What's The Difference?

Sara Taylor earned a master’s degree in Diversity and Organizational Development from the University of Minnesota. She served as a leadership and diversity specialist at the University of Minnesota for five years and as director of diversity and inclusion for Ramsey County, Minnesota for three years. Sara is the founder and president of deepSEE Consulting and has worked with companies as large as Coca-Cola, General Mills, 3M Company, AARP, and numerous others. She has a new book, “Filter Shift: How Effective People See the World,” that explores how our unconscious is actually making choices and decisions for us, all without our knowing — and how to change that. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Why increasing diversity, equity, inclusion and cultural competence in the workplace adds rather than detracts from the organization How teaching people to improve their cultural competence gives them new tools to approach challenges and situations Why these new tools only serve to add to a person’s existing fi

As President and Founder of the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA) – an educational non-profit organization that makes the business case for developing cultural intelligence in the workplace – Gerry has spent decades educating and advocating for the business benefits of cultural diversity and inclusion in the foodservice & hospitality industry. An engagingly energetic Speaker who practices straight talk, he travels across the US and internationally, bringing authentic perspective on building Cultural Intelligence that raises the topline, improves the bottom-line, and builds brands cultural authenticity. Gerry was named to Nations Restaurant News 2018 Power List of the 50 Most Influential People in Foodservice, the definitive list of industry leaders who are not only setting trends today, but also shaping them for tomorrow. What you’ll learn about in this episode: How Gerry’s career path ultimately led to his current role as President and Founder of the Multicultural Foodservice &

“It’s my mission to close the diversity gap between the Executive Suite and the C-Suite by ending career plateaus and off-ramps that derail the careers of minority women and men. There’s a tiny space between making a difference and accepting the status quo – I work within that gap.” – Margaret Spence A transformational keynote speaker, author, coach, business strategist, and visionary, Margaret has 30 years of experience inspiring organizations to value talent. Engaging employees in a shared vision, creating inclusive initiatives, and fostering collaboration across silos are central tenets of her work. Determined to create a glide path for diversity and inclusion in executive leadership, Margaret launched The Employee to CEO Project, a global initiative aimed at increasing the representation of women, with specific emphasis on minority women, in C-Suite leadership roles. Her latest book, Leadership Self-Transformation: 52 Career-Defining Questions Every High-Achieving Women Must Answer, challenges women to cl

Eric Kussin is an 18-year pro sports executive who has worked at the NBA league office, the Chicago Sky & Bulls, Phoenix Suns, New Jersey Devils, & Florida Panthers. Eric was fortunate enough to find a higher calling after an intense mental health battle. A little over a year ago, he formed a global alliance of athletes and celebrities, along with expert practitioners: The Global Mental Health Alliance. Its members know that life affects all of us, no matter our background or status, and that mental health exists on a continuum, as opposed to sufferers vs. non-sufferers. Together, they are using platforms and consistent messaging to change the narrative around the world, educate the masses, implement much-needed programs on the ground, and make it comfortable for everyone to ask for help when they need it. Their #SameHere Movement is a campaign that’s woven throughout their communication. It’s a sign language gesture that can be used universally in the context of the mental health world to mean: same

Dr. Lynette Louise, aka The Brain Broad, has a doctorate in bioscience, holds two board certifications in Neurofeedback (BCIA, NTCB) and is working on her Ph.D. (and is now ABD) in Psychology, with a specialty in Psychophysiology at Saybrook University. Lynette is an international mental health and parenting expert, specializing in autism. She is a speaker, author, performer, popular podcast host, neurofeedback & autism expert, and creator/host/therapist for the international reality series FIX IT IN FIVE with LYNETTE LOUISE aka THE BRAIN BROAD, now showing on The Autism Channel. She is also the single mother of eight now grown children; six were adopted and four were on the autism spectrum. Only one of her sons retains his label and remains dependent. In 2003 Lynette Louise became the only professional from the Autism Treatment Center of America to be certified in two modalities: Option Process Mentor Counselor and Child Facilitator. Though she is experienced in many behavioral modalities training from T

