“Hey we gave this unconscious bias training and hired a Chief Diversity Officer. Isn’t that enough?” My guest this week, Kelley Bright, says she has heard these words countless times from clients in her 25 plus years with global professional consulting firms. She claims companies aren’t getting into the nitty gritty of race because they don't want to say the hard, scary things that make people really understand. In this episode, she offers critiques of how companies handle DEI today and what they should do instead.   

Conscious Culture Cafe

Hiring a Chief Diversity Officer Isn’t Enough! – With Mercer's Kelley Bright

“Aren’t we human beings hilarious? The ways we can find to discount and disqualify others, especially in competitive environments, is sometimes stunning.” DEI expert, Judy Ellis, knows what she is talking about.  She has been working with corporations on culture, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)  for 20 plus years in all kinds of companies. She offers advice on how companies can carry out DEI efforts that not only value all employees, but also have a positive impact on the company bottom line. The key is to focus on inclusion - not just diversity. 

Want a Bottom-Line Boost from DEI? Focus on Inclusion – With Judy Ellis

"Do Black people matter as we look at the future of our country and our companies?" Nikki Lanier, senior vice president, and regional executive of the Louisville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, discusses this pivotal question as she focuses on the E (equity) in DEI. In this episode, Nikki takes on the racism we see in front of us and offers her opinions on how our companies can move beyond diversity and address the equity part of the equation.

Let’s Talk About the Equity in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with Nikki Lanier

DEI (Diversity, equity, and inclusion) isn't new for many of our organizations. So why don't our commitments make a real difference? Priya says she is an immigrant and a brown girl born to be a rebel. And she is full of passion and genuine curiosity. Growing up as a young girl in India she questioned why “different rules for different people.” Now she helps companies address this challenge through her change management consulting practice. In this episode, she shares tips for how organizations can position their diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments for true impact. And she offers each of us steps we can take to become part of the fight against racism within organizations. 

Change! Make Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Matter in Your Organization

While we were sheltering in place, our communities across the country erupted due to racism run amuck! Police brutality, protests, fires, murders, and the list goes on and on.  We looked on with horror. We are seeking change.  We want answers. We ask ourselves what we can do to join the fight against racism in our workplaces and communities. Tawana Bain, exceedingly successful entrepreneur and founder of the famous Derby Diversity Summit, offers concrete steps each of us can take now to change how we address race in our lives and our country. 

Women Fighting Racism with Tawana Bain

Yes, our work environments have shifted lately! And many leaders may be feeling a little disoriented. If you are looking for a way to enhance your work for greater success, this episode is for you. The good news is this: You don’t have to start over completely. You can build on what has worked in the past when our companies  faced monumental challenges. Mark Lorch, former union steward and leader extraordinaire, shares his stories of how an oil refinery with 11 labor unions found the secrets to transformation. They moved from an adversarial culture to a workplace characterized by respect and the quest for common ground. Hear him tell how they did it.  The universal truths in his stories can help us now as we too seek common ground.

Finding Common Ground: What We Can Learn Now From What Worked Then - With Mark Lorch

How can you take risks, learn, and grow while our world is in crisis? My guests offer timely advice based on their lives as outdoor adventurers and organizational experts. For many years, Geoff Powter and Kathi Irvine have traveled the world while also helping leaders change themselves and their companies. And, Geoff is a renowned mountain writer who has climbed in the mountain ranges of Nepal, Peru, Morocco, France, Switzerland, and Italy. From their home in the Canadian Rockies, Geoff, and his life and business partner, Kathi Irvine join us. 

What We Can Learn From Our World in Crisis, With Kathi Irvine and Geoff Powter

Stressed anyone? Our world right now is challenging to say the least. Yet what a great time to learn, according to Jerry Abrams, Envisioneer, Center for Creative Leadership, and Adjunct faculty and Senior Fellow with Virginia Tech's  Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability (CLiGS). In this episode, Jerry shares a simple roadmap for how to learn,  become a stronger leader, and develop greater resilience through a practice that requires a mere 10 - 15 minutes a day!

