241: Middle Managers Are The Missing Key To DEI Success with Julie Kratz

In an era of cancel culture there is a fear of saying or doing the wrong thing that often leads to inaction. The dominant group could fear feeling less relevant, could be concerned about the reputation risk involved in speaking up and could have a zero-sum-game mentality (one person or group wins and one loses). In my interview with Sandra Quince, CEO of Paradigm for Parity, she explained that "diversity is the next dirty word. What people don't get is that DEI is not a replacement strategy. The goal of DEI is for everyone to feel valued. This is especially true for women and marginalized groups. We must focus on managers in organizations as they have the most impact on creating a place where women and others of all races and backgrounds can advance and be retained in leadership. Many managers are promoted because of their individual work performance, but as they continue to ascend in their careers, [their] companies need to be supportive and invest in the development of their inclusive-leadership skills."  Learn more on Forbes and find Julie at www.Nextpivotpoint.com