Session: DEI Culture Design: Infusing inclusion into tech spaces and work culture
The unpredictable stress experienced these past three years has created collective vulnerability and emotional dysregulation. The patterns of stress, compiled with the many changes in our private lives, are making it even harder to attract and retain women, BIPOC, first gen, LGBTQ+, and other silenced identities within tech industries. Tech industries and STEM ed continue to see an exodus of diverse talent, despite the resources and efforts to address the exclusion.
By centering wellness, working with employees, and creating psychological safety you combat vulnerability. Let’s redesign the homogenous and often harmful experiences had by many in tech and STEM spaces. Leaders can begin to do this by applying restorative processes and liberatory design principles to innovate “with” their employees and colleagues. Such frameworks provide the resource to both address the historical harm that has existed in tech spaces and to create empowering, trust centered relationships. Restorative design creates true inclusion and the space for unlimited innovation to flourish.
Bio
My experience and expertise begin with my unique narrative as a multi-ethnic, BIPOC, American, cis- woman; the eldest of seven children; keeper of my Irish/Navajo/Creole family histories; bringing a lived-perspective that straddles the United States and its rich history. This understanding is incorporated in my work in support of your community's diverse needs.
With over 13 years of experience affecting systemic shifts in social equity, I do so by applying interdisciplinary methodologies. Working with each community to evaluate where there is harm, the member needs, trust development, and power and positionality to design equity within policy and procedure.
These prominent identity experiences, combined with my education and expertise, have led to a passion for melding innovation with equity, belonging, and inclusion (EBI) within STEM, tech, and organizational culture. Helping organizations to remove domination dynamics and empower voice and innovation, which support their outcomes for sincere inclusion and belonging.