The world is facing monumental challenges in the time of COVID-19, widening existing gaps in racial and gender equity.
The world is facing monumental challenges in the time of COVID-19, widening existing gaps in racial and gender equity. Women’s participation in the labor force has shrunk to levels last seen in 1988, with significant impacts to women in the BIPOC community. Now, more than ever, there’s an opportunity for business leaders to take actionable steps to emphasize and strengthen equity and inclusion in the workplace.
In honor of International Women’s Day, Enspira invited inspirational and transformational leaders in STEM to discuss disparities in equitable access and the impact it has on our daily lives. Our “Transformative Personal Narratives: Propelling Gender & Racial Equity in STEM'' virtual event panelists included:
The conversation covered topics such as COVID’s catastrophic impact on health equity and access within underrepresented communities, our true identities and the internal and external factors that have shaped them, and much more. For Seth, identity is malleable and shifts as people grow and are exposed to new realities about the world, however there will always be aspects of our identities that are entrenched in our roots. All of these factors, internal and external, can contribute to our biases, whether conscious or not, and only when we understand how all the pieces fit together can we begin to address the inequity that exists in our workplace.
Gaps in gender and race equity are present in everything we do, and it begs the question, how do we reach underrepresented communities and how can we best address their needs? How do we change deeply embedded societal norms that disproportionately serve more privileged communities?
The panelists uncovered many of these inequities in their industries. Through her work with Equip Health, Parks challenges the common perception that someone with an eating disorder is young, white, female and privileged, when in fact only 20% of people with eating disorders are diagnosed and 80% of those who go undiagnosed are people of color, older, or male. She now strives to reach these communities and provide them access to the treatment they need.
Through CodePath, Ellison works to transform computer science education for women and underrepresented minorities, creating opportunities to begin their careers in tech, an industry that is heavily dominated by white males. His experience has taught him that you’ll typically get the job or internship if you know someone or have family connections, an industry characteristic that doesn’t apply to underrepresented communities and widens the gap in equitable access.
While these leaders have all taken tremendous actions towards addressing existing gaps in gender parity, making a difference begins with all of us and how we show up in our communities. Towards the end of the panel discussion, Riley asks us to think about what we’re doing when no one is watching. She asks us to shape our daily habits to be more inclusive, to not be cognizant of inequity only when we’re supposed to be. She reminds us that it’s not a performance, and she pushes us to be authentic allies.
To learn more about Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging and additional Enspira offerings, such as DI&B 101, Allyship sessions and more, click here: DI&B Learning & Development.
To watch the virtual event in its entirety, click here.
Subscribe to our newsletter for regular insight and news
An in-depth tutorial and set of worksheets to help startup leaders establish a positive culture from day one is now available.
Read More >>Current workforce realities such as competing job opportunities and The Great Resignation make Total Rewards programs vital for attracting and retaining talent. Here’s how companies can do it right.
Read More >>Over the last five years, there’s been an increasing focus on laws centered around digital protections and worker’s rights, specifically the “right to disconnect.”
Read More >>By downsizing or giving up office space altogether, companies can—and should—redirect money to their employees in meaningful ways. Here's how.
Read More >>As employers contend with the Great Resignation, the use of artificial intelligence for talent acquisition is more important than ever.
Read More >>No matter how scary the prospect, striving to achieve your career goals will always yield better results than staying stuck and afraid.
Read More >>When employees fail to understand or properly utilize important tech tools in the workplace, it can have far-reaching implications and may even impact an organization’s bottom line.
Read More >>AI recruitment tools--while incredibly useful--can also introduce bias. What can companies do to ensure they increase efficiency without harming equity?
Read More >>A range of approaches to designing and utilizing AI can actually help diversity hiring.
Read More >>We're trending towards longer and longer work days--but by embracing a decision-making ideology and a task management tool, we don't have to.
Read More >>Navigating a new job is hard--and managing its ups and downs as a new hire during a pandemic is arguably even harder.
Read More >>While few employees are running miles in combat boots, mentally training like the elite military unit may help us reclaim our brains from stress.
Read More >>The virtual workspace isn’t going away. Here’s how WFH is affecting us — and how these changes could reshape the workforce as we know it.
Read More >>Human Resources executives are central to the success of an organization, setting the tone for how employees can contribute and thrive. Here, a few industry leaders share their insights.
Read More >>Processing emotionally charged events can impact people in ways that are difficult to manage. What can be done to support them?
Read More >>From cobots that collaborate with humans to HoloLens, a wearable holographic computer, AI is no longer science fiction.
Read More >>As old paradigms fall by the wayside, how we shape corporate culture and do business altogether is transforming at breakneck speeds.
Read More >>Uniqueness of identification has grown and blossomed into a spectrum of diversity, challenging the way companies think about DEIB.
Read More >>A number of complex forces are steering people away from the workforce, but arguably the most common one is burnout.
Read More >>Of all the theories that aim to engender better work-life balance, the five-hour workday is one of the most compelling.
Read More >>Just because you say you're operating strategically doesn't mean your plan is strategic.
Read More >>Yes, “be yourself” is definitely sound advice--and these days, employers are known to tell their employees the same thing. But there are limits.
Read More >>DEIB programs are surging across the American workplace. Why are some employers still not taking action?
Read More >>It's not always easy to know when to prioritize speed vs. quality in business. There may be more than one right answer.
Read More >>Your words often don't have the impact you intend them to--which can be problematic, especially in the workplace.
Read More >>Giving and receiving valuable feedback isn't always an easy task. Here are some insights to help you along the way.
Read More >>Unlimited PTO sounds like a dream come true. Is it here to stay, or just the flavor of the week?
Read More >>Join us for a dynamic discussion with neurodiversity experts on the benefits of employing a diverse team.
Read More >>Our biases manifest everywhere--and even during our most celebrated and joyous traditions, they can leave an impact.
Read More >>Are we truly our most productive when we work five days a week? Recent studies suggest otherwise.
Read More >>For Pride Month 2021, Enspira interviewed two pioneers in the LGBTQ+ business community who continue to inspire change.
Read More >>Chances are we all know someone who's struggling with unspoken issues. Here's how to recognize it, thoughtfully reach out, and help.
Read More >>If we want to see real, sustainable change, we all must continue to acknowledge and celebrate diversity in the workplace.
Read More >>The raging pandemic has pushed people beyond reasonable limits, and has adversely affected women disproportionately.
Read More >>The world is facing monumental challenges in the time of COVID-19, widening existing gaps in racial and gender equity.
Read More >>It’s now more important than ever to ensure your organization has strong people manager capability and effectiveness.
Read More >>How inclusive is your organization? Simply checking the representation boxes and creating policies isn't enough.
Read More >>Providing experience-based expertise in platform selection, implementation, and integration of HR tech applications.
Learn More >>
Engendering a progressive workplace culture by addressing DEIB in policies and practices for longterm sustainability.
Learn More >>
Optimizing productivity through a comprehensive analysis of functions to match the right people with the right roles.
Learn More >>
Building exceptional leadership through executive coaching, workshop modules, and practical applications for individuals and teams.
Learn More >>
Devising a forward-thinking, equitable, and inclusive search experience for candidates and companies.
Learn More >>
Elevating employee engagement and performance through foundational alignment of business and human purpose.
Learn More >>
Creating innovative talent management strategies to help build and retain a world-class workforce.
Developing comprehensive employee engagement and retention strategies to improve productivity, reduce turnover, and foster innovation.
Identifying optimal combinations of benefits, compensation, rewards, and recognition to enhance employee engagement and performance.
Guiding organizations through complex and challenging evolutions to keep employees engaged throughout the journey.