympics

I know what you’re probably thinking: The Beijing Olympics ended several months ago, so why are we still talking about it? Well, if you live where I do — in the Windy City — it’s almost impossible not to. As Chicago bids for the 2016 Summer Olympics, the city is plastered with signs, and the topic has dominated local news coverage since the International Olympic Committee Evaluation Commission visited a few weeks ago. Behind Chicago’s excitement at potentially hosting one of the biggest intern… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on April 14, 2009 at 11:04am — No Comments

Meagan Polakowski Taking Sides

Recent industry reports have revealed that many organizations are cutting back in the diversity area due to the economy. This is not shocking. All leaders in the human capital industry are faced with demands to cut cost to keep the business afloat. And we all know this demand is not specific to specific departments. While cutbacks are necessary, many leaders in the diversity space point out the need for diversity despite our current economic challenges, as well as some ways to make diversity wo… Continue

Posted by Meagan Polakowski on April 6, 2009 at 12:03pm — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Decreasing Diversity in Public Schools?

I just came across an article in New America Media that talked about a potential drop in diversity in California public schools— in the teaching profession, that is. Due to increased budget cuts as well as the rising rate of layoffs in the education field, public schools are likely to suffer a blow to the diversity of its workforce. This comes in spite of the fact that the public sc… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on March 31, 2009 at 10:12am — No Comments

Murray A. Mann NSHMBA’s Business Journal of Hispanic Research is the Premier Source of Research on Hispanics in the Workplace and in Higher Education

Since the Business Journal of Hispanic Research (BJHR) was released in June 2007 by the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA), the publication has received outstanding reviews from all sectors. This important resource for employers, diversity practitioners, Hispanic professionals and academics is available in hard copy and online at http://bjhr.nshmba.org/. According to Lourdes Hassler, NSHMBA CEO, two of the… Continue

Posted by Murray A. Mann on March 25, 2009 at 8:10pm — No Comments

Joe Gerstandt Disparities and Leadership

On Disparities and Leadership Admitting that we have a problem is the first step towards recovery. I have been talking and writing a lot lately about a new way of leadership. I think that we are seeing a lot of evidence that the way we do leadership is inadequate. We simply deserve better. We deserve better outcomes. We deserve progress and solutions. In our organizations, our communities and ou… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on March 23, 2009 at 9:15pm — No Comments

Meagan Polakowski Young People and Intrinsic Diversity

I’ve come across many articles lately that point out the nature of children’s and adolescents’ exposure to diversity today. Many preschool and early elementary school curriculums have a diversity component, such as foreign language lessons and special events such as Inclusive Schools Week. One program in the Chicago area uses poetry to expose young kids to other “personal experiences, relationships, culture[s] and identit[ies],” according to a… Continue

Posted by Meagan Polakowski on March 16, 2009 at 10:30am — No Comments

Murray A. Mann Latinos@Work blog and Twitter Launched Today - We Invite You to Join the Conversations

Welcome to the launch of the Latinos@Work Blog and Twitter. We look forward to joining with you in conversations that contribute to advancement of Latinos in their careers and accelerate diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Our goals are to: 1. Build the premier forum on Latino career issues and related employer diversity-inclusion best practices. 2. Provide resources f… Continue

Posted by Murray A. Mann on March 16, 2009 at 2:44am — No Comments

Joe Gerstandt The problem with intentions...

I believe that diversity is one of the most misunderstood issues of our time. Whether looking at the business disciplines of management and leadership development, human resources, talent management, organizational development, or the worlds of education, organized religion, non-profit work or entertainment, I see little real understanding of these issues and little real concrete action. This is unfortunate to say the least. Diversity is rapidly becoming critical to the success and even… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on March 11, 2009 at 6:07pm — No Comments

Murray A. Mann Revisit the 2008 Landmark Study “Black America Today”

During African-American Heritage Month, I made the following post on the Diversity Intelligence Blog. The landmark study Black America Today: The Future, The Past, The Present was released in June 2008. The survey found 11 distinct segments among almost 30 million 13-74 year old Blacks and African-Americans. The study is essential re… Continue

Posted by Murray A. Mann on March 10, 2009 at 11:40pm — No Comments

Joe Gerstandt More thoughts on a new way of leadership...

Last week was one of those weeks, where nothing worked out quite like it was supposed to. Our youngest daughter was sick and that threw everyone's schedule into chaos, but it all worked out, and Friday was a wonderful ending to the week for me. I am currently participating in Defining… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on March 9, 2009 at 10:28pm — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Commemorating Women

Every March, folks across the United States celebrate “Women’s History Month” to recognize the fairer sex and its innumerable accomplishments. The month’s origin can be traced back to March 1857, when women who worked in factories in New York City began to protest their working conditions, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Yet, here we are more than 150 years later, still… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on March 3, 2009 at 10:03am — No Comments

Joe Gerstandt Do you Twitter?

I have been using Twitter for awhile now and I have found a lot of HR and Talent Management folks there, but very few Diversity Professionals. Maybe they are there and I just have not found them yet...or are they? Do you Twitter? If so, you can find me here: http://twitter.c… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on February 28, 2009 at 11:30am — No Comments

Meagan Polakowski Cartoon Conundrum

Most of us have probably heard about a controversial picture printed in a large U.S. newspaper. Yes, I’m talking about Sean Delonas’ chimp cartoon. It is clear people are angry, and it also seems clear that the chimp represents President Obama in a distasteful and racist way. Putting all emotions aside, let’s think about what this situation can teach us as diversity leaders. First, how did this image make it into such a prominent newspaper unquestioned? Well, as the paper’s editor stated: "It w… Continue

Posted by Meagan Polakowski on February 23, 2009 at 3:00pm — No Comments

Joe Gerstandt A New Way of Leadership?

I have written a couple of posts related to gender and leadership recently (Jan 29th and February 12th). I find myself drawn back to the same topic today. There are several ideas or themes that bring me back: * I believe very strongly that we suffer from a critical absence of real lead… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on February 19, 2009 at 3:30pm — No Comments

Joe Gerstandt In Virginia? Come check it out!

Diversity Workshops and Social Media Seminar: Very excited to be a part of this rocking event in Appomattox, Virginia coming up on March 7th. "Do you want to learn how to use social media such as Twitter, Facebook and more? Do you want to be inspired about connecting with your community as a business leader, educator, politician or resident? If so, then this seminar is up your alley. You will learn how to use relevant… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on February 11, 2009 at 8:45am — No Comments

Deanna Hartley ‘I’m Sorry’ Could Go a Long Way

I was casually TV surfing last evening when a headline on CNN caught my attention. It read something like: “Ex-Klansman Apologizes to Civil Rights Leader.” Then I, along with a nation now invigorated with a fervor for furthering diversity issues, watched as an older white gentleman — a former Ku Klux Klansman — apologized to a black man — a civil rights activist who turned out to be Representative John Lewis — for physically assaulting him almost 50 years ago. “At the time, I felt like somebod… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on February 10, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

Joe Gerstandt Some good stuff.

Some websites I like: The Kitchen Table Blog I love, love, love this blog. It is a back and forth, on-going conversation between two women: Dr. Melissa Harris-Lacewell, Associate Professor of Politics and African American Studies at Princeton University Dr. Yolanda Pierce, Associate Professor of African American Religion and Literature at Princeton Theological Seminary. These women are fierce! They are incredibly sharp and I have come to rea… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on February 6, 2009 at 9:07am — No Comments

Meagan Polakowski A New Kind of Black History Month?

It’s likely that Black History Month this year will take a slightly different tone from years past. With the recent inauguration of President Obama, diversity speak is still fresh in the country’s vocabulary. Perhaps this year’s events will demonstrate an authenticity to quiet those who in the past have begrudgingly commented on the absurdity of having one month — and the shortest month at that — to celebrate the history of the entire race. The events likely won’t be that dissimilar from last y… Continue

Posted by Meagan Polakowski on February 2, 2009 at 3:45pm — No Comments

Diversity Executive Editor Equal Pay Legislation Gains Legs Today

President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act bill into law today. An article on Yahoo.com said Obama declared the equal pay legislation is a family issue, not just a women's issue. The bill was the first piece of legislation he signed as president. The measure is designed to make it easier for workers to sue for decades-old discrimination. He said "this is a wonderful day." The law nullifies a 2007 Supreme Court decision that gave workers only 180 days to file a pay-discrimi… Continue

Posted by Diversity Executive Editor on January 29, 2009 at 2:32pm — No Comments

Tory Clarke - Partner, Bridge Partners LLC A Response to: Directors Decide Against Minority Representation on Corporate Boards

In our blog, Bridge Partners LLC aims to present commentary on a variety of timely topics pertaining to diversity and leadership/management (particularly in the corporate setting), and provide insight that is based on many years of experience within the field of executive search. During these efforts, every now and then we come across a related study that really grabs our attention - but not necessarily in a good way. This was the case when we read the article Directors Decide Against Minority… Continue

Posted by Tory Clarke - Partner, Bridge Partners LLC on January 22, 2009 at 12:51pm — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Celebrating Change

