Last week, I had the privilege of recording for the d&i Leaders Race at Work Summit 2024, which will go live on 12 November. You still have time to register – https://dileaders.com/racesummit/. This is the leading annual event, bringing together organisations committed to tackling racial inequality in the workplace and I’m delivery a keynote.
Broadcast of “Make Race Excellent: Make It Count” 🎙️ This broadcast wasn’t just another conversation on race—it was a call to action. We can’t keep playing at diversity and inclusion without meaning it, you see. Making race excellent means making it count – not through hollow gestures, but by embedding racial equity into our systems. Real change isn’t about looking good for the cameras; it’s about substance over symbolism. 💼💡
Let’s be real—doing DEIB right is about reclaiming the fullness of our nation’s history and embedding it into the workplace in meaningful ways. 🏢 Here’s how we at Race Excellence Ltd do it:
1. Deep-Dive Diagnostics 🔍 We start with a deep diagnostic of your company’s culture. You can’t change what you don’t understand. By holding up a mirror to your organisation 🪞, we help you see the biases, barriers, and invisible glass ceilings that prevent true inclusivity.
2. Cultural Intelligence Training 🧠 Anyone can talk the talk, but we teach you to walk the walk 👣. We help you embed cultural intelligence into your company’s DNA so that race stops being a “sensitive topic” and becomes a core competency. No more awkward pauses when race comes up—just confident, culturally informed actions. 💪🏾
3. Benchmarking for Success 🎯 We provide you with real metrics, not vague goals. If you can’t measure it, you can’t fix it—and we ensure you have the tangible benchmarks that lead to long-term success. 📈
4. Transformation, Not Transaction 🔄 This isn’t about ticking boxes 🗂️. DEIB is a journey, not a one-off task, and real transformation takes time. We stay with you long-term to ensure the culture shift is real, deep, and lasting. 🌱
The Audacity of Leadership: Stop Tiptoeing Around Race 🚶🏾♂️
Here’s the Single Narrow Dominant Thought: Stop tiptoeing around race. You can’t be an effective leader if you’re afraid to confront the issues that truly matter. Race isn’t some side issue to be avoided – it’s the catalyst for systemic change 🔥.
Let’s be honest—too many organisations are paralysed by fear when it comes to race. At Race Excellence, we confront that fear head-on, turning it into bold, intentional action 💪🏿. We help organisations move from fear to courageous leadership, because race isn’t something to fear—it’s an opportunity for greatness.
We’re not talking about creating new hierarchies or pushing for power dynamics to be flipped. We’re building a society where character outshines the colour of your skin, where your difference makes a difference 🌟. This is not about wokeness; this is about real transformation that benefits everyone. Because, let’s face it, we all have skin in the game. 🖤
Conclusion: Reclaiming Histories, Reclaiming the Future 🔮
As we reflect on Black History Month, it’s clear that reclaiming Black histories is more than just looking back—it’s about reclaiming our place in the future 🌍. This is the work of ensuring that Black voices, contributions, and excellence are acknowledged and celebrated every day, not just in October or February.
As Olaudah Equiano once said, “The man who has endured the cruelest fate can best testify to its importance.” Now, more than ever, it’s time to testify to the importance of Black history, loudly and unapologetically. And it’s time to act—because your difference will make a difference. 💫👑
Ready to take your organisation beyond the surface of DEIB? At Rockstone Consultancy, we partner with you to create real, lasting transformation. Visit rockstoneconsultancy.com to learn more about how we can help your company make race excellent and drive meaningful change.