Liberty Mutual Insurance’s Post

"Black women leaders must bend but not break." This is a statement made during my interviews with prominent Black women leaders. For some, this line may trigger discomfort, as the notion of compromise can be unsettling. However, for seasoned Black women in leadership roles, navigating the intricate labyrinth of authority—with its traps, pitfalls, valleys, and mountains—often requires them to be all things to all people. They have learned the art of adaptation for the greater good. "Bending but not breaking" is not about compromising one's values; rather, it signifies flexibility, the wisdom to choose battles wisely, and the understanding that building and maintaining relationships is crucial for long-term success and longevity in leadership roles. To upcoming Black women leaders, the phrase "bend but not break" may not resonate verbatim, but consider what it means to you: the ability to remain resilient while upholding your integrity, navigating challenges with grace, and fostering connections that empower and elevate your leadership journey.

In recognition of Black History Month, Odgers Berndtson US invites you to join us tomorrow for an in-depth panel discussion with three exceptional corporate leaders on the “Importance of Innovative Leadership” in today’s business environment. Moderated by Conrad Woody, the conversation will center on the cultural nuances and best practices for navigating the work environment as Black executives in 2024 and beyond including: 1. How to effectively build strategic relationship capital inside and outside your organization, and insights on corporate governance. 2. Advice for women and Black executives on navigating career and leadership development. 3. How to compete for your first board & insights on Corporate Governance. 4. Live Q&A. We're pleased to feature, Nelda J. Connors, Founder & CEO of Pine Grove Holdings, LLC, Sean Cohan, President of Bell Media, and Denise Gray, CEO of DKTN Consulting for this timely discussion. Register to join us, and share this post with your network! Date: February 28th, 2024 Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET Webinar Registration: https://lnkd.in/evYB7k8p #blackhistorymonth #executiveleadership #innovativeleadership #ceo #dei #executivesearch

White Women: If you support Black women in leadership, allies are also welcome to register. If we (white women) want to be part of meaningful change, white women must choose womanhood over whiteness. This requires us (white women) to unlearn what we have been taught about about racial injustice, discrimination, and white supremacy in this country. We must be willing to relearn what it will take to dismantle white supremacy. White women have been part of white supremacy in America since the very beginning, experts point out, dating back to their role in slavery. “They were at the table when the system was designed,” Stephanie Jones-Rogers, a history professor at UC Berkeley and author of the book They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South, told Vox. “They were co-architects of the system.” It’s hard for a lot of white women to read that last paragraph and embrace this reality. White women historically have leveraged their white power and privilege to gain advantage over women of color; leveraging their whiteness was an intentional strategy when one is operating within a predominantly white male patriarchy. Whiteness over womanhood is easy math. Having privilege doesn’t make white women bad people, and acknowledging privilege shouldn’t be a burden. Acknowledging privilege is an opportunity to learn, grow, and be better, so we can create a just, equitable, and inclusive world. Benefiting from privilege doesn’t make you a bad person, but it does require you to use your privilege to interrupt, challenge, and ultimately end white supremacy. We can’t dismantle what we cannot see. We have to be intentional by practicing seeing how racism is baked into systems and how those systems shape and influence the lives of people and communities. We need to put Black women’s voices at the center of our ongoing journey to reeducation in this country. Need some inspiration? Start by exploring these voices: Anna Julia Cooper, Ntozake Shante, Maria W. Stewart, Joan Morgan, Angela Y. Davis, Tressie McMillan Cotton, Mia Birdsong, Claudia Jones, Mikki Kendall, Paula Giddings, Marita Bonner, Nora Neale Hurston, Lorraine Hansberry, and Rev. Pauli Murray. This is not an exhaustive list, but a great start. This list was provided by W. Kamau Bell and Kate Schatz, authors of DO THE WORK, An Antiracist Activity Book. https://a.co/d/aq6A6BZ Here is Amazon link for the book, $13.99, small investment with a big payoff.