It’s hard to imagine anyone who isn’t aware of the significance of Jan. 20, 2009. Whether Democrat or Republican, black or white, Latino or Asian, gay or straight, religious or not, it seems like an epic day to put our differences and conflicting opinions aside so we can celebrate this unprecedented, momentous point in our nation’s history. Looking beyond all the revelry and good cheer that this day brings, what changes can we anticipate following the swearing in of the Obama administration? I… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on January 20, 2009 at 2:21pm — No Comments

Joe Gerstandt Innovation through Inclusion

If you need innovation (and I think you probably do), you need diversity. For more and more organizations in more and more industries, creativity and innovation are rapidly becoming the best new opportunity for establishing competitive advantage. This is no big secret as there is a great deal of writing, talking, buzz-wording, best-practicing and shouting about innovation today. Innovation is also coming to be viewed as increasingly important to education, non-profit and government entit… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on January 15, 2009 at 9:48am — No Comments

Meagan Polakowski Diversity Power From the Bottom Up

A new book, Doing Diversity in Higher Education: Faculty Leaders Share Challenges and Strategies, highlights the importance of faculty members in furthering the diversity effort on college campuses. As editor Winnifred R. Brown-Glaude said in a recent Q&A with Insider Higher Ed, diversity officers on campus are not the be… Continue

Posted by Meagan Polakowski on January 12, 2009 at 12:21pm — No Comments

Kellye Whitney New Year’s Resolutions

I’ve decided to cut down on my race terminology usage. It’s 2009. Between my New Year’s resolutions and the widespread influence of our new presidential administration — one devoted to change and diversity on multiple fronts — I will whole heartedly and henceforth do my part to promote inclusivity everywhere. As anyone who’s tried to keep New Year’s resolutions knows, it’s tough. Old habits are hard to break, and unlike the usual suspects — quitting smoking, losing weight, exercising more — my… Continue

Posted by Kellye Whitney on January 6, 2009 at 2:58pm — 1 Comment

Joe Gerstandt Being from...Neptune

My friend, Evelyn Rodriguez has a great post this morning on her blog, based on a quote that I love: "Either you repeat the same conventional doctrines everybody is saying, or else you say something true, and it will sound like it's from Neptune." - Noam Chomsky I love this quote, because it is a good reminder that it is not always easy to make your unique contribution...as important as i… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on January 5, 2009 at 9:51am — No Comments

Joe Gerstandt Thank You!

The first post of 2009… To those of you who Look, See and Tell The Truth...Thank You. Regardless of what your "job" is, if you are personally or professionally involved in the work of: * building and supporting healthy, sustainable communities and organizations * removing barriers to diversity * challenging assumptions * health, wellness, spirituality, awareness * breaking stereotypes * speaking the truth * rejecting status quo * power with vs. power over * peace * positive social chan… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on January 2, 2009 at 10:39am — No Comments

Deanna Hartley French President Proactive in Push for Ethnic Diversity

I was recently forwarded a very interesting New York Times article that outlines how President Nicolas Sarkozy is taking steps to fulfill one of his campaign promises to increase diversity in France. Fed up with the slow advancement of diversity in the country, the president — who happens to be the son of a Hungarian immigrant — recently vowed to take matters into his own hands by introducing a series of measures to increase the number of ethnic minorities in various areas in France, including… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on December 29, 2008 at 1:11pm — No Comments

Meagan Polakowski Obama’s Choice of Pastor Warren Stirs Controversy

Last week, Obama announced he had chosen pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration next month. His pick created a huge dialogue around the issue of diversity of thought, with some claiming Warren represented further repression of the LGBT community since he is staunchly against same-sex marriage — he also opposes abortion rights. Some claim Obama should pick someone who better reflects America’s values. But isn’t Obama doing just what he promised upon his election win? He vo… Continue

Posted by Meagan Polakowski on December 22, 2008 at 11:54am — No Comments

Kellye Whitney Can You Avoid Layoffs?

It’s always sad to see a co-worker leave, especially when that co-worker is well-liked and a strong contributor. But times are hard right now, and it’s likely no one’s job is safe should senior management deem cost-cutting measures are imperative. However, there may be some things you can do to prevent being laid off. There are tons of articles out there about safeguarding your job, making yourself indispensible, etc. Most of these pieces elicit more eye rolling from me than they do reading beca… Continue

Posted by Kellye Whitney on December 16, 2008 at 11:40am — No Comments

Joe Gerstandt Bad economy? Retain your talent! Inclusive culture now more important than ever.

As we continue to get unpleasant economic news and predictions, more and more leaders and organizations are starting to think seriously about the actions they can take to be more financially resilient in the coming year. I have written before about how and why diversity and inclusion represent great value to organizations, and i… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on December 13, 2008 at 10:24pm — No Comments

Joe Gerstandt Are you an expert or a beginner?

From Our Time To Act: I may be a bit odd. It is actually quite likely. But one thing that has always seemed strange to me is our level of deference to “experts.” I understand that experts become known as such for a reason and I appreciate the value of advanced educations, years of experience and unique insight. While certainly valuable, I believe that the significance of expertise is greatly over-rated. Experts still make mistakes…everyday. Expe… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on December 10, 2008 at 9:05am — No Comments

Tory Clarke - Partner, Bridge Partners LLC Diversity In Government Agencies - Beyond Obama'sCabinet

President-elect Barack Obama made history when he was elected to the White House, and he continues to make significant strides with regard to diversity as he assembles a tremendously experienced and diverse administration. However, this week a report conducted by the Government Accountability Office and published in The Washington Post (“Room at the Top for Diversity”, December 2nd 2008) cast a shadow on the undeniable progress being made on Capitol Hill. The report focuses on the lack of dive… Continue

Posted by Tory Clarke - Partner, Bridge Partners LLC on December 9, 2008 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Beyond Checklists

In some companies there is a perception that workplace diversity can be achieved merely by hiring people who look different or are part of various racial, ethnic, age or other groups. But no effort is made beyond this to be inclusive of or integrate these employees. Recently I came across an article in The Business Review that caught and held my interest. Essentially it said companies that adopt this approach ought to rethink things because simply hiring Asians, Hispanics, Millennials or people… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on December 9, 2008 at 10:05am — No Comments

Joe Gerstandt The best of intentions...

Join me in a short daydream... It is a peaceful Sunday afternoon and you and I are in my back yard polishing our archery skills. It is my turn. I have an arrow lined up in my bow and I am aiming for the very center of the target hung up across the yard. I release my arrow…and it hits…you in the arm. As we both respond to this newest crisis in my back yard, it is important for you to know what my intentions were. It is important for you to know that I did not intentionally shoot you with the a… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on December 7, 2008 at 10:53pm — No Comments

Tory Clarke - Partner, Bridge Partners LLC The Competitive Edge - Workplace Diversity Programs in a Challenging Environment

As an executive search firm that focuses on recruiting diverse senior-level executives, naturally Bridge Partners LLC is interested in understanding the impact that the current economic environment will have on diversity in the workplace. Will employers embrace change and continue to ensure a well-qualified and diverse leadership team that will give them a competitive edge in a shaky economic environment? Or, will Boards of Directors and leadership teams revert to their personal networks and c… Continue

Posted by Tory Clarke - Partner, Bridge Partners LLC on December 7, 2008 at 7:30pm — 1 Comment

Joe Gerstandt Equal Opportunity Day 2008 - Nebraska

The Urban League of Nebraska will be hosting its Annual Equal Opportunity Day (EOD) Luncheon on Friday, December 5, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Central, 3321 S. 72nd Street. This event recognizes and awards corporations and organizations for their c… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on November 24, 2008 at 11:30am — No Comments

Joe Gerstandt Social Networking, etc....

It seems to me that there is a real disconnect between Diversity & Inclusion work and Social Media. This strikes me as strange because social media tools (blogs, microblogs, social networking, etc.) seem to me to be incredibly complimentary to our work. At least a part of what D&I work is about at its core (at least from my perspective) is connecting people, giving voice and removing barriers...social media tools, when used as they were intended to be used, can do all of these things. Ha… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on November 21, 2008 at 4:00pm — 1 Comment

Joe Gerstandt At the heart of the matter...

At the heart of the matter…where the real struggle lies. Had an interesting conversation with a client this week that has stayed with me now for a few days. We began working with her team a couple of months ago around issues of diversity, inclusion, and culture change and have done some really good foundational work. The workshops and dialogues that I have facilitated have been well received and generated a buzz of ideas, questions and energy. I have even received several e-mails from wo… Continue

Posted by Joe Gerstandt on November 20, 2008 at 9:37am — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Listen Up, Holiday Party Planners…

In a few weeks, small businesses and large corporations alike will gear up to host the traditional annual holiday get-together. Not to disregard celebratory ambiance, but it seems to me the focus of this year’s holiday parties needn’t be the tastefully designed decorations or the spruced up cubicles that make the office space look more festive, but rather ensuring that the atmosphere of the big event is comfortable for attendees. This would entail exercising some caution during the holiday par… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on November 17, 2008 at 2:58pm — No Comments