For over three decades, Sara Taylor has been helping organizations and the individuals within them to be more effective and inclusive through her engaging diversity and inclusion trainings, comprehensive leadership development programs and innovative cultural competence frameworks. Since 2002, as the founder and president of deepSEE Consulting, she has worked with HR managers, chief diversity officers, and high-level executives at 3M Company, AARP, Cleveland Foundation, Coca-Cola, Marriott International, General Mills, United Way Worldwide National Credit Union Administration, Ingersol-Rand, Seagate Technologies, Thompson Reuters Thrivent Financial, and many others. She is the author of a new book, Filter Shift: How Effective People See the World, that explores how our unconscious is actually making choices and decisions for us, all without our knowing — and how to change that. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Why little-t “traumas” have physical and mental effects on our us that are similar to big-T

Phyllis Braxton-Frierson is the CEO and Founder of PINK Consulting, LLC and The PINK Brand. She has been in the DEI field for nearly 20 years. Phyllis is a native of Moss Point, Mississippi and has resided in Minneapolis, Minnesota for the last 24 years. She is the daughter of Viola, mother to Ivy Zaire and wife to Marcus Frierson III. PINK Consulting provides trauma-informed counseling, intercultural assessment, training and development, personal and professional coaching, keynote and motivational speaking to individuals and organizations nationwide. Prior to starting PINK Consulting LLC 13 years ago, Phyllis worked for several organizations and educational institutions. She was an adjunct professor teaching graduate-level courses in diversity; received her master’s degree at the University of Minnesota, and earned her bachelor’s degree from Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Ga. Phyllis served as Co-Director and team leader for Minnesota S.E.E.D. (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity). What you’ll learn a

Mita Mallick is a corporate change maker who believes businesses have a responsibility to make social impact. As the Head of Diversity & Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Marketing at Unilever, Mita’s efforts to build an inclusive culture are being celebrated. Under her leadership, Unilever is gender-balanced at the manager level and above. Unilever was named the #1 Company for Working Mothers by Working Mother Media in 2018. She also co-created the first of its kind Cultural Immersions series to increase the cultural competency of marketers training over 4,000 marketers to date. Mita has also had an extensive career in the beauty and consumer products goods space. Mita is a passionate storyteller who believes in the power of diversity to transform businesses and brands. She was one of the chief lieutenants in launching The Vaseline Healing Project in the U.S., signing award-winning actress & activist Viola Davis as the brand’s ambassador. Mita was named a Working Mother of the Year by She Runs It (formerl

“As a white male, I lived privilege without noticing it — I never had to. But adopting my daughter and traveling to her home country to do so opened my eyes to the reality of the world and began my diversity journey. That was 30 some years ago. By strange turns of fate, I now run one of the largest diversity, equity, and inclusion conferences in the world. My journey of self-discovery became my occupation, but discovery of my privilege has never stopped.” What you’ll learn about in this episode: The impact that adopting his daughter from Honduras had on Steven’s worldview Steven’s perspectives on privilege and how his experiences inform them The development and mission of the Forum on Workplace Inclusion The process by which the Forum curates content for its conference What corporations need to be doing to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion Why multinational companies need to be acknowledging all of their cultures – not just the American one How organizations can help employees cope with the tragedi

For over three decades, Sara Taylor has been helping organizations and the individuals within them to be more effective and inclusive through her engaging diversity and inclusion trainings, comprehensive leadership development programs and innovative cultural competence frameworks. Since 2002, as the founder and president of deepSEE Consulting, she has worked with HR managers, chief diversity officers, and high-level executives at 3M Company, AARP, Cleveland Foundation, Coca-Cola, Marriott International, General Mills, United Way Worldwide National Credit Union Administration, Ingersol-Rand, Seagate Technologies, Thompson Reuters Thrivent Financial, and many others. She is the author of a new book, Filter Shift: How Effective People See the World, that explores how our unconscious is actually making choices and decisions for us, all without our knowing — and how to change that. What you’ll learn about in this episode: The difference between an “up” and a “down” Why ups don’t have to interact with downs, but

