The Diversity Movement in Leadership with Jackie Ferguson

Authentic Living

In this episode, Roxanne Derhodge converses with Jackie Ferguson about the challenges and importance of implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in businesses. They discuss the role of authenticity, the ongoing nature of the DEI journey, and the value of a growth mindset. The conversation also touches on the perspectives of Gen Z and the importance of diversity of thought.

Quote: “We think about change management, but you can’t manage change and people. But you can lead a change!” Jackie Ferguson

There has been such a buzz created around diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we have all seen how improving them can create a huge shift in society and the workplace. On this episode of Authentic Living with Roxanne, we’re thrilled to welcome Certified Diversity Executive Jackie Ferguson to share her insights and ideas about how to implement and manage DEI in the workplace as a leader.

Jackie (she/her) was raised in a multi-generational, multi-racial, multi-regional home where diversity and inclusion were intrinsic personal values. She has been volunteering for and donating to equality organizations for more than twenty years. Jackie spent the majority of her career in various aspects of business for organizations ranging from small start-ups to large Fortune 500 companies before earning her designation as Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) and becoming co-founder of The Diversity Movement.

Authentic Touch Points:

The current DEI climate. 1:30 A sense of belonging impacts the bottom line. 5:00 A more diverse C-Suite benefits everyone. 10:00 The Callaloo concept. 14:00 Creating authentic relationships at work. 19:00 Finding the wealth in our differences. 23:00 Chasing progress over perfection. 25:00 The Blockbuster Effect and the mindset of growth. 32:00
As Head of Content and Programming, Jackie ensures premium educational content across all platforms. She is a Certified Diversity Executive, a member of the Forbes Business Council and the National Diversity Council, and is published in Forbes and Almanac, among other publications. Jackie is a keynote speaker on diversity and belonging topics for organizations across the country. She also hosts the Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox podcast, rated as one of the top 15 diversity podcasts to follow and in the top 10% of downloaded podcasts globally.

Jackie is a proud wife and mom, alumnae of the University of South Florida and moderately arrogant home cook.

As I offer executive coaching, I encourage leaders to reach out for guidance about presenting their authentic selves to develop an improved workplace for everyone with less conflict. Click here to contact me at your convenience, or click here to Chat with Roxanne!

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Stay Authentic,

Roxanne

Links:

The Diversity Movement: https://thediversitymovement.com
Jackie’s LinkedIn profile:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejackieferguson/ Roxanne’s LinkedIn profile:https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxannederhodge/ Roxanne’s email: [e-mail] Chat with Roxanne: https://roxannederhodge.com/chat/ Roxanne’s previous podcasts: https://roxannederhodge.com/blog/

(0:00) Introduction to the episode and guest Jackie Ferguson (2:09) Challenges and gaps in implementing DEI initiatives (8:23) Importance of C-suite buy-in and understanding DEI analytics (14:03) Impact and benefits of diversity in leadership roles (17:24) Overcoming societal stereotypes and embracing diversity (20:39) Role of authenticity and open dialogues in DEI work (24:11) The process of implementing DEI policies in organizations (28:33) Ongoing nature of the DEI journey and importance of communication (31:56) Value of feedback, growth mindset, and inclusion in business strategies (35:07) The unique perspectives of Gen Z and diversity of thought (37:02) Closing remarks and how to reach out to Roxanne