Tom Schulte New Leadership Collaboratory™ TouchLink Toolbar

Introducing the New Leadership Collaboratory™ TouchLink Toolbar Download it now: http://leadershipcollaboratory.forumtoolbar.com Linked 2 Leadership (L2L) has another free cool tool to help you grow in your leader… Continue

Posted by Tom Schulte on November 14, 2008 at 9:59am — No Comments

Meagan Polakowski Election Reactions Reflect Continuing Racial Divide

With millions of my fellow Americans, on Nov. 4, I witnessed history unfold on the television screen. And I shared the moment out in public with my fellow Chicagoans. While I understand on a basic level the enormity of such a victory by a minority in our country, I also know I do not understand it in the same way my fellow citizens understand it. While I hear many people around me proclaiming that race discrimination as we know it has been overcome, the differing reactions to Obama’s victory ex… Continue

Posted by Meagan Polakowski on November 11, 2008 at 3:19pm — No Comments

Deanna Hartley What's 'in' This Holiday Season? LGBT-Friendly Corporations!

The passing of Halloween traditionally heralds the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Many will discard their pumpkins in favor of wreaths and mistletoe and prepare to splurge on gifts for their loved ones. And if the mere thought of holiday shopping gets your adrenaline pumping, I recently came across some timely information that may be directed at you. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, an organization dedicated to achieving equality for the LGBT community is encouraging people to… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on November 3, 2008 at 3:29pm — No Comments

Kellye Whitney Not So Different

I’m in Atlanta this week for the SHRM Diversity Conference. While I’ve already made some important contacts for work — information I hope to bring to you in some form or another through Diversity Executive — I had to take the opportunity to catch up with a few friends who live in town. We’ll call one friend Lee. An intensely stylish and charismatic man, Lee and I have known each other since we worked together at an executive search firm almost 10 years ago. He’s often in the air flying here, th… Continue

Posted by Kellye Whitney on October 27, 2008 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Meagan Polakowski Does a Diversity Focus Perpetuate Racism?

Brace yourself. The points to follow may boil your blood. But they are intended to move forward the diversity conversation rather than spark anger and judgment. I recently read some interesting arguments against the trend in pointing out one another’s differences and the push for “ethnic diversity” in various levels of our society. This article, titled “Diversity and Multiculturalism: The New Racism,” claims that, “‘Ethnic diversity’ is merely racism in a politically correct disguise.” The aut… Continue

Posted by Meagan Polakowski on October 20, 2008 at 11:52am — 3 Comments

Kellye Whitney Unintentional Judgments

I have a clue why diversity efforts have taken so long to show results. It came to me yesterday when I was interviewing Mike Hyter, CEO of Novations, for a podcast. We were talking about how a global perspective impacts diversity programming, and he mentioned the difference in attitude about race here and abroad. That’s when it hit me. The answer — one of them anyway — has been floating around my head from various mouths/conversations for roughly the past week: we are trained to notice differenc… Continue

Posted by Kellye Whitney on October 14, 2008 at 10:10am — No Comments

Deanna Hartley Women’s Uphill Climb to the Top

The topic of unequal or unfair treatment of “the fairer sex” in the workplace is certainly not new — though it continues to be newsworthy. Despite the many gains women have made in various fields and industries across the globe, a recently published article in TMCnet (Technology Marketing Corporation) outlines the uphill climb faced by women in the information technology field. The story is largely based on the results of a survey — titled “Climbing the Technical Ladder: Obstacles and Solution… Continue

Posted by Deanna Hartley on October 6, 2008 at 1:59pm — No Comments

Meagan Polakowski Our Educational State

A recent news release came across my desk that perked up my ears. It was related to the state of our educational outcomes in the U.S. in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and how they are affecting our workforce. Bayer Corp. surveyed a group of top-level executives at a number of Fortune 1000 companies — a survey given annually. This year, for the third time in 13 years, Bayer decided to include diversity in the survey’s discussion. Bayer asked questions inv… Continue

Posted by Meagan Polakowski on September 29, 2008 at 2:18pm — No Comments

Kellye Whitney We’re Off to a Great Start!

We are absolutely thrilled with the response to the first issue of Diversity Executive, and I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you who have written in to share your thoughts about the launch, and specifically which stories touched you in our first issue. In order to push forward the conversation about the impact of diversity and inclusion in business, active reader participation is critical. Consider the valuable flow of information diversity executives could leverage — as could people… Continue

Posted by Kellye Whitney on September 24, 2008 at 9:00am — No Comments

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