Inclusion Revolution | Daisy Auger Domínguez | TEDxPearlStreet

Summary

In this inspiring speech, the speaker shares her journey as a Latina woman in a predominantly white, male-dominated corporate environment. She emphasizes the pivotal moment when a colleague encouraged her to voice her opinions, leading to a transformative allyship. The speaker advocates for three key actions to foster diversity and inclusion: holding up a mirror to oneself, acting on what is learned, and persisting despite discomfort. She calls for leaders to create workplaces that value all employees, driving change through daily actions and allyship.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ The importance of speaking up: The speaker was encouraged to voice her opinion in meetings, which was crucial for her professional growth.
• 👥 The impact of allyship: A supportive colleague helped the speaker overcome her insecurities and navigate a predominantly white, male-dominated corporate culture.
• 🌐 The necessity of diverse representation: The speaker's experience highlighted the challenges faced by underrepresented groups in the workplace.
• 🔍 The power of self-reflection: The speaker's colleague helped her confront her fears and insecurities, which was a pivotal moment in her career.
• 💡 The role of active listening: The colleague's act of truly listening to the speaker's concerns was instrumental in fostering a supportive environment.
• 🛠️ The need for systemic change: The speaker advocated for a re-examination of corporate practices to dismantle biases and create more inclusive workplaces.
• 🌈 The value of diversity and inclusion strategies: The speaker's career has been dedicated to developing strategies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion globally.
• 🔑 The significance of leadership actions: What leaders do to foster inclusivity matters more than what they say, as actions create tangible change.
• 🚀 The benefits of inclusive environments: Inclusive workplaces foster innovation, creativity, and collaboration, which are essential for organizational success.
• 🔄 The process of change: The speaker emphasized the importance of self-awareness, action, and persistence in the face of discomfort to drive meaningful change.

Q & A

What was the advice given by the speaker's father?

The speaker's father advised her to 'keep your head down and work harder than everyone else.'

What was the different message the speaker received early in her career?

The different message the speaker received was from a white male colleague who told her that they wanted to hear her opinion and that it wasn't beneficial for her to just sit quietly in meetings.

What was the demographic representation like in the corporate environment the speaker was working in?

The corporate environment was very white in terms of demographic representation across all levels and also in terms of the corporate identity that the speaker was expected to adopt.

What insecurities did the speaker share with her colleague?

The speaker shared her insecurities about feeling not as valuable as others because of her youth, the burden of not supporting stereotypes about being a Latina, and the difficulty of navigating a predominantly white male dominated culture.

How did the colleague's response change the speaker's experience?

The colleague listened to the speaker, acknowledged her feelings, and offered to support her by amplifying her comments in meetings, which marked the beginning of an allyship journey.

What is the concept of 'allyship' as described in the script?

In the script, 'allyship' is described as going beyond just being an ally by actively supporting and challenging the status quo, helping to reduce obstacles, and working together towards equity and inclusion.

What is the importance of the colleague becoming a 'mayor' for the speaker?

The colleague becoming a 'mayor' for the speaker meant that he showed her the truth about her fears and anxieties and how to overcome them, which was crucial for building her career.

What are the three actions the speaker suggests for creating inclusive workplaces?

The three actions are: holding up a mirror to oneself, acting on what one learns from that reflection, and persisting despite discomfort.

Why did the speaker call out 'racism' during a meeting at Google?

The speaker called out 'racism' because there was pushback on diversity hiring strategies and a failure to acknowledge the systemic issues that prevented the hiring of black and Hispanic software engineers at scale.

What was the outcome of the speaker's proposal for a program focusing on women of color at Disney?

The program focusing on the workplace experience of women of color was one of the most attended programs and left a lasting impact, with attendees feeling seen, heard, and valued.

What does the speaker suggest is necessary for creating workplaces that work for everyone?

The speaker suggests that it is necessary to reduce undue burdens and marginalization, and to create a vibrant emotional energy where employees feel valued and essential.