Championing Change: Diversity, Inclusion, and Leadership in the Navy with Theresa Carpenter

Feb 27, 2025

Theresa Carpenter, a Navy Commander and fierce advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, shares her compelling journey in military service. She bravely discusses the friction between her personal beliefs and military protocols, revealing the complexities of leading DEI initiatives. As she prepares for retirement, Theresa emphasizes the urgent need for diverse voices to inspire future change. Addressing mental health struggles within the military, she highlights the grim rise in suicide rates and advocates for transparency and effective leadership to combat these critical issues.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Voicing Dissent in the Military

02:08 • 11min

The Importance of Diverse Perspectives in Organizational Change

12:40 • 4min

Navigating DEI in the Military

16:54 • 17min

Examining Military Judicial Processes and Their Impact on Victims

33:48 • 5min

Navigating Military Leadership and Transition

38:26 • 15min

Navigating Bias and Adaptation Through Philosophy

53:27 • 5min

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Theresa Carpenter joins us to discuss her remarkable journey of advocacy and service, revealing the intricate dance between personal beliefs and military protocols. Theresa’s transparency about her struggles to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Navy, despite clashing with official narratives, offers a poignant look into the complexities of military life. As she prepares for retirement, her reflections on leaving the service to pursue change outside its confines underscore the pressing need for diverse voices in fostering innovation.

The conversation takes a deep dive into the nuanced challenges that military leadership faces in embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion. We explore the tension between DEI initiatives and operational effectiveness alongside the impact of extremism training on military culture. Historical naval incidents and current events, like the Afghanistan pullout, serve as backdrops for examining systemic issues that stifle diverse thought. Through it all, Teresa remains hopeful about the potential for transformative leadership to transcend cultural divides and prioritize authentic service.

Additionally, we tackle the often-overlooked mental health struggles within the military, focusing on the alarming rise in suicide rates among service members. Teresa shares insights on how transparency and genuine leadership can begin to address these critical issues while also highlighting the evolving role of communication and storytelling in bridging gaps between military and civilian life. Her platform, "Stories of Service" (SOS), emerges as a beacon for sharing diverse experiences and fostering meaningful dialogue, inviting listeners to engage with these crucial topics.

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