DEI Du Jour

Beyond the Tourist Trail: Unforgettable Cultural Experiences

Wed, 01 May 2024 17:39:14 GMT

Cross-Cultural Experiences

Cross-cultural experiences offer unique opportunities to delve into people's behavior, norms, values, and cultures. Exposure to these experiences can be amplified through global travel, overseas work, museum visits, and exploring the culinary pleasures of different demographic groups.

One of my most significant career milestones was in 2015. I was a principal recruiter for CommVault Co., a backup data management company. In my role, I took on the most challenging recruiting assignments globally. Due to an unexpected vacancy, I took on an urgent assignment as the interim Talent Acquisition Director for our Southeastern Region in Asia, specifically Australia. My ability to recruit talent and embrace cultures from all backgrounds made me a perfect fit to aid in hiring critical leadership positions across Asia (Australia, Singapore, Japan).

Upon arrival, I listened and did not try to dictate a US-centric approach to working with regional business leaders. One of the critical things I learned while engaging talent in the Asia Pacific region was that candidates liked to meet face-to-face and buy the prospective employer or recruiter coffee when interviewing for a role. Unfortunately, social media and platforms like LinkedIn have not yet been fully adopted, so taking time to acclimate to how people drive relationships helped me gain credibility and quickly penetrate the market.

As a result, I built up a good tolerance for drinking lots of coffee while saving the company a substantial cost avoidance expense of $150K in potential agency staffing fees.

“One Love” By Bob Marley is still the message for Unification today!

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 18:26:33 GMT

“One Love” By Bob Marley is still the message for Unification today!

I recently saw the movie Bob Marley's "One Love". As someone with roots from Jamaica, I am proud to say the film represents his message of peace, love, and unity worldwide. Bob, as we call him in Jamaica, knew his purpose was more significant than his success, fame, and money. He championed ideas of brotherhood, unity, and love to help heal his own country and extend this philosophy to other countries worldwide. Bob's message to the world transcended racial, social, and political divisions, like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and others who were sacrificial in their purpose.

Bob Marley's songs symbolized the following:

"One Love": Fostering the idea of global brotherhood despite racial, social and political affiliation.
"Get up, Stand Up": Spoke against injustice, colonialism, and systemic oppression, particularly shared by people of color.
Other songs like "Redemption Song" and "War" reflect Bob's passion for the marginalized and his advocation for equality and social justice.

Bob Marley's message strongly promotes the core principles of Inclusion:

Respect for Culture: His call for "One Love" emphasized the importance of recognizing and valuing the inherent worth of all people, regardless of their background.
Equality : Bob Marley was a tenacious advocate for equality, his music a rallying cry against oppression and social injustice. His vision of an inclusive society, where opportunities are not limited by race, class, or any other factor, empowers listeners to strive for change.
Sociality Change: Bob Marley's message challenged the status quo that perpetuated inequality. Inclusion often demands that we critically examine and transform systems that create barriers.
Creating Community: The idea of unity for humanity, where everyone has a sense of belonging, is essential to inclusion.

Some said Bob Marley was a gift gone too soon, but his legacy outlasted his thirty-six years because of the impactful messages he inspired through his music. Reflecting on our world today, I see many signs and reminders of history I read about during the 50s and 60s. Will we all unify and make it as a people? Can love overcome evil, and will inclusion win? But then I hear a song saying, "Relax; everything will be all right!

Thank you, Bob, for the message that still provides the hope we need today.

"Things will be OK in the end. If it's not OK, it's not the end." Bob Marley

Investing Beyond Food and Culture with Historical Significance

top2krecruiter@gmail.com (Kevin Walters) — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 17:16:02 GMT

MAY SPOTLIGHT:

Investing Beyond Food and Culture with Historical Significance

Q &A With Daryn Dodson, CEO of Illumen Capital

Have you ever heard the saying, ‘you are what you eat’? It explains why there is a deep-rooted connection between culture and food, especially when traditions are passed down through generations. Food has been historically marginalized but became a catalyst to inspire demographic groupings to keep heritage and preserve traditions. Black History month historically has been the time we celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Americans. But what happens to the conversation about Black entrepreneurship once February ends? My recent conversation with Daryn Dodson, CEO of Illumen Capital, a fund of funds focusing on reducing implicit bias within the investment industry, explored the impact of food, culture, and the challenges and opportunities facing people of color.

Kevin Walters: The SCOTUS ruling had a detrimental impact on Black History Month this February. Let's not overlook the fact that it has affected VC funding for Black-owned businesses. Can you shed some light on how significant the impact has been?

