Why I am in the field of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
cursive glowing white sign that says “all” on textured wall
I get this question quite a bit, and it’s one that I’m incredibly passionate about answering. First, it gives you insight into who I am and where I come from, and then it gives me the chance to educate folks a bit more about DEI. I also think it is the perfect post to kick off my blog.
Hi, I’m Erin-Kate:
Growing up, I believed that I would be treated with respect if I were just nice enough and likable enough. I thought that I could bypass both interpersonal and systemic sexism, racism, heterosexism (just a few of what I call the“isms”) as long as I was on my “best behavior.” I later learned that that’s dominant culture hard at work reinforcing the standards of culture linked to cisgender, white, Christian, heteronormative, etc., ways of existing as superior or “the right way.” The belief that if People of Color act “white enough” or LGBTQ people act “straight enough” or if everyone pretends to be “middle class,” then we can ignore our differences and pretend we are all the same so we can just get along.
My history of feeling like I had to be constantly pretending, and the process of learning how to live more authentically, was what led me to my passion for pursuing creating more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments. I work with organizations and companies To build environments where our more authentic selves will thrive, aka building supportive, empowering, more equitable organizations and teams that nurture a culture where people can bring their whole and best selves.
If we’re all pretending, how can we build a truly inclusive world?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are rooted in learning about why things are the way they are, acknowledging that whatever feels “normal” is likely only customary to you and prioritizing learning about experiences outside of our own. Diversity, equity, and inclusion work are about being willing to hold the complexity of each person and meet people where they are.
I am driven to create a more inclusive world. I am passionate about helping people notice, challenge, and change the systemic injustice embedded in every organization. But, more than that, I get to work with individuals, entrepreneurs, and small business teams navigating how to respond to current events, build more inclusive cultures and create from a place that produces a more inclusive world.
The pivot from higher education to business
My career in DEI began in higher education. It was an excellent opportunity to work with students in a critical part of their lives. Still, I watched many new graduates recruited to schools or companies that wanted to increase the number of women, LGBTQ+, and people of color but didn’t know how to build an environment that would foster their wellbeing once they got there. After seeing students go into workplaces that didn’t know how to value and support them, I wanted to help organizations cultivate practices that are more inclusive, equitable, and eventually, that may mean even more diverse.
The pivot from 10 years of supporting individuals within an organization towards supporting organizations in building systemic and cultural change has allowed for a ripple effect of more significant equity, diversity, and inclusion. I continue to create opportunities to address DEI because we must actively work together to build systems and cultures where we value, prioritize, and enact changes for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion.