Sara Taylor earned a master’s degree in Diversity and Organizational Development from the University of Minnesota. She served as a leadership and diversity specialist at the University of Minnesota for five years and as director of diversity and inclusion for Ramsey County, Minnesota for three years. Sara is the founder and president of deepSEE Consulting and has worked with companies as large as Coca-Cola, General Mills, 3M Company, AARP, and numerous others. She has a new book, “Filter Shift: How Effective People See the World,” that explores how our unconscious is actually making choices and decisions for us, all without our knowing — and how to change that. What you’ll learn about in this episode: The widespread negative impact of political polarization in people’s business and family lives Extreme trends in polarization and violence that reflect the current reality of our political and cultural spheres What cultural competence is and the five stages of it (and how wine is a great metaphor for this) The

Sara Taylor earned a master’s degree in Diversity and Organizational Development from the University of Minnesota. She served as a leadership and diversity specialist at the University of Minnesota for five years and as director of diversity and inclusion for Ramsey County, Minnesota for three years. Sara is the founder and president of deepSEE Consulting and has worked with companies as large as Coca-Cola, General Mills, 3M Company, AARP, and numerous others. She has a new book, “Filter Shift: How Effective People See the World,” that explores how our unconscious is actually making choices and decisions for us, all without our knowing — and how to change that. What you’ll learn about in this episode: What micro-inequities are and where they come from Examples of micro-inequities that people may experience on a daily basis, including Sara’s own examples The innocent, “hand slap” nature of micro-inequities and why that makes them that much more dangerous “Stupid question syndrome” and its impact on others The

Colette Campbell is the Director of Talent Acquisition, Diversity and Inclusion for Bremer Bank. Prior to joining Bremer, Colette served as faculty in the disciplines of Business, Human Resources and Human Development. Thirteen years ago, she started a consulting firm that provided coaching, training, and consulting services for many years. She has become known for her dynamic ability to help others create powerful shifts in their own thinking and behavior. Others find her to be enthusiastic, thought-provoking, and innovative in her unique approach to creating significant breakthroughs. She is an expert at finding the strengths within the differences between people and leveraging them to achieve remarkable outcomes. Colette holds degrees in religious studies and counseling, as well as management and leadership and human development. She was raised in Canada by Jamaican-born parents and has lived and/or taught on almost every continent in the world, providing her with a rich world perspective. In 2015, her fam

Shamayne Braman was born in Guyana and immigrated to the United States with her mom and extended family when she was four years old. She lived in an urban center, just outside of Newark New Jersey, where the educational outcomes for students in the school district were bleak. In 6th grade, Shamayne earned a full scholarship to a prestigious private school three towns away, where the communities, teachers, and students differed from me racially and socio-economically. That same year, her mother suffered a massive stroke. The combination of these events at the same time in her life shaped her understanding of inequity as well as a racial and cultural difference. It also taught her two important skills how to maintain her authenticity among very different social contexts and how to keep pushing when faced with an extreme challenge in her case keeping up her grades while watching her mother lose her ability to speak, write, walk, and otherwise live the healthy normal life that shed lived previously. After graduat

Sara Taylor is the president and founder of deepSEE Consulting. She is a nationally-recognized speaker and consultant specializing in the areas of leadership, diversity, and organizational effectiveness. With over 25-years of experience, Sara balances her real-life anecdotes with research-based theories to deliver for her reader what she delivers for her clients.   What you’ll learn about in this episode: Sara shares an activity she uses to help people better understand feelings of inclusion and marginalization Sara shares a specific example from her own career of feeling like a valued part of a group and knowing that she mattered Sara also describes a particular personal example of having felt marginalized and not being heard by a group What negative workplace situations can be created by feelings of marginalization, and common reactions marginalized people often feel when being confronted by exclusion Why people who feel that they matter and are being included will often work even harder and go above and b

