Race at Work
47 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★★ - 52 ratingsRace is a topic many of us struggle to talk about at work, especially as corporate DEI enters its most controversial year yet. Porter Braswell (2045 Studio, Jopwell) and Channa Green (True Search) are on a mission to sit down with DEI champions at Fortune 500 companies and learn about what it takes to build inclusive organizations in today’s social climate.
The views expressed on this podcast are those of its hosts and guests.
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Episodes
Kenvue’s Bertrand Kimper: Prioritizing Inclusive Cultures
April 24, 2024 04:00 - 28 minutes - 39.3 MBBertrand Kimper, Global Head of DEI at Kenvue, sits down with Channa to talk about how DEI practices are shifting as society evolves. He discusses his experiences working and living in different countries, and explores how and why inclusive work cultures provide companies with distinct advantages, no matter where they're located in the world. Bertrand also explains about the strategic pillars that guide his work at Kenvue and shares his hopes for the future of DEI at work.
JODIE AI’s Doug Melville: Harnessing the Inclusive Power of AI
April 17, 2024 04:00 - 36 minutes - 49.9 MBWhile many are concerned about recent developments in artificial intelligence, Doug Melville, CEO of JODIE AI, talks with Channa about how his company is using the power of AI to create inclusive leaders who are prepared to navigate the complexities of today's changing workforce. Doug also reflects on his journey as a Chief Diversity Officer, and shares what he learned throughout his professional journey as he explored different roles and cultures.
McKinsey’s Camilo Becdach: The Need for Representation in Hollywood and Beyond
April 10, 2024 04:00 - 34 minutes - 47.9 MBCamilo Becdach, a partner at McKinsey and Company, sits down with Channa to talk about the importance of mentorship and supportive networks for diverse professionals who are at the beginning of their professional journeys. Camilo discusses his research exploring the underrepresentation of Latinos in Hollywood, both on-screen and in executive roles. He also explains why it’s crucial for the film and television industry to take a data-driven approach, meet audiences where they are, and te...
Randstad’s Floss Aggrey: Correcting Organizational Imbalances
April 03, 2024 04:00 - 32 minutes - 44.2 MBFloss Aggrey, Randstad North America’s Chief Equity Diversity & Inclusion Officer, speaks with Channa about the importance of creating organizational cultures in which employees feel like they belong. Floss also shares the actions companies need to take in order to promote fairness and correct historical inequities in the workplace. Later, she and Channa discuss the true meanings of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Floss emphasizes that the intent of DEI programs is not to exclude others...
Ogilvy NY's Samira Ansari: The Importance of Authentic Representation
March 27, 2024 04:00 - 33 minutes - 15.6 MBSamira Ansari, Chief Creative Director at Ogilvy New York, talks about the changes she’s seen in the creative industry over the past 25 years when it comes to DEI. Channa and Samira discuss how brands’ DEI efforts need to authentically represent culture when it comes to casting and hiring in order to be truly meaningful. Samira also shares how diversity in creative agencies is vital for making campaigns that resonate with today's audiences.
Comcast Cable’s Loren Hudson: Creating New Outcomes for Others
March 20, 2024 04:00 - 37 minutes - 52 MBLoren Hudson, SVP and Chief Diversity Officer at Comcast Cable, sits down with Channa to discuss the importance of leaders who actively set their employees up for success. Loren reflects on her experience as the first-ever Chief Diversity Officer at Comcast Cable and shares how her role has impacted the company over the past few years. She also explores how her career in DEI and HR was shaped by challenges she witnessed her father face as the only Black police officer in her hometown....
McCann’s Singleton Beato: The Evolution of DEI in the Workplace
March 13, 2024 04:00 - 32 minutes - 14.9 MBSingleton Beato, Global Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at McCann Worldgroup, sits down for a candid conversation with Channa to discuss how corporate America’s perspective on DEI has evolved. Singleton and Channa also reflect on the challenges and progress they experienced in 2020 as Black women and DEI leaders. Singleton explains why discussions about race at work are so important, despite some leaders and organizations shifting away from these d...
Edelman’s Trisch Smith: How To Raise Corporate America’s Diversity Grade
March 06, 2024 05:00 - 32 minutes - 14.8 MBTrisch Smith, Edelman’s Global Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, sits down with Channa to discuss the current DEI climate and how worrisome it is to see DEI funding diminishing across the globe. Trisch also shares her opinion on the current state of DEI efforts in corporate America and explains how systemic inequalities mean the goals set out by some organizations don’t have the infrastructure to be achieved.
