How DEI Efforts Must Change to Have Maximum Impact - with Seramount’s Katie Mooney

We need to weld DEI into the business, embedding DEI in every relevant aspect that we can. When you think about welding something into the business, it's an incredibly powerful word because you think of welding as kind of these two pieces, the merging or fusion of these two pieces coming together.You’re listening to episode 41 of the Happy Space podcast. Today we’re exploring keeping DEI initiatives strong in challenging times by welding them to your business - with Seramount’s Managing Director Katie Mooney.Seramount's Managing Director, Katie Mooney, discusses how she began her DEI journey, her view on "welding" DEI initiatives to organizations, the value of community, and what it means to “pass the baton” as a DEI practitioner. Managing Director of Seramount, Katie Mooney talks about the importance of sustaining efforts for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. She shares her journey from a young professional in financial services to becoming deeply involved in DEI work, sparked by a visit to an exhibit called “Struggle for Justice,” as part of Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. She also prefers the term “welding” DEI to organizations as opposed to embedding it and shares practical ways of doing so. With the downturn of the economy and a concerted effort by some to dismantle DEI efforts, these are volatile times, and keeping DEI strong is more important than ever. Katie emphasizes that slow progress is not an option due to the demand for transparency and the need for proactive processes. As DEI practitioners, carrying the baton forward is necessary. I hope you enjoy this illuminating discussion about DEI and where it’s heading next.&nbsp;Katie Oertli Mooney is a Managing Director at Seramount, an organization with over 40 years of experience supporting and advancing women in the workplace. She is an accomplished DEI leader and thought partner with expertise in driving strategy and growth of diversity and inclusion change management, planning and programs. Prior to joining Seramount, she was responsible for overseeing the client delivery, staffing, operations and growth as Vice President of Jennifer Brown Consulting. She was accountable for the firm’s successful consulting project delivery to clients from the Fortune 1000, government agencies, startups, to nonprofits.Before that, she managed the DEI enterprise learning and development strategy at Capital One specializing in differential investment programming to support historically underrepresented talent and communities of color. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the GSBA; the largest LGBTQ and allied chamber of commerce in North America and is supporting the organization in 2020, by advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion for the Board of Directors, for the benefit of GSBA staff, members, partners, and the LGBTQ+ and allied community of Washington State. Katie has a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management with a concentration on Diversity and Inclusion Management from Georgetown University. She is based in Seattle, WA.CHAPTERS02:34&nbsp; &nbsp;Katie Mooney: A DEI practitioner's journey03:52&nbsp; &nbsp;The importance of DEI in business strategy08:00&nbsp; &nbsp;The power of DEI in driving business outcomes12:50&nbsp; &nbsp;Challenges and opportunities in DEI work15:18&nbsp; &nbsp;The role of research in DEI work15:57&nbsp; &nbsp;Welding DEI into business outcomes26:44&nbsp; &nbsp;The impact of DEI on consumer behavior and attracting talent29:29&nbsp; &nbsp;The role of DEI in navigating through polarity36:44&nbsp; &nbsp;Future of DEI workLINKSNational Portrait Gallery - Struggle for JusticeSeramount Website<a...