Diversity Isn’t a Strategy - It’s a Leadership Result with Aiko Bethea | 378

Leadership is already messy. Add culture, identity, power dynamics, and a workplace that rewards sameness… and suddenly you’re not leading—you’re surviving. In this episode, Nicole talks with Aiko Bethea, founder of RARE Coaching & Consulting, about what actually creates diversity (spoiler: it’s not a checkbox) and why diversity is the outcome of great leadership.

We get into:

• Why “diversity” isn’t a skill set (and why treating it like one makes you a worse leader)

• Power-sharing vs. power-hoarding and how that impacts belonging, equity, and performance

• The real reason leadership advice feels like a chaotic buffet of contradictions

• How to measure leadership impact beyond “we hit the number” (because people aren’t spreadsheets)

• Why leaders making mistakes feels riskier than ever—and why ownership is still the right move

• The “punching a ghost” feeling when reality is being rewritten in real time 

• What it means to be a well leader: aligned, accountable, humane—not perfect

Because the goal isn’t to lead like the “stereotypical old-school leader.” The goal is to lead like your full self—and create workplaces where more people can do the same.

Thank you to our sponsors!

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Connect with Aiko:

Website: https://www.rarecoaching.net/ 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/rare_coach 

Invite to join RARE community  -  https://www.rarecoaching.net/membership/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Leadership Unblocked (The Hidden Beliefs Sabotaging Your Ability To Lead) with Muriel M. Wilkins | 367 
• How to Push Back: From People-Pleasing to Power with Tonya Lester | 369
• How To Be Yourself At Work: Authentic Presence Over Executive Presence with Claude Silver | 366

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