🎉 CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH is a prime opportunity to spotlight the impactful contributions of Hispanic leaders across various sectors. One such leader who stands out in my memory is Rick Cruz, Board Chair of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. I had the privilege of interviewing him a few years ago for AppleTree’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Newsletter, which aimed to showcase the professional journeys and insights of diverse executives to inspire persistence and resilience in others. At the time, Rick was concluding an impactful eight-year service on the DC Public Charter School Board—a tenure marked by his leadership of 66 nonprofit organizations running 126 schools. One of the most profound takeaways from our conversation was his perspective on leadership within public education. Rick emphasized the importance of building genuine connections, nurturing a culture of transparency and empathy, and prioritizing responsiveness to questions and concerns. He believed that demonstrating care, being decisive with a community-first mindset, and showing vulnerability were pivotal attributes of a successful leader. Here are Rick Cruz's own words on leadership, which might resonate or provide valuable insights to many more: "As a leader, particularly in public education, it’s important to connect and develop a rapport with colleagues and to be transparent. You have to be vulnerable, show empathy, and be responsive to questions and concerns because people want to know that you care, have answers, and make decisions with their interests in mind. You need to be able to do that as a leader." Let's take this opportunity to celebrate and learn from the impactful contributions of Hispanic leaders like Rick Cruz, who remind us of the profound influence of leading with empathy, expertise, vulnerability, and a commitment to community. #HispanicHeritageMonth #Leadership

In this episode, we sit down with Joanna McCrae, the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Client Solutions Director at PageGroup. Joanna shares her insights on the critical issue of the lack of diversity in Non-Executive Directorships (NEDs) and why it’s essential to address this imbalance. We delve into the challenges and barriers that have historically limited diversity in these roles and discuss the transformative impact that increased representation can have on organizations and industries. Joanna also highlights the initiatives and strategies that Page Group and ENABL (Empowerment Network for Asian & Black Leaders) are implementing to drive change. From mentorship programs to policy advocacy, we explore the practical steps being taken to empower underrepresented groups and foster a more inclusive leadership landscape. #diversity #inclusion #localgovernment #NED

Women’s representation in the pipeline to senior management roles fell by 11% from 54.8% in 2022 to 42.9% in 2023. It is clear that organizations must address existing issues around equity. The answer? Inclusive leadership. Learn more in a new op-ed by Sonja Volpe from BNP Paribas and Paulette Senior, from The Canadian Women's Foundation: https://bit.ly/41JFJ6i

In today's world, diversity is celebrated more than ever before. However, the underrepresentation of minorities in leadership roles remains a pressing issue. Biases and restricted opportunities are just some of the barriers that minorities face. As a life and leadership coach, I am passionate about empowering those from underrepresented backgrounds. Check out my latest article on how we can foster an environment of growth and opportunity by clicking here: #diversityandinclusion #leadershipdevelopment #professionaldevelopment

🏡✨ HWP is leading the charge for Hispanic economic empowerment! 🌟 Discover how HWP's commitment to diversity in business leadership and support for Hispanic-owned businesses is making a significant impact. Read more: https://bit.ly/43oEPwJ #EconomicInclusion #HispanicSuccess #HispanicWealthProject #WealthStreamNews

"It's really important to start telling our stories.." Michael Silvain discusses the impact of diverse backgrounds in the workplace and the advancements still needed around representation in leadership positions. Watch the entire interview with Michael here: https://lnkd.in/gpizwAty

Black men and masculine folks, how are we cultivating leadership in our communities? How are we showing up for Black women physically and emotionally when they are at the center of the political spotlight? Join us for a Black Masculinity Reimagined leadership training designed to build self-aware and emotionally intelligent Black men, boys, and masculine folks. Let's redefine what strength and leadership looks like outside of white supremacist notions. Link to sign up - https://lnkd.in/dJwtXQS3 #BlackMasculinityReImagined