Daryn Dodson: Based on the number of promised corporate commitments, it seemed to many like Black-owned businesses were progressing, but venture capital funding dropped significantly after the peak of 2021. 2023 was the year in which capital to Black founders dropped below 1% , the lowest it’s been in recent history and a stark reminder that transformative change is necessary. Right now, only 1.4% of $82 trillion in capital is managed by women and people of color, which is not representative of U.S. population demographics. As part of our Stanford SPARQ research studies, we found that when Black-led funds outperformed, they faced additional biases in the industry .

Kevin Walters: There are stereotypes about food. One is that ‘you are what you eat.’ Is this also applicable to investing? Do vegans or healthy eaters invest conservatively? Do fast food eaters take more risks? Do investors have specific attributes and traits that align with their culture and eating behaviors?

Daryn Dodson: There is power in food. I lived in New Orleans and had the privilege of working with Leah Chase and several entrepreneurs who rebuilt their restaurants after Hurricane Katrina. Feeding people is one of the most critical parts of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Unsurprisingly, Dr. Martin Luther King organized within Leah Chase's restaurant to take on the systems of structural racism. He and other civil rights leaders ate incredible food, and shortly after that, he went to Washington, D.C., to tell people about his dream. Food and transformational movements are inextricably bound and can be used in powerful and important ways.

Kevin Walters: Do people of color tend to invest differently based on trends, cultural upbringing, and background?

Daryn Dodson: It's the 100th anniversary of my great-grandfather's century-old company. His name was Norris A. Dodson. He was a chemist who built a business focused on embalming fluid for Black people, preserving skin pigmentation. This idea came from a real need in our community to be able to mourn the loss of loved ones as we were used to seeing them. What some might call trends, others might say, is the genius of need and innovation to address societal pain points.

Kevin Walters: I'd love to understand some of the personal barriers you may have experienced as a venture capital owner and the advice you would give aspiring Black investors.

Daryn Dodson: Illumen Capital’s research with Stanford SPARQ suggests that barriers increase, the better Black managers perform. I live out our thesis every day as a manager who strives to build toward top performance in the asset management business. As a fund of funds manager, I fight against the existing currents of bias that others like me face as they seek to outperform. I recommend that all asset allocators read our research to understand and adjust to the barriers overlooked and underestimated fund managers face.

Kevin Walters: What is your favorite food? Do you have a family recipe you want to share?

Daryn Dodson: When I lived in New Orleans, I had the opportunity to assist in the creation of The Po’boy Festival. The diversity of culture was amazing. We would sell 17,000 sandwiches in one day and invite leading food critics and judges to participate in the festival. We had over 300 mom-and-pop Po’boy shops join forces from across the city, and all the sandwiches had their own origins and history. Food with meaning is important. Food like the fried shrimp Po’boy, the roast beef Po’boy, and the red fish Po’boy come from a history of systemic change, inclusivity, and transformation which is important to me. Those fighting for better working conditions in the 1930s during the Great Depression embraced the Po’boy sandwich thus the name and the importance of its role in a history of transformation. Again, food is fuel for change.

Kevin Walters: Well, Daryn, we are coming to the end of our time, but I must ask you who the best cook in your family is. Can you cook? And if yes, what types of food?

Daryn Dodson: Yes, I can cook, but my two grandmothers from St. Louis and Jefferson City respectively are the best cooks in my family and their recipes have passed down to our generation. They cooked ribs, and other barbecues as part of our legacy and tradition, but their bread pudding is at the top of the list.

Kevin Walters: My grandmother from Jamaica was the best cook in my family, too. On that note, I will end our time, but I want to thank you for taking the time to talk to me about your company, the impact of food, and how we can impact and build financial wealth within our communities. I hope we get to do this again real soon.

Who Am I?

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 21:55:30 GMT

Who Am I ?

Who am I?

The Diversity Chef is a Cultural Strategist with 15-plus years of expertise in DEIB and Talent Acquisition Management. I have extensive knowledge of developing transformative solutions for startups and Fortune 500 companies like SilkRoad Technology, Amazon, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Manhattan Associates, Microsoft, and Home Depot Corporate.

What do I do?

I provide engaging solutions through educational culinary workshops, which use the magic of food to build corporate culture and enhance productivity.

How do I do it?

I create recipes that enhance inclusion and foster engagement:

Building Allyship across ERGs
Learnings that foster a culture of awareness increase Interactions and communications within organizations.
Build strategic roadmaps to create an ongoing inclusive workplace
Train staff on AI adoption

Cultural Change (Inclusive) Transformation is an ongoing process, so I look forward to partnering with you to enhance your knowledge or improve your inclusion efforts.

Thank you in advance for the opportunity and for being a forward-thinking organization.

The DEI Chef is my new venture that provides solutions, “the ingredients, which help organizations create a more inclusive equitable workplace, aka “meal.”

Get started and create equitable dishes by cooking inclusion recipes for all flavors of people globally.

Book your reservation today at diversity chief @topdeiconsulting.com