Projectified

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Project Teams

Oct 4, 2023

Victoria Toney-Robinson, senior program manager at Google, discusses how diversity and inclusion impact team environments and solutions. Nikky Chen, previously at Rakuten, explains the importance of promoting diverse teams and improving communication. Key topics include strategies for building diversity and inclusion, the role of the Black Googler Network, and the risks of lacking diversity in project teams.

25:19

Episode guests

Victoria Toney-Robinson

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Diversity and inclusion in project teams can lead to more innovative solutions and cater to a larger consumer base, aligning with business needs.

Promoting diversity and inclusion requires ongoing efforts, embracing conflict, setting ground rules, active listening, and involving diverse stakeholders from the beginning.

Deep dives

Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in Project Teams

Creating a diverse and inclusive team is crucial for project leaders to ensure the inclusion of different perspectives and experiences. By including diverse perspectives from the beginning and in leadership, project teams can avoid disregarding needs, missing out on business opportunities, and creating potential risks and dangers. Diversity and inclusion not only align with business needs but also foster innovation and target a larger consumer base, making it the only way to truly be innovative.

Introduction

2min

The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion

5min

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion through the Black Googler Network

3min

Creating an Inclusive Environment for Project Teams

13min

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Project Teams

3min

Diversity and inclusion are now mainstay focuses for organizations—but it can be challenging to find the right strategies to achieve diverse and inclusive team environments. We discuss this with:

Victoria Toney-Robinson, PMP, senior program manager at Google in Hamburg: Toney-Robinson discusses how a team’s diversity and inclusion affect not only the team environment but also the solutions the team develops, which strategies and practices she’s found are the most effective for building diversity and inclusion into team culture, and how the Black Googler Network, which she co-chairs, helps create not only better products but also a more inclusive environment at Google.

Nikky Chen, PMI-ACP, PMP, previously a group manager in the project management department at Rakuten in Tokyo: A 2023 Future 50 leader, Chen discusses why project professionals should promote diverse and inclusive team environments, how a diverse team improved communication on a project, how active listening and empathy can boost inclusivity and why she’s passionate about DE&I.

Key themes

[02:01] How team diversity affects products’ inclusivity

[04:43] Strategies to create diverse and inclusive team environments

[06:32] The role of the Black Googler Network

[09:43] How project professionals can advocate for diverse teams

[14:48] What is at risk if project teams lack diversity

[16:32] How team diversity boosted communication on a project

[18:11] Boosting inclusion with active listening and empathy

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Projectified

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Project Teams

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in Project Teams

Challenges and Strategies for Promoting Diversity and Inclusion

Building a Diverse and Inclusive Team Environment

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts