In this episode, Stacey Lewis, founder and CEO of HR Interrupted, sits down for a brass-tacks conversation on how startups and high-growth businesses can navigate the murky waters of human resources (HR) and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As the pendulum swings, seemingly away from what has dominated the business landscape for the last half-decade, it’s more difficult than ever to simply “do the right thing” and even to know what that right thing is. Together the group discusses what really matters when attempting to build high-performing teams, the importance of employee voices, and fostering workplace relationships while also navigating what has become a landmine-riddled field around the concept of DEI.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
02:57 The Evolution of HR and DEI
05:59 The Impact of COVID-19 and Social Movements
08:59 Navigating Employee Expectations
11:50 The Relationship Between Employers and Employees
15:02 Understanding DEI and Its Challenges
17:55 Finding Balance in Workplace Dynamics
26:35 Core Values and Organizational Identity
29:11 The Evolution of DEI and Its Challenges
30:21 Understanding Equity vs. Equality in the Workplace
34:06 Navigating Relationships in Organizations
37:31 The Importance of Commitment in DEI Initiatives
40:20 Creating Safe Spaces for Authenticity
44:24 Building a Thoughtful Hiring Process
49:17 Trust and Relationship Dynamics in the Workplace
References in the Show:
https://www.axios.com/2024/11/27/walmart-dei-trump-lgbtq
Quote of the Show:
"I need to know that you got my back or at bare minimum, you at least acknowledged my pain. With all of this equity work and DEI scaling back, my heart is broken as an equity strategist because it's gotten so far off of the mark. It was never ever intended to isolate a demographic” - Stacey Lewis
Ways to Tune In:
