My New Presentations for the Work Place to Discuss Diversity and Inclusion
February 19th, 2019
Recently, I have been asked to speak more to the corporate world and Human Resource Divisions for Diversity and Inclusion. As we look at statistics, they show employers are still not hiring and giving people leadership roles if they are “different.” Many times this may include race, gender, ethnicity, disabilities and more.
I have begun sharing my story to remind those in the HR Department why it is important to hire people who are a little “different.”
I remind them about the Power of One……how all it takes is for one person to make a difference in the life of another person. We see this in the form of hiring someone who is different or starting mentoring programs to help support and coach those who are a little “different.”
Many companies like to “talk the talk,” but are they prepared to “walk the walk?”
I have been helping companies start that conversation. Just like in my life, once I started educating people about Tourette Syndrome, they then were able to look past my disability and focus on my strengths. We must talk about the “elephant in the room” and have conversations about what our own communities look like and how we can embrace them all.
I learned about the CEO Call for Action for Diversity & Inclusion.
The CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace. This commitment is driven by a realization that addressing diversity and inclusion is not a competitive issue, but a societal issue. Recognizing that change starts at the executive level, more than 550 CEOs of the world’s leading companies and business organizations, are leveraging their individual and collective voices to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
I have already spoken at a few events where this has been discussed. They have a bus that travels the country to remind people to “Check Your Blind Spots” which is called the Unconscious Bias Tour. It is just one way that hundreds of companies are coming together to talk about the issues. I’m honored they have thought so highly of my story.
My goal is 1) to share my story, 2) remind them of how it is important to hire and promote people who are a little different and ultimately 3) how to have courageous conversations about difficult topics to discuss in the workplace.
If someone didn’t give me a chance to become a teacher, then where would I be today?
It’s time to find qualified candidates and hire them despite the fact that they may be a little different!
If you know a company who can use my help, you know where to find me. Thanks for sharing my name.
Come out and have a fun time as we raise money to support the programming needs for children with Tourette Syndrome across the United States.
