DeepSummary
The transcript presents a panel discussion from the Better Man Conference titled 'Obstacles and Opportunities: Managing Our Triggers As Allies'. The panelists, Jennifer Brown, Mita Malik, and Tony Degraj, share their perspectives on the journey of being an ally, discussing topics like acknowledging privilege, having difficult conversations, and embracing failure as part of the learning process.
They emphasize the importance of creating inclusive workplaces where people feel psychologically safe to bring their full selves. The panelists explore how to navigate triggers and discomfort when engaging in discussions around diversity, equity, and inclusion. They highlight the need for leaders to hold space for these conversations and model vulnerability.
The discussion also touches on the perception of certain conversations as 'political' and how to reframe them as human rights issues. Throughout, the panelists stress the ongoing nature of allyship and the necessity of unlearning perfectionism to embrace ambiguity and discomfort as part of the journey.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Embrace failure and imperfection as a necessary part of the allyship journey.
- Create psychologically safe workplaces where people feel comfortable bringing their full, authentic selves.
- Acknowledge and leverage privilege to elevate underrepresented voices and perspectives.
- Develop tools to manage triggers and discomfort when engaging in difficult conversations around diversity and inclusion.
- Reframe discussions around equity and human rights as beyond just 'political' conversations.
- Demonstrate vulnerability and a willingness to sit with ambiguity and non-closure as an ally.
- Foster leadership that models inclusive behaviors and holds space for ongoing dialogue.
- Recognize allyship as a continuous journey of growth, learning, and self-awareness.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I think in the beginning, one of the big epiphanies I've had is that in organizations, we do not celebrate failure in any way. We don't celebrate, and we don't celebrate it personally because we're all on our phones creating a perfect instagram life, which is not the reality of the pain and the grief we're feeling behind screens.“ by Speaker A
- “So I think trying to unlearn that is part of the allies journey.“ by Speaker A
- “I think one of the things that I'm looking as a journey in this conversation is looking at what are the feelings that get in the way of our allyship, and how do we have tools to manage that, to show up in our commitments.“ by Eduardo Placer
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Episode Information
The Will To Change: Uncovering True Stories of Diversity & Inclusion
Jennifer Brown
6/5/21
This episode was originally a Toolkit Conversation at the Better Man Conference, and features a conversation with Jennifer Brown, as well as Mita Mallick, Head of Inclusion, Equity and Impact at Carta and
Tony DeGruy, Technical Systems Engineering Leader for Cisco’s Workforce Experience team. Moderating the event was Eduardo Placer, CEO of Fearless Communicators.