Pfizer's Mike McDermott: The Power of Inclusive Leadership
February 28, 2024 15:30 - 32 minutes - 44.4 MBPfizer’s Chief Global Supply Officer and Executive Vice President Mike McDemott sits down with our new host, Channa Green, to discuss how leaders can become active and supportive when it comes to having conversations about race and inclusion at work. As you’ll hear Mike explain, it takes courage, practice, and persistence. Mike also explains why, despite a bumpy year for DEI in corporate America, he’ll continue to focus on promoting inclusion — not just for his employees, but for patients...
Introducing Season 4: Race At Work (Trailer)
February 28, 2024 15:30 - 1 minute - 713 KB2045 Studio is proud to present Season Four of Race at Work. Join us this season as host Channa Green and our guests examine the state of corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion in what’s turning out to be its most controversial year since 2020. Tune in to learn from leaders at Fortune 500 companies who will inspire you to become a more inclusive leader at your organization. New episodes are available every Wednesday. 2045 Studio helps companies ensure their employees of color...
BlackRock’s Michelle Gadsden-Williams: The Difference Is Inclusion
June 01, 2022 10:00 - 28 minutes - 38.9 MBIn the final episode of Race At Work Season 3, Porter chats with Michelle Gadsden-Williams, Managing Director & Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at BlackRock. They discuss the costly mistakes companies make when it comes to retaining employees of color and the milestones that indicate successful DEI initiatives. BlackRock recently released its impact report and launched a 1 billion dollar fund to invest in businesses and projects owned, led by, or serving people of color. M...
Ancestry’s Deb Liu: The Power of Storytelling Using Your Family’s History
May 25, 2022 10:00 - 27 minutes - 37.5 MBIn this episode, Porter chats with Deb Liu, CEO of Ancestry. They talk about why diverse teams in tech build better products - from design all the way through the review process, it all matters. And when it comes to talking about race at work, Deb thinks pretending it doesn’t affect the workplace only alienates your employees. Deb’s book “Take Back Your Power” is all about lessons from tech, leadership, and motherhood. It will be out Fall 2022.
UBS's Tom Naratil: Moving Allies From Supportive to Committed
May 18, 2022 10:00 - 29 minutes - 39.8 MBIn this episode, Porter chats with Tom Naratil, Co-President Global Wealth Management and President Americas at UBS. They discuss why for leaders, it’s not enough to just be supportive of diversity, equity and inclusion at your company, but you must be committed. Tom also talks about why empathy is an important skill for a leader to develop - he believes the more you work at it, the better you get.
Citi's Erika Irish Brown: The Importance of CEO Support For Chief Diversity Officers To Thrive
May 11, 2022 10:00 - 35 minutes - 48.3 MBIn this episode, Porter chats with Erika Irish Brown, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer and Global Head of Talent at Citi. They discuss the elements needed for a DEI leader to thrive - like support from the top and having the human capital as well as budget resources - and how data can help stakeholders understand why DEI isn’t a “nice to have”, but an important business case.
Trillicon Valley's Jason Mayden: Disrupting Culture With Design and Social Innovation
May 04, 2022 10:00 - 36 minutes - 50 MBIn this episode, Porter chats with Jason Mayden, CEO of Trillicon Valley, a modern design collective. They discuss the record-setting projects he worked on at Nike, why he left a dream job to build Superheroic, and why the impact he aims to have with Trillicon is meant to be multigenerational. Jason’s forthcoming book “A Kids Book About Design” comes out this May.
Jopwell's Ryan Williams: The Journey of co-founding Jopwell, Part 2
April 27, 2022 10:00 - 26 minutes - 36.9 MBThis episode is the second and final part of Porter's conversation with Ryan Williams, co-founder of Jopwell. They share personal stories from the Jopwell journey, like a rejection from TechStars that led to a yes from Y Combinator, what it means to be Black founders in the tech space and the challenges they face when it comes to leading a diverse company.
Jopwell's Ryan Williams: The Journey of co-founding Jopwell, Part 1
April 20, 2022 10:00 - 28 minutes - 39.2 MBThis episode is part one of Porter's chat with Ryan Williams, co-founder of Jopwell. They talk about the origin story of how they met, what it was like working in finance as young Black men, and how their professional experiences led them to believe Jopwell was a much-needed platform.
