How can diversity and inclusion help your company?

The bottom line: it motivates people and is shown to have a positive financial impact!

In today’s episode, we are chatting with Vernā Myers, VP of Inclusion Strategy at Netflix, Harvard-trained lawyer, and founder of the Vernā Myers Company. Vernā is a best-selling author and is known as a cultural change catalyst, influencer, thought leader, and social commentator. Vernā has been featured on CNN and cited in numerous publications including The Atlantic, Bloomberg BNA, Business Insider, Forbes, Fortune, Harvard Business Review, Refinery29, and TED NPR Radio to name a few.

In this episode, Vernā and I talk about her transition from Harvard Law to her focus on diversity and inclusion, defining equity, and sorting through unconscious biases. We then talk further about how you can be an ally, understanding microaggressions and micro-affirmations, the financial impact of D&I for companies, and the difference between sympathy versus empathy.

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Check out our website to meet the team, view show notes and transcripts: www.youngandprofiting.com

Timestamps:

01:10 - Vernā’s Shift From Law to Diversity & Inclusion

03:39 - How Vernā Uses Her Law Skills Today

05:45 - Verna’s Definition of Diversity and Inclusion

08:46 - Understanding The Concept of Equity

10:46 - Imposter Syndrome and its Relation to Diversity

14:31 - Experience with Unconscious Bias

17:28 - Improving Your Unconscious Bias Over Time

19:20 - Social Hierarchy Framework: Prejudice to -isms

24:24 - How to Lift Up Marginalized Groups as Leaders

27:23 - How to Support with Balance

29:41 - How to Raise Children in a World Full of Biases

34:25 - What is a Microaggression? 

37:53 - What are Micro-Affirmations?

40:28 - The Financial Impact of D&I

45:09 - Sympathetic vs. Empathy/Compassion

48:27 - Continuing this Conversation

51:40 - Vernā’s Secret to Profiting in Life

Mentioned in the Episode:

Vernā’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vernamyers/

Vernā’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/VernaMyers

Vernā’s Website: https://www.vernamyers.com/