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Black History Month is a too-short time to reflect on the myriad ways Black folks have contributed to our country. But it also intertwines with work. Lately, there has been a backlash against DEI efforts. DEI has been politicized, with opponents crying ‘woke’ and saying it’s unfair to ‘everyone else.’ In the current economic climate of tightening budgets and ever-looming recession fears, DEI initiatives and roles have dwindled.
However, the data speaks for itself. DEI isn't just a moral imperative; it's a key driver for innovation, productivity, and success in the future of work.
This data highlights that being intentional about DEI can directly contribute to a company's bottom line. People do better work in environments where everyone feels valued and empowered. And when people do better work, companies benefit.
But DEI cannot be an ‘initiative’; it must be actively and consistently practiced. DEI strategies need to be tailored to each organization's unique context to be effective. This means going beyond token gestures and, instead, implementing systemic changes addressing the specific needs and challenges of underrepresented groups. If everyone you work with looks like each other and has similar backgrounds and comparable educations, you’re missing out. You will be doing yourself, your team, and your entire company a favor by making deliberate changes.The best way to honor Black History Month is to actively cultivate belonging in our workplaces in a sustainable way so that our inequitable history does not repeat itself. Unconscious bias, systemic racism, and workplaces designed for a narrow range of people are keeping brilliant humans from fully participating in the workforce. Acknowledging our real (and actually unfair) history, understanding its impact on present-day disparities, and actively working toward a future where everyone, regardless of their race, gender, or background, can thrive is the job we are all responsible for now.
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As an entrepreneur, I know how hard it can be to navigate the waters of starting a company. Having a support system and people to talk to about the big decisions, sometimes even the small ones, can be a make-or-break factor to success. So Clockwork and Tempo joined Sheletta Brundidge for her 2nd annual Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Minnesota State Capitol. I am proud that Clockwork was the only entrepreneurial organization to sponsor this event.I first want to share why this is so necessary for Black folks, specifically. A 2023 Intuit Quickbooks survey of Black business owners found that 55% agree that more mentorship from other Black business owners and easier access to financing are the resources needed the most for successful Black businesses. This event gave Black entrepreneurs access to each other and allies.Access to funding also presents challenges to many Black companies. That same Intuit Quickbooks survey found that 57% of Black respondents were denied a bank loan at least once when they started their businesses—compared to 37% of non-Black business owners. A CNBC article shared, “While investing in diverse teams can often be seen as a moral imperative and something that’s done because it’s the right thing to do, studies have shown it can lead to higher returns for investors.” Yet, according to the same article, “Overall, Black entrepreneurs typically receive less than 2% of all VC dollars each year while companies led by Black women receive less than 1%.”Clearly, there is work to be done. It's not enough that existing, successful companies have earned a seat at the table. If you're at the table, it’s your job to add seats and make the table bigger so everyone who wants a seat can access the financing and resources they need to get it. That’s why we contributed to the event. In the future, I want to see a long list of companies working together to ensure a more equitable business landscape in Minnesota and the entire country.Want to hear or see more?Watch the speeches from throughout the day.Look at a selection of photos from the day.
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In a world that often feels divided, it's really important to tap into our humanity. I've been reflecting on the pain and suffering caused by humans' tendency to other people. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the verb other as, “view or treat (a person or group of people) as intrinsically different from and alien to oneself.” Othering creates a division between groups that assumes some people are inherently better than others.It's a moral failing when we continue to find ways to assert superiority over others. This has been a root cause of almost all great conflicts in history. In reflecting on the state of the world, I want to affirm something important: advocating for peace and justice is not an act of aggression. It's a plea for humanity.Calling for a cease-fire and an end to genocide is not anti-Semitic. It's a call to protect human life. Similarly, demanding an end to antisemitism isn't anti-Palestinian or anti-Muslim. It's a stand against hate and division.I can’t claim to have a deep understanding of the conflict in the Middle East. But I have friends on both sides of the violence whose communities are suffering. And my heart hurts for them and for all of us.We're all born with value and potential. No one is inherently better or worse than anyone else. History has repeatedly shown us the devastating consequences of believing otherwise. Every major conflict and every act of persecution, at its core, carries this flawed belief of superiority.Let's challenge the narratives that divide us. Let's embrace our shared humanity and work toward a world where peace and empathy take the lead over hatred and division. Because, in the end, we are all human—beautifully diverse yet essentially alike.
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When preparing for a new edition of News from the Nan-Cave, I often ask my spouse what I should write about or what’s on her mind that might interest others. I noticed she was reading the book “Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art,” by James Nestor. This month, she suggested I explore breathing, so I went there!Breathing is not a new topic for her: she is the first person to point out to me when I’m holding my breath, and I rarely notice it. Do you notice your breathing? It’s probably not top-of-mind because, luckily, most of us do it with little thought. But our breathing throughout the day tends to be very shallow (and sometimes, like me, we might be holding our breath as we focus or get emotional). With just a few intentional, short breathing sessions, we might see huge benefits.One study showed that intentional breathwork can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve cognitive function. And Dr. Richard Brown and Dr. Patricia Gerbarg, authors of "The Healing Power of the Breath," provide compelling evidence on how various breathing techniques can combat anxiety and depression.Unlike many other wellness activities, breathing exercises can be integrated seamlessly into our daily routine, offering a more organic and sustainable approach to wellness—no gym, sweat, or even leaving your chair (unless you want to). The simplicity and accessibility of breathwork can be a game changer in workplaces where people can experience stress and anxiety off and on throughout the day—high-stakes meetings, difficult decisions, and feedback sessions can induce many feelings. We’ve all been there and could use a few easy practices to return to our less-stressed selves.Box breathing for mindfulness. This technique is useful for stress management. To do it, inhale for a count of four, hold for a count of four, exhale for a count of four, and hold for a count of four before repeating the cycle.Take a 5-minute diaphragmatic breathing session. This breathing technique gets deep into your lungs (using your diaphragm) to offset shallow breathing and strengthen your diaphragm.Try the 4-7-8 technique before bed for a restful sleep. The 4-7-8- technique engages your relaxation response. It is similar to box breathing but has different intervals. Inhale for four counts, hold for seven counts, and exhale for eight counts.There are a lot more techniques you can learn. If you Google “types of intentional breathwork,” you’ll get many results. One of them will work for you.It might sound a little hippy-dippy, but these practices can be very effective. Modern life is complex; the power of our breath can help us simplify, something we all want a little more of.
I had a very interesting conversation on a podcast this month. Laurent Notin and I unpacked the ways in which my role can be a bottleneck or how I can disrupt progress. As leaders, it is so important to be thoughtful about how we show up. I can cause confusion just by speaking, even if that’s not my intention. It's a hard leadership lesson, but that self-awareness is so essential. Listen and watch: Cracking The Entrepreneur Bottleneck on YouTube.
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In author-land, Amazon is King, and reviews are currency. I have had 79 reviews for months, and I really want ONE more to push me over the 80 mark. If you read my book and purchased it on Amazon, can you head over and let others know what you thought? Please? I will do the same for you if you have a book!
Not sure how to write a review? Here are some instructions.
“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” — Audrey Lorde