Sixth Street's David Stiepleman: Creating Social Capital For Underrepresented Groups
April 13, 2022 10:00 - 34 minutes - 48.1 MBIn this episode, Porter chats with David Stiepleman, Co-President, and Co-Founder of the global investment firm Sixth Street. They talk about the reasons for the lack of funding for diverse founders. They also discuss why Sixth Street’s summer fellowship program is critical in their approach to diversifying their internal team and the private capital industry more broadly. Porter and David also discuss why it’s the responsibility of both the company and the broader industry to create spaces ...
Deloitte's Kwasi Mitchell: Finding Organizational Purpose For Companies and Employees
April 06, 2022 10:00 - 36 minutes - 49.9 MBIn this episode, Porter chats with Kwasi Mitchell, Chief Purpose Officer at Deloitte. They discuss why Kwasi’s role is crucial in creating frameworks for organizational purpose, which is the greater mission that helps companies Deloitte serves and its employees find purpose in their daily work. They also talk about creating pathways of success for employees and why it’s a passion for Kwasi.
Wellesley College’s Dr. Paula A. Johnson: The Impact of COVID on Students and the Social Climate on College Campuses
March 30, 2022 10:00 - 31 minutes - 42.6 MBIn this episode, Porter speaks with Dr. Paula A. Johnson, the 14th President of Wellesley College. They talk about how classrooms need to be set up for discussions when it comes to highly charged topics amongst a diverse student body, why simple changes to job description wording can improve corporate recruitment on campus, and how COVID showed that living on campus is an equalizer for students. As a physician-scientist, Paula made a significant impact through her clinical and research work. ...
NHL's Kim Davis: Overcoming Discrimination, Impact of Sponsors, and The Rooney Rule
March 23, 2022 10:00 - 31 minutes - 42.9 MBIn this episode, Porter chats with Kim Davis, Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs at the National Hockey League. They discuss the life-changing impact a sponsor made on Kim’s career and why the Rooney Rule - a policy started in 2003 by the NFL that requires teams to interview candidates of color for leadership roles - isn’t implemented in the NHL. Kim starts the show by recounting some of the overt racism she experienced early in her career.
NY Times' Jacqueline Welch: The Power of Storytelling in Bringing People Together
March 16, 2022 10:00 - 26 minutes - 37 MBTo kick off season 3 of Race at Work, Porter chats with Jacqueline Welch, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at the New York Times about why representation matters at all levels of an organization. Jaqueline is the second Black woman to be on the New York Times masthead. They also discuss the 1619 project –– a long-form journalism initiative by the Times paper and magazine that reframes the history of slavery and contributions made by Black Americans. They get into the...
UCLA Law’s Laura E. Gómez: Understanding Critical Race Theory, Part 2
July 21, 2021 13:27 - 33 minutes - 31.3 MBThis is the second part of a two-part series exploring critical race theory (CRT) and its influence on diversity and inclusion efforts in workplaces and classrooms. Laura E. Gómez, a law professor at UCLA, teaches in the school’s Critical Race Studies Program, which uses CRT to explore how legal and other systems intersect with race in the U.S. In the final episode of Season 2, she tells host Porter Braswell that racism isn’t about individual prejudice, but rather about the messages our larg...
The Guardian’s Julia Carrie Wong: Understanding Critical Race Theory, Part 1
July 14, 2021 13:39 - 24 minutes - 23 MBThis is part one of a two-part series exploring critical race theory (CRT) and its influence on diversity and inclusion efforts in workplaces and classrooms. Julia Carrie Wong is a senior reporter for The Guardian, and she’s been covering the ongoing debate around CRT in schools and federal employee trainings. CRT is an academic discipline that teaches that racism is deeply embedded into U.S. legal and political systems. Wong talks with host Porter Braswell about what CRT is, efforts to ...
Former McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson and Cleveland Avenue Foundation’s Liz Thompson: Breaking Barriers
July 07, 2021 15:38 - 36 minutes - 34 MBDon and Liz Thompson are leaders in their respective industries. Don had a long career rising through the ranks of McDonald’s, eventually becoming the company’s first Black CEO. Meanwhile his wife Liz Thompson was a rising executive in education and nonprofits – like City Year Chicago, where she was the founding executive director. Throughout their careers, the Thompsons kept their community in mind. In 2014, they started the Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education (The CAFE), an organiz...
