In this episode Mary and I welcome our special guest Natacha Prudent, Director of Leadership, Performance and Talent Management at Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Our focus is Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and we discuss Natasha and Mary’s experiences linking EDI with Leader Character at CBSA to make progress on this critical initiative. We begin by discussing how each dimension of character impacts the EDI Agenda, how EDI tests Character and how Character, thus tested, must rise to the challenge of supporting EDI. Natacha shares her personal experiences with Leader Character, and how it is a central part of her personal leadership development. We discuss emotional tax, recognizing privilege (Bill and Mary provide personal examples), political correctness, unconscious bias, and why color blindness is not enough. Natasha shares how Leader Character is practically linked to EDI initiatives, and how you know when your organization is making progress. If your organization is considering an EDI initiative, or in the midst of an EDI program, then Leader Character is an indispensable ally to making it work.
Resources:
- Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence: Understanding and Facilitating Difficult Dialogues on Race by Derald Wing Sue (Author) will help the readers address discussing racism in their daily lives. This book explains why “colorblindness” never accomplishes equality and the danger of staying silent in situations of injustice toward Black people.
- Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi explains exactly how racist ideals were developed and spread in America and just how deeply-rooted they are in our entire society.
- How to Be An Anti-Racist. Author Ibram X Kendi breaks down what exactly “anti-racism” means and why it’s so important.
- Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America's Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing by Dr. Joy DeGruy. This book explores the psychological and emotional impact on African Americans after enduring the horrific Middle Passage, over 300 years of slavery, followed by continued discrimination.
- 3C’s of -Leadership: https://www.leadforward.ca/blog/2016/10/31/developing-leadership-character-pt-1
- Leadership Character Framework: https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/leadership/research-resources/leader-character-framework/
- Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership: https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/leadership/
- Virtuosity App: https://www.dropbox.com/s/e3l6l46u8bsxkn9/Video%20-%20Introduction%20to%20Virtuosity%20Character%20App%20-%202020-07.mp4?dl=0
