Dr. Akilah Cadet: How to Promote Racial Equity in the Workplace | SALT Talks #154 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Dr. Akillah Cadet discusses the importance of anti-racism and diversity services in the workplace and the need for leaders to hold themselves accountable.

Key Insights

• 🪡 Organizations need to be proactive in addressing diversity and inclusion to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and appreciated.
• 🥹 Companies should hold themselves accountable for their diversity efforts and be transparent about their strategies and actions.
• 🫒 Hiring practices should focus on minimizing bias and considering lived experiences, rather than solely relying on technical qualifications.
• 💱 The role of sponsorship is crucial in helping individuals from underrepresented communities overcome barriers and change their trajectories.

Transcript

hello everyone and welcome back to salt talks my name is john darcy i'm the managing director of salt which is a global thought leadership forum and networking platform at the intersection of finance technology and public policy salt talks are a digital interview series with leading investors creators and thinkers and our goal on these salt talks i... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How can individuals and companies work towards creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace?

It starts with leaders holding themselves accountable and acting as allies for change. Companies can implement initiatives like resource libraries, lunch and learns, and workshops to foster ongoing education and discussions about diversity and inclusion.

Q: When is the best time to hire a diversity consultant?

The best time to bring in a diversity consultant is when a company is ready for organizational change and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and appreciated. Crisis situations can also prompt the need for a consultant.

Q: How can individuals contribute to diversity and inclusion if they don't have the power to bring in a consultant or change hiring practices?

Individuals can create resource libraries, organize virtual lunch and learns or book clubs around diversity topics, and participate in icebreaker activities. They can also advocate for the formation of diversity committees within their organization.

Q: How can companies address unconscious biases and promote colorblind hiring practices?

Companies should focus on minimizing bias by ensuring interviews involve multiple individuals and revising application processes to include consideration of lived experiences, rather than just technical qualifications. Open discussions about diversity and anti-racism within the company are also important.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Dr. Akillah Cadet shares her personal story of experiencing discrimination in the workplace and how it led her to start her consulting firm, Change Cadet, which offers anti-racism and diversity services.

• She emphasizes the need for organizations to have a diversity strategy and explains the shift towards companies wanting to hold themselves accountable and be transparent about their diversity efforts.

• Dr. Cadet discusses the various services Change Cadet provides, including strategic planning, executive coaching, workshops, and crisis management.