In this Corporate Minority highlight, Sandra interviews Alysha Campbell, founder of Culture Shift HR. Alysha is a well-respected HR leader with over a decade of experience. Her passion for diversity and inclusion has led her to start her own human resources consultancy agency, Culture Shift HR.
What is Diversity and Inclusion?
To start, it’s important to clarify that diversity and inclusion isn’t just hiring diverse candidates. The root of diversity is understanding the power of having a diverse workforce. Inclusivity is creating a place where people can bring their true, authentic self to work. Additionally, it’s important to ensure that employees feel included and know their opinions matter. Doing this creates a space where everyone feels that they belong. Also, diversity and inclusion is a company culture transformation, often taking years to accomplish.
How Can Companies and Employees Contribute to a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace?
Firstly, companies should start with what they can reasonably do. Don’t over promise your employees with goals that are unattainable. Making promises that fall through is worse than setting reasonable goals that can be achieved.
Another beneficial tip is that, as an employee it’s important to be an active advocate within your organization. It can often be helpful to find employee resource affinity groups. For example, employee resource groups advocate for marginalized communities such as people of color, women in tech, and much more. These groups discuss policies that they’d like to see incorporated within their own organization. This can help to drive change to hold your leaders accountable.
Challenges Create Change
Challenging yourself helps you to grow and learn. The world is going through a challenging time, with the global pandemic and civil unrest, it’s hard to not feel overwhelmed and broken down. Ultimately, remember great advice from Alysha, that challenge brings change. Stay motivated and continue to push for change in our homes, communities, and offices.
“If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you”
-Alysha Campbell
For more career advice visit Corporate Minority Career Insights.
