856 - Embracing Unity: Rethinking How We Approach DEI

Am I the only one?

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have become buzzwords in today's society.

I often find that in business, our actions often don't reflect these values.

I've been invited to join various chambers of commerce, each representing a specific community (the Hispanic Chamber, LGBTQ Chamber, the Christian Chamber...)

While these groups aim to support and uplift their respective members, I can't help but wonder if we're creating more division.

In regards to the Christian Chamber, I noticed one of their policies was that the members had to be a member in good standing of a Christian church. I was a deacon in a Presbyterian church at the time.

When asked to join, I politely declined for 2 reasons.

First, as a member, I couldn't invite non-Christian business partners to join. Second, as I told the group, even Jesus couldn't join their group. He was a Jew!

As a professional musician, I worked hard to get into an environment still heavily male-dominated in the 1970s and 1980s. I was also a foreigner living in Germany.

Other women told me not to try out for a specific orchestra because "that orchestra doesn't want women or foreigners."

Thankfully, I didn't listen to them. I took the audition, and I got the job.

I learned that people make all kinds of excuses to validate their failures.

Later, I was invited to join an all-women's orchestra. I couldn't help but wonder if joining such an elitist group would be a step back in my hard-earned journey. I declined the invitation and was dismissed as arrogant by the women who had invited me.

The orchestra I was in was comprised of 18 nationalities, with different religious backgrounds, races and cultures. We all got along. We all had one goal, to perform at the highest level.

One might say, we made beautiful music together!

Now, I work with a company that embraces all people regardless of race, gender, religious affiliation, or culture. We all have a shared mission to protect and empower people.

How can we shift our mindset from focusing on differences to embracing the power of unity in the business landscape, and what steps can we take to create a more inclusive and fair environment for all professionals, regardless of their backgrounds?