Dr. Rohini Anand is Global Chief Diversity Officer for Sodexo, responsible for the strategic direction, implementation, and alignment of Sodexo's integrated global diversity and inclusion initiatives, as well as Sodexo's corporate social responsibility and wellness strategies. Under Dr. Anand’s leadership, Sodexo received the prestigious 2012 Catalyst Award and has ranked in the top ten for nine consecutive years on the DiversityInc business index of Top Companies for Diversity and Inclusion. In addition, The Human Rights Campaign has given Sodexo a 100 percent rating on its Corporate Equality Index for nine years and Sodexo was named Global Sustainability Industry Leader in its sector for the 13th year in a row by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI). Additionally, Sodexo has been ranked as the top-scoring company in its sector for its excellent sustainability performance in the benchmark RobecoSAM ‘Sustainability Yearbook 2017’ for ten consecutive years. Today, the Sodexo brand is synonymous with diver

Mark E. Fowler is responsible for overseeing the design and implementation of Tanenbaum’s programmatic trainings. Mark has been involved in New York City’s education community for over 20 years and is a skilled facilitator/trainer who worked with teachers, counselors, administrators, and students at the Anti-Defamation League on prejudice reduction, conflict resolution, and reducing bias and bullying. He is a sought-after keynote speaker and facilitator who has addressed organizations throughout New York on issues of equality in race, gender, sexual orientation, and religion. He earned a B.A. in English and Education at Duke University and was trained as a Mediation and Conflict Resolution Specialist with the NYC Department of Education. Mark also is a graduate of the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary and is an ordained Interfaith/Interspiritual minister. What you’ll learn about in this episode: How Mark’s career journey led him to work at the Tanenbaum Center, and how he joined the One Spirit Interfaith Semina

Matthew Hanzlik is a diversity and inclusion leader at Nielsen, the global data and measurement company best known for the Nielsen TV Ratings. At Nielsen, he is focused on ensuring talent practices are inclusive, equitable, and enable all of Nielsen’s global associates to achieve their full potential. His approach to my work and volunteerism is inspired by Oscar Wilde's quote "Be yourself, because everyone else is taken." He is recognized by Business Equality Network as a Top 40 LGTBQ Leader Under 40. He serves as an emeritus board member for the Parkinson Foundation Minnesota Chapter. What you’ll learn about in this episode: How Matt began working in diversity and inclusion, and what role he fulfills as Nielsen's Program Director for Diversity & Inclusion How a part of Matt's role at Nielsen is to work in leadership development in their Diverse Leadership Network at a global level How Nielsen's leadership development program has been able to show clear results, with almost 50% of the 2014 graduates now

Sara Taylor is the president and founder of deepSEE Consulting. She is a nationally-recognized speaker and consultant specializing in the areas of leadership, diversity, and organizational effectiveness. With over 25-years of experience, Sara balances her real-life anecdotes with research-based theories to deliver for her reader what she delivers for her clients. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Why a single study claiming that diversity training doesn’t work is not representative of reality Why people wouldn’t pay much heed to a headline claiming “math education doesn’t work”, and why the same should be true for diversity training Sara reads a news article, but she swaps the words “diversity training” for “math education” to prove how biased the article is Why a one-off training seminar on diversity doesn’t bring many benefits, and why the true solution is a long-term systemic approach Why organizations need to invest the time and resources into diversity and inclusion training that works, now more

Sara Taylor is the president and founder of deepSEE Consulting. She is a nationally-recognized speaker and consultant specializing in the areas of leadership, diversity, and organizational effectiveness. With over 25-years of experience, Sara balances her real-life anecdotes with research-based theories to deliver for her reader what she delivers for her clients. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Why people often have the misconception that diversity creates negative things like fear, chaos or conflict, or positive things like new opportunities and innovation Why the reality is that diversity creates nothing, and why diversity is neither inherently positive or negative Why the ability to see and respond to diversity is what creates positive or negative outcomes, not the diversity itself Sara shares how her own diverse family relates to the concept of diversity, and she shows how people can view diversity differently How cultural competence is what ultimately determines the answer to the question “what