DeepSummary
In this episode, Jennifer Brown, a diversity and inclusion expert, shares a new offering to work with messengers and voices that have been missing from the current dialogue. She aims to amplify these voices and help them find clarity and confidence in their message, whether through keynote speeches, books, or coaching businesses. Jorge Quezada, the Chief Inclusion Officer at Granite Construction, joins the conversation to discuss the challenges and progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion work.
Quezada reflects on the pendulum swing of progress and pushback, likening his role to that of Sisyphus, continuously pushing the boulder uphill. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the "being" rather than just the "doing" of inclusion work, and the need to address individuals' values, beliefs, and emotions to create lasting change. Brown and Quezada explore the emotions that accompany change, such as fear, shame, and pride, and the need for leaders to normalize unlearning and relearning.
Through storytelling and vulnerability, practitioners can help organizations reveal their true selves and unleash the potential of their people. Quezada draws an analogy from Michelangelo, suggesting that their role is to chip away obstacles and reveal the beauty already existing in each organization's people and potential. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of patience, perspective, and a vision for progress in advancing inclusion amidst times of resistance.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Patience and perseverance are essential in diversity, equity, and inclusion work, as progress often comes after a buildup of sustained efforts.
- It is crucial to focus on the "being" of inclusion, addressing individuals' values, beliefs, and emotions, rather than solely focusing on checklists and actions.
- Leaders should normalize the process of unlearning and relearning, embracing vulnerability and continuous growth.
- Practitioners' role is to reveal the beauty and potential already existing within organizations, by removing obstacles and impediments that prevent that potential from being fully realized.
- Storytelling and vulnerability can help individuals and organizations understand and address the emotions that accompany change, such as fear, shame, and pride.
- Maintaining a clear vision and perspective on the positive impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion work is essential for staying motivated amidst challenges and setbacks.
- Progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion work is often cyclical, with periods of advancement followed by periods of pushback or resistance.
- Fostering a sense of collective effort and momentum within organizations is crucial for sustaining progress and achieving lasting change.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “You have to imagine Sisyphus happy. And the effort. The effort. Sometimes what keeps me going is the acknowledgement that just because I moved it a quarter of a way halfway and it comes back down. Or sometimes I get, especially when I go from, when I've gone from one company to another company, sometimes you have to say to yourself, man, I've done good work. Okay, I gotta go do it again. And in that spirit, you get your energy.“ by Jorge Quezada
- “You're in this work because you see the benefit of it. You're in this work because we move the needle on some of this work.“ by Jorge Quezada
- “Michelangelo was asked, like, about David, right. The statue of David. And it was interesting because his answer may have freaked some people out. His whole thinking was, look at David was already in the stone. My job was just to remove everything around it. The stone actually had David in it. And I think culturally, companies in their soul know how they want to treat their people. Sometimes. Our job as practitioners is to help people remove some of the impediment that is preventing from that statue to come out.“ by Jorge Quezada
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Episode Information
The Will To Change: Uncovering True Stories of Diversity & Inclusion
Jennifer Brown
2/23/24
Jorge Quezada, Chief Inclusion Officer and VP of People & Culture at Granite Construction, joins the program for a conversation with Jennifer about their decades of experience guiding organizations on the journey toward diversity, equity and inclusion. Jorge and Jennifer discuss the pendulum swings of progress and pushback, the difference between checklist "doing" and transformative visionary "being," the emotions that accompany change, and more. Jorge also shares his thoughts about Michelangelo's idea that the practitioner's role is to chip away obstacles to reveal the beauty already existing in each organization's people and potential.