Podcast Summary
From law to inclusion strategy, Vernae Myers' journey fueled by lack of representation: Vernae Myers, a diversity and inclusion expert, transitioned from law to increasing representation in law firms, then expanded her focus to other underrepresented groups, and now helps organizations overcome unconscious biases.
Vernae Myers, the VP of inclusion strategy at Netflix and diversity and inclusion expert, transitioned from a law career to her current role due to her experiences as the only person of color in her corporate law firm. Recognizing the lack of representation, she co-founded an organization focused on increasing diversity in law firms, which eventually expanded to include other underrepresented groups. Her passion for representation and inclusion led her to her current role at Netflix and her work as a consultant and author. By sharing her experiences and insights, she aims to help individuals and organizations overcome unconscious biases and promote inclusion.
Emphasizing true representation and participation in diversity and inclusion: Effective diversity and inclusion requires active participation, empathy, listening, collaboration, and 'soft skills' beyond legal training. Emphasize true representation and belonging, not just tokenism. Lean into power differences and create opportunities for all to contribute and belong. Equity involves leveling the playing field and sharing power.
Diversity and inclusion go beyond just being invited to the party; they require active participation and a sense of belonging. As a lawyer, Rosette recognized the value of critical thinking and problem-solving skills from her legal training. However, she also identified the need to develop empathy, listening, collaboration, and other "soft skills" to effectively promote diversity and inclusion. Rosette's unique definition of diversity and inclusion emphasizes the importance of true representation and participation, not just tokenism. She encourages leaders to lean into the power of difference and create opportunities for all individuals to contribute and belong, just like inviting someone to dance at a party. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of equity, which involves leveling the playing field and sharing power to ensure everyone has access and a voice in the organization.
Addressing Institutional Barriers for Equity: Recognize your worth, believe in abilities, focus on strengths to overcome imposter syndrome and contribute to a more equitable society
Equity in the entertainment industry and beyond means acknowledging and addressing the institutional and systemic barriers that prevent capable individuals from reaching their full potential due to lack of exposure, opportunity, bias, or discrimination. This concept is connected to imposter syndrome, a feeling of inadequacy or self-doubt, which disproportionately affects marginalized groups. Imposter syndrome can be exacerbated by external factors like racism, sexism, and other forms of bias, leading individuals to internalize the belief that they don't belong or aren't good enough. To overcome imposter syndrome, it's essential to recognize that you've earned your place, believe in your abilities, and focus on your strengths rather than external limitations. This internal shift can help individuals reach their full potential and contribute to a more equitable and inclusive society.
Understanding Unconscious Bias: Recognize our biases, question stereotypes, and challenge assumptions to become more conscious and inclusive.
We all have unconscious biases, regardless of our identity or lived experiences. Our brains take shortcuts and make quick associations, leading to biased thinking. It's important to recognize this and actively work on becoming more conscious of these areas in our lives. This is an ongoing journey, as we may be biased in some areas while being unaware in others. By focusing on our outgroups and questioning our stereotypes, we can begin to challenge and overcome unconscious bias. It's essential to remain open-minded and continually reflect on our thoughts and actions. The speaker encourages us to push beyond our limitations and consider the possibilities for growth and improvement.
Understanding Social Hierarchies and Biases: Recognizing social hierarchies and biases, or isms, can lead to greater awareness and a responsibility to work towards equality, regardless of personal privilege or lack thereof.
It's important to acknowledge and understand the social hierarchies and biases that exist, even if we don't consciously believe in them. These biases, or isms, can be categorized into groups that privilege certain individuals or groups over others. This framework, called the up and down group, helps us identify these power dynamics and the resulting inequities. For example, a 60-year-old black woman faces multiple one-downs due to ageism, sexism, and racism, while a 30-year-old white male has three ups. Recognizing these privileges and lack of privileges can lead to greater awareness and a responsibility to work towards equality. It's not about blame or guilt, but about acknowledging the reality of the world and taking steps to level the playing field.
Recognize and use privileges to support marginalized individuals: Empathy and effective financial management are crucial tools for positive change and personal growth. Use privileges to support others and create a more inclusive society.
As individuals and leaders, it's essential to recognize and understand our privileges and use them to support those who face marginalization. This doesn't mean feeling pity or guilt but rather empathy, which involves understanding and removing barriers to their success. By doing so, we not only help others but also contribute to a more diverse, inclusive, and interesting society. As the speaker emphasized, "allyship is a big deal." Additionally, taking an active role in investing and managing one's finances is crucial for personal growth and long-term prosperity. In summary, empathy and effective financial management are two powerful tools for creating positive change and personal growth.
Promoting Equality: Listen, Learn, Yield, and Reflect: Individuals from dominant groups should listen, learn, and reflect on their own biases while also acknowledging the experiences and perspectives of marginalized communities. Understanding history, intersectionality, and the inherent worth of all people is crucial for creating an inclusive and equitable society.
Promoting equality and understanding between different groups requires introspection, empathy, and education. It's important for individuals from dominant groups to listen, learn, and yield to the experiences and perspectives of marginalized communities. However, this doesn't mean they shouldn't engage in their own self-reflection and awareness-raising. Understanding history, black experiences, and the complexities of intersectionality within marginalized groups is crucial. Additionally, parents play a significant role in teaching children about diversity, challenging harmful stereotypes, and recognizing the inherent worth and humanity of all people. By actively addressing systemic issues and fostering open conversations, we can help create a more inclusive and equitable society.