When the Heat is On, Learn to Lead with Jerry Abrams, Envisioneer, Center for Creative Leadership

Purpose in crisis! As we lead companies facing the many challenges stemming from the pandemic, what do we do? Should we hunker down and merely try to survive? Or do we rely on our purpose and values to guide our decisions and actions?  According to my guest, Denise Roberson, Chief Purpose Officer of advertising company TBWA/Chiat/Day, brands guided by purpose have reacted the quickest, and are providing the most value to the market over the past difficult months.  And she says employees and consumers have noticed, and will remember long after the worst of the pandemic is behind us.  In this episode, Denise provides examples of how purpose has guided the decisions and actions of some of our most iconic brands.  Many have turned on a dime to address our urgent needs. Denise shares the how-tos for making your unique purpose your north star. You and your company will become stronger and more resilient as a result.    

Brand Purpose: Your Key to Business Success During the Pandemic and Beyond with Denise Roberson

Here we are in the middle of one of the worst crises our world has ever faced. We are living through tough times! Yet each of our guests this season brings messages of hope and optimism. Their common theme is we can get through this crisis together. Every guest shares uplifting advice for these gloomy days to brighten our outlook and show us how we can become stronger and more resilient as we continue to pursue our purpose and live our values. Listen to this preview of Season 2. 

Season Two Preview: Leadership and Purpose in the Time of the Pandemic

So you want your company to make a positive social and environmental contribution intentionally. How do you make this happen? If you are in Kentucky, you can turn to Canopy; the nonprofit Scott Koloms created to help businesses make money while addressing some of our world's toughest problems. In this episode, Scott offers all of us tips on how to get started in Kentucky or any place. According to Scott, the magic is in finding a solution to a business problem that will also have a direct and measurable social benefit. He talks about how to hit those home runs.

Canopy: Building Companies for Purpose and Profit

"It's all about how you make your money and how you spend your money," according to my guest for this episode, Carolyn Berkowitz, president of the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals. Of course, this advice applies to all of us whether we are thinking of starting a corporate citizenship program in our companies or considering our actions as workers and consumers. Carolyn offers intriguing ideas for starting corporate social responsibility programs without a lot of complexity and expense, no matter what your company size. And what if you don't run a company? Her tips are thought-provoking for every one of us as we work and buy.

It's Simple: How to Engage in Corporate Citizenship

So you want to make a positive impact on your world through your work?  Great!  However, let’s face it. Our passion for doing good isn’t always enough to make it happen. My guest this week shows you how to start out with a simple commitment and fulfill it through intentional and mindful actions. In this episode, Scott Koloms, President of Facility Management Services (FMS), shares his journey to make a positive social impact through his work. His company is the world's first janitorial service to become a B Corps!  And they just landed a coveted spot on Real Leaders Impact Awards. This ranking includes the top 100 companies growing by doing good. Join us to hear how he did it and what you can do to make your desire for positive impact real.

It’s a Journey: Reinventing Your Work for Positive Social Impact

Hey, you aspiring social entrepreneurs. Have you been considering how you can create a business for both profit and social impact?  If so, this episode is for you!Now if you are thinking, “I am not ready to start a business so this episode doesn’t apply to me,” stick with me, because my guest today shares some nuggets that will help you increase your power for good works no matter what your vocation or job.  Anne Chambers, a serial entrepreneur, has been starting social impact businesses since the ’90s. And yes, her aim with these startups is to make a profit as well.  How does she do it? In this episode, Anne shares her secrets including how to co-create a business with your prospective customers.  

How to Become a Successful Social Entrepreneur

So you think the rapid growth of your purpose-driven company will increase your social impact. But how do you expand it without losing the unique culture that made it excel in the first place? If you are wondering how you can hold on to your positive culture and scale it up as you grow, this podcast is for you. Bryan de Lottinville, the founder and CEO of Benevity, the global leader in corporate social responsibility and employee engagement software, shares stories about how he started his B corporation and how he is scaling the culture as the business faces the challenges of breakneck growth. 

How to Create a Company Culture for Goodness

Making a difference while making a profit requires a unique kind of leadership and company culture. Join author, speaker, and culture expert, Kathy Miller Perkins, each week as she and her guests share stories, insights and tips on how to integrate the pursuit of purpose and profits.

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Conscious Culture Cafe

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