Empowering Workplace Diversity with Systemic Change - Viva Asmelash

How do you foster diversity and inclusion to drive positive organizational change? Imagine a workplace where every voice is celebrated, and everyone feels a sense of belonging. In an empowered workplace, everyone can take ownership of their journey toward equity and inclusion and feel supported.
In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Viva Asmelash (she/her) about creating psychological safety at the workplace, plus the systemic change needed in organizations. Viva is a passionate workplace consultant and certified inclusion strategist specializing in forward-thinking employee engagement, equity-centered strategic planning, values-driven branding, and critical team conversations. Viva’s professional purpose is to create environments where people feel truly seen and are inspired to be their best and most authentic selves. As the co-founder of Liberation Labs, she proudly co-designed the first-of-its-kind Culturally-Aware Feedback Training™. She also co-authored the viral 2023 Harvard Business Review article, Creating Psychological Safety for Black Women at Your Company.
Listen in to learn the importance of understanding how individuals' past experiences influence their behaviors and interactions at work. You will also learn the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion work on everyone in your organization.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
[01:52] Viva discusses her professional journey and elaborates on Liberation Labs' mission to integrate equitable and inclusive practices into organizations.
[08:18] The disconnection between organizations' stated commitments to diversity and the reality of employees' experiences.
[10:08] Viva's Harvard Business Review article on psychological safety for black women and marginalized communities in the workplace.
[13:26] She shares examples of systemic changes needed in organizations, such as pay equity and manager training.
[16:52] How individuals’ past experiences influence their behaviors and interactions at work and the importance of understanding that as a leader.
[19:58] The importance of organizations creating time and space for employee feedback and empowerment.
[23:20] Understanding that diversity, equity, and inclusion work inevitably affects everyone else in the organization.
[24:40] Viva defines inspiring leaders as those committed to personal growth and evolution.
[30:51] Viva reflects on her journey of self-discovery and embracing vulnerability and accountability in leadership.
[37:58] Things organizations can do to make systemic changes, plus the lessons leaders can learn from Gen Zs.
Standout Quotes:
“It’s understanding historical context and having an awareness around it, and unless you’re willing to do that, you shouldn’t be calling yourself a leader unless you’re willing to approach it with a sense of cultural humility.”- Viva [18:33]
“When you’re paying more attention to improving your policies with the most marginalized in mind, you inevitably make things better for everybody else at the same time.”- Viva [23:41]
⇢ Get full show notes and more information here: bit.ly/VivaAsm...
𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟱-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲, 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗧𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁: kristenharcour...
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[@prolificliving]

Beautiful show!!

[@kristenharcourt]

Thanks for tuning in, Farnoosh! Appreciate the kind words!