Understanding and Addressing Microaggressions: Parents can combat microaggressions by exposing children to diverse perspectives, correcting harmful comments, and encouraging open conversations about inclusivity and acceptance.
It's important for parents to be aware of and address microaggressions, even if they seem small or unintentional. Microaggressions are subtle, often unintentional slights or insults that can add up and make individuals feel undervalued or invisible based on their race, gender, size, or other aspects of their identity. These incidents can happen frequently and from multiple sources, making them feel burdensome and frustrating. Parents can help reverse this thinking by exposing their children to diverse perspectives and role models, correcting harmful comments, and encouraging open conversations about these issues. The next generation, Gen Z and millennials, are expected to lead the way in creating a more inclusive and equitable society by challenging these microaggressions and promoting understanding and acceptance.
Recognizing and addressing unconscious bias and microaggressions: Leaders should model humility, openness to feedback, and micro affirmations to create an inclusive environment, benefiting from increased innovation, customer satisfaction, and access to diverse perspectives.
Recognizing and addressing unconscious bias and microaggressions is essential for creating a more inclusive and productive environment. Humility and openness to feedback are crucial in this process. Micro affirmations, such as acknowledging successes, pronouncing names correctly, and actively soliciting opinions, can make a significant difference. Leaders play a vital role in modeling these behaviors and creating a culture that values diversity and inclusion. The financial benefits include increased innovation, customer satisfaction, and access to a wider audience. Incorporating diverse perspectives and experiences leads to better predictions of future needs and the production of more accessible and innovative content.
Creating an inclusive work environment: Empathy and compassion are crucial for fostering an inclusive work environment, leading to greater innovation and productivity. Actively interrupt biases and take action to support those affected.
Fostering an inclusive and empathetic work environment can lead to greater innovation and productivity. It's important to recognize that exclusion affects not only marginalized groups but also those in the majority, leading to greater understanding and bridge-building through empathy and compassion. Sympathy is not enough; it's essential to actively interrupt biases and take action to support those affected. Empathy and compassion are key to creating a more humane and dignified way of living with our differences. For example, instead of just feeling sympathy for those experiencing discrimination, we can read about their experiences, show solidarity, and take action to intervene when we witness bias or violence. It's not enough to be conscious of biases; we must also put compassion into action.
Being an ally: Putting others' needs first: Educate yourself on unconscious bias, deepen your understanding, and provide support to those impacted.
Being an ally involves putting others' needs before your own emotions and providing support, especially for those who are directly impacted. Shopify is a global commerce platform that makes it easy for businesses of all sizes and industries to sell their products and services online and in-person, with features like easy website setup, conversion-optimized checkout, and access to award-winning customer support. To deepen your understanding of unconscious bias and work through your own biases, consider resources such as Ibram X. Kendi's books, LinkedIn's courses, and content from organizations and individuals in your community. With the wealth of information available online, there's no excuse not to educate yourself and expand your awareness.
Expanding social and professional circles: Seek out diverse talent, build relationships, identify purpose, let go of what's not in flow, and stay present for personal growth.
Expanding your social and professional circles goes beyond just hiring new people. It's about seeking out diverse talent and building meaningful relationships through mentorship, promotions, and companionship at work. Another key takeaway is the importance of alignment in life. By identifying your purpose and focusing on opportunities that align with it, you can increase efficiency, profitability, and attract more opportunities. Additionally, letting go of what's not in the flow and staying present in reality can help you evolve and unfold. To learn more about Vernay Myers and her work, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn under the username Vernay Myers, or visit her company site, TBMC.
Uncovering the Impact of Unconscious Biases: Acknowledge and address unconscious biases for personal growth and a more inclusive society. Identify biases, pause, and make conscious decisions based on truth.
Unconscious biases, which are stories we make up about people before getting to know them, can significantly impact our decision-making and contribute to societal issues like racism and sexism. These biases are often rooted in habituated understandings of what goes together, such as gender or age. Unconscious bias doesn't make someone good or bad, but acknowledging and addressing it is crucial for personal growth and creating a more inclusive society. To do this, identify the unconscious biases that influence you and pause to make conscious decisions based on truth rather than quick assumptions. For more inspiring stories about overcoming biases, listen to episode 30, "Rise Against All Odds" with JT McCormick. In this episode, JT shares his experiences with racial biases and how he became a successful entrepreneur despite the challenges he faced. Additionally, a big thank you to listener "Big Card" for their 5-star review and kind words about episode 100. Your support means a lot!
Reflecting on the Best and Worst Year of Her Life: Hala Taha shares her personal experiences from 2020, encouraging listeners to write reviews and subscribe to the podcast, expressing gratitude to her team, and offering a raw and authentic look into her journey.
In episode 100 of the Young and Profiting Podcast, Hala Taha reflects on 2020 being the best and worst year of her life. This solo episode, which is becoming one of her most downloaded shows, is filled with moments that will make you laugh, cry, and feel inspired. Hala encourages listeners who enjoy her content to write a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe to the podcast for new episodes. You can find Hala on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Clubhouse under the name "hala Taha." Don't miss out on her daily rooms on Clubhouse. Hala expresses her gratitude to her team for their support. Overall, this episode offers a raw and authentic look into Hala's journey and serves as a reminder of the ups and downs that come with life.
