S3 E4: You Won’t Break My Soul: DEI and Its Impact at Work with Tara Turk-Haynes

Should DEI live within HR? And what’s the importance of prioritizing diversity in the workplace?  Hebba chats with Tara Turk-Haynes, founder of Equity Activations, about transforming businesses through the power of diversity, equity, and inclusion.  They chat about what can be performative during Black History Month, ruminating on why companies are so quick to utilize it for marketing purposes, but so slow to understand the true purpose behind the month itself. Are some companies simply better off avoiding Black History Month altogether?  Their answers may surprise you.  And later, Tara and Hebba dive into the complexities of the black experience in the workplace, discussing the importance of connecting DEI strategies to the purpose of an organization. How can HR and DEI departments increase empathy, allyship, and accessible resources for all communities in the workplace? And how can we acknowledge the black experience in an impactful manner?  Whether you're struggling to find balance in your own DEI efforts, or simply looking for helpful advice, tune in to discover Hebba and Tara’s most actionable advice!   00:00:09 - Unveiling the Truth about HR Challenges 00:05:45 - Celebrating Black History Month's Importance 00:11:33 - The Ethics of Black History Month Marketing 00:14:32 - Tips for HR Leaders Celebrating Black History Month 00:23:26 - The Importance of Inclusion  00:25:43 - Making the Business Case for DEI Should Stop 00:30:55 - Challenging Stereotypes in the Entertainment Industry 00:33:52 - Advocating for Black Women in the Workplace 00:39:54 - Ava Duvernay's Movie Origins: A Moving Experience 00:43:12 - The Challenges of DEI Professionals 00:44:46 - The Emotional Intensity of HR Jobs   The Predictive Index (PI) is an award-winning talent optimization platform that aligns business strategy with people strategy for optimal business results. More than 60 years of proven science, software, and a curriculum of insightful management workshops make PI the solution for any company looking to design great teams and culture, make objective hiring decisions, foster engagement, and inspire greatness in their people anywhere in the world. More than 10,000 clients and 480+ partners use PI—including Nissan, Citizens Bank, Subway, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Omni Hotels—across 90+ countries. Learn more at https://www.predictiveindex.com/.   Snappy is the award-winning B2B gifting platform that takes all of the guesswork out of gifting and helps companies build cultures of gratitude and appreciation. Send gifts to anyone (employees, customers, co-workers) for any occasion (birthdays, holidays, Employee Appreciation Day - coming up March 1, hint hint!). Choose the perfect gift from Snappy’s extensive gifting catalog, create custom swag, or send gift options and let them pick! They put in their own address, and Snappy takes care of the rest. It’s fast, easy, and delightful!     Go to https://www.snappy.com/ihateithere to sign up for free and start gifting today.   And if you love HR Therapy, sign up to I Hate it Here, the newsletter for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!   Follow Tara: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ttaraturkhaynes/   Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef