In this episode Jennifer welcomes Amie Kromis and Lina Clavijo from Essity, a leading global hygiene and health company, to discuss the company's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in their products and workplace. Amie and Lina share insights on how Essity incorporates inclusive design principles to create products that are accessible to all, regardless of ability or circumstance. They explore the company's journey towards breaking barriers and providing the highest hygiene standards for everyone, and how this commitment to DEI has become an integral part of Essity's culture ..read more

Tune in as Jennifer is joined by Jane Hyun, a leading expert on cultural fluency, diversity, and inclusion. Jane shares her personal journey as an Asian American navigating the complexities of identity and leadership in corporate America. They discuss Jane's groundbreaking book, "Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling," and her upcoming release, "Leadership Toolkit for Asians." Jane reflects on the challenges Asian professionals face in the workplace, the importance of bringing one's whole self to work, and the role of allies and advocates in fostering inclusivity. As an interculturalist, Jane offers str ..read more

In this special Women's History Month episode, Jennifer shares valuable insights and inspiration from the stories of five remarkable women previously featured on The Will to Change podcast. The episode explores topics such as finding community and belonging in the workplace, the ongoing fight for pay equity, body inclusivity, and the importance of breaking the stigma around addiction and recovery. This episode serves as a celebration of the diverse voices and experiences of women, while also highlighting the critical work that still needs to be done to achieve true equity and inclusion for all ..read more

In this episode, originally recorded as a community call, Jennifer sits down with Djuana Beamon, the Chief Diversity and Corporate Social Responsibility Officer at Empower. With a wealth of experience across various industries, including financial services, pharma, insurance, and healthcare, Djuana shares her journey in the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) space. She also discusses the importance of self-care, building a supportive village, and fostering authentic relationships with senior leaders to drive meaningful change. Discover the challenges and opportunities in the current DEI la ..read more

In this episode, Jennifer welcomes back Rhodes Perry, an award-winning social entrepreneur, sought-after speaker, podcast host, and nationally recognized LGBTQ thought leader. Jennifer and Rhodes dive deep into the current state of DEI work, exploring the challenges practitioners face in navigating pushback and misinformation, as well as the opportunities to reframe the vision for inclusion. They discuss strategies for building trust, countering misinformation with skillful dialogues, and the importance of sustainable activism within the DEI community. Rhodes shares his personal experiences as ..read more

This episode was originally recorded as a Community Call and features a conversation with Jackye Clayton, Textio's VP of Talent Acquisition and DEIB. Jackye reveals how AI tools like Textio can mitigate exclusionary workplace communications, and how your most subtle word choices may inadvertently perpetuate bias.  She also outlines Textio's approach to developing equitable language technology and provides pragmatic ideas to cultivate authentic belonging through conscientious communication.  ..read more

Jorge Quezada, Chief Inclusion Officer and VP of People & Culture at Granite Construction, joins the program for a conversation with Jennifer about their decades of experience guiding organizations on the journey toward diversity, equity and inclusion. Jorge and Jennifer discuss the pendulum swings of progress and pushback, the difference between checklist "doing" and transformative visionary "being," the emotions that accompany change, and more. Jorge also shares his thoughts about Michelangelo's idea that the practitioner's role is to chip away obstacles to reveal the beauty already exis ..read more

In this special minisode, Jennifer provides invaluable insights on how leaders can effectively direct their message through impactful storytelling. She also shares perspectives on why many hesitate to share their stories, often failing to recognize the wisdom they have to offer. Discover how to shape and structure a compelling leadership story, and how to push past doubts and vulnerability to convey authentic narratives that will resonate across audiences. For any leader seeking to boost their communication skills and storytelling abilities, this discussion delivers thoughtful guidance and ins ..read more

In this special episode of the Will to Change, Jennifer reflects on conversations with influential black leaders and changemakers. Hear clips and insights from author and DEI expert Jessica Bantom; Lorraine Orr, COO of Boys and Girls Clubs of America; author Martinus Evans; award-winning trans advocate Dr. Elijah Nicholas, Tony DeGruy of Cisco, and Carin Taylor, CDO of Workday. As we honor Black History Month, Jennifer synthesizes the themes of positive change, empathy, allyship, and pushing for progress that thread through the words of wisdom of these impactful guests shaping the future. This ..read more

DEI trailblazer Dr. Poornima Luthra joins the program to discuss how underlying fears are fueling resistance to DEI efforts globally. She discusses research on the top fears around not knowing enough and saying the wrong thing, and the need to create psychologically safe environments that encourage vulnerability, intelligent failures, and growth mindsets. Dr. Luthra also shares perspectives on avoiding assumptions, leading with cultural humility, and understanding how history shapes inclusion across different cultural contexts. Tune in for an enlightening conversation on how to advance inclusi ..read more