Special Guest: Erika Shorter
Erika brings an amazing and unique background being a Diversity Female, ex-Military Veteran, that looks at Diversity as an individual situation within every single company. Erika brings 21 years of D&I experience in the military, government agency, and private sectors and paints a unique picture that we often do not think about.
Podcast Notes:
- How do government agencies and the military differ when it comes D&I initiatives and the advancement of these initiatives.
- Training is there but just lacking and the bare minimum - the most value you receive depends on the commanding officer or person running the organization
- Overall the government doesn't do broad enough and extensive training
- In the military - people with long names - they would Americanize people by shortening long names into nicknames without asking the person if that was OK.
- What was it like for an African American Female 10 years ago
- Being female was challenging in 2000; being African American Female, you didn't feel comfortable
- Women were frequently viewed as objects - sexual contentations
- Diversity in organizations can be a lot of things, even things not defined by the EEO
- Diversity doesn't always mean if you are African American you are Diversity
- Organizations are all different, self-reflecting on the organization on the makeup of a company defines Diversity
- How does the military prepare people for the private sector - exposure
- Challenges culturally around the globe being female in the military
- Being in the military can even cause people to be discriminating on
- Military stigma impacting people when finding work
- How do we hire Diversity without causing reverse discrimination?
- What does Belonging mean in the phrase Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging
- Companies have to create a work culture where everyone feels they belong in the organization
- Companies need to self reflect as an organization on what Diversity means to self and us reflect on our own biases
- Everyone has biases no matter who you are and what you stand for
- Teaching people about their biases and how it impacts an organization
Guest Info
Erika Fountain Shorter
https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-fountain-shorter/
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