McKinsey Institute’s Shelley Stewart: Black Americans and Economic Mobility
June 30, 2021 13:40 - 30 minutes - 28.6 MBImagine a world in which Black business owners achieved economic parity, receiving the same funding as other founders. That, alone, would create 615,000 new Black-led workplaces, according to a new report from the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility. That report examines the racial gaps that exist across the U.S. economy. Shelley Stewart III leads McKinsey’s research on Black economic mobility in the United States and is also a partner with McKinsey’s Private Equity & Principal ...
AT&T’s Anne Chow: Creating a Safe Workplace
June 23, 2021 18:17 - 32 minutes - 30.4 MBAnne Chow is the first woman of color to be the CEO in AT&T’s history. She’s been with the company for over 30 years and throughout her career, she’s made it a point to have difficult conversations about race, equity, and inclusion at work. She tells host Porter Braswell that unconscious bias is at the root of a lot of these race-related issues. They also discuss how she’s working to create a safe workplace for employees of color through leading internal dialogues and holding leaders accou...
High on the Hog’s Stephen Satterfield: The Power of Black Storytelling
June 16, 2021 13:56 - 40 minutes - 37.8 MBStephen Satterfield is a food writer and the founder of Whetstone Magazine, the only Black-owned, print-based food publication in the U.S. He’s also the host of the hit new Netflix show, “High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America.” Satterfield talks about the power of sharing Black narratives and the importance of understanding the origins of food and culture. He also tells host Porter Braswell why it was important to have an all-Black production crew, so that these...
Grammy-Winning Musician Keyon Harrold: Racism and Work
June 09, 2021 13:48 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBHow should organizations support employees who experience racist incidents in their personal lives and how can those kinds of experiences affect their work? In December 2020, jazz trumpeter Keyon Harrold and his teenage son, who are Black, were attacked by a white woman who falsely accused Harrold’s son of stealing her smartphone. Captured on video, the incident made worldwide headlines as an example of racial profiling. Harrold tells host Porter Braswell about the response he received f...
National Basketball Players Association VP CJ McCollum: Holding Management Accountable
June 02, 2021 13:52 - 34 minutes - 32 MBIn every workplace there are leaders who can hold management accountable and speak to injustices happening inside – and outside – of their workplace. Even in industries dominated by people of color, like the NBA, there can still be issues of representation in management. CJ McCollum plays for the Portland Trail Blazers and serves as the vice president of the National Basketball Players Association, which is the NBA’s player union. He talks to host Porter Braswell about how management can b...
Ogilvy’s Carla Hendra: Power and Privilege in Advertising
May 26, 2021 14:31 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBThe advertising industry has come a long way from its former “Mad Men” era. But like many others, the industry is still coming to terms with its historic lack of diversity – especially among executives. Carla Hendra, Ogilvy’s global CEO of growth and innovation, talks to host Porter Braswell about her experiences with power and privilege during her decades-long career in the advertising industry – and how those dynamics affect representation within the industry.
WNBA’s Napheesa Collier: How to be Outspoken about Race at Work
May 19, 2021 14:13 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBGeorge Floyd’s killing by a Minneapolis police officer sparked racial reckonings in many industries and workplaces. Napheesa Collier, forward for the Minnesota Lynx, has been outspoken about police brutality and racism throughout her basketball career. She joins host Porter Braswell to discuss how her team and the WNBA have been using their platforms to fight for social justice.
Curaleaf’s Lanett Austin: The Cannabis Industry and Communities of Color
May 12, 2021 13:51 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MBThe relationship between communities of color and the cannabis industry has historically been strained. But as more states move to legalize cannabis, the industry is increasingly facing its painful past. Lanett Austin, director of Talent Management and Diversity at Curaleaf – the largest cannabis operator in the U.S. – joins host Porter Braswell to discuss the racial disparities in the cannabis industry and what a more equitable and inclusive future would mean.
Jopwell’s Devon Lee: Answering “Uncomfortable” Questions About Race at Work
May 05, 2021 13:59 - 38 minutes - 36.1 MBConversations about race can be hard to navigate – especially at work. That’s why we reached out to Devon Lee, a scholar-activist with a background in sociology; he’s also the director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs at Jopwell. He joins host Porter Braswell to answer some “uncomfortable” questions about race at work and lay the foundation for the show’s new season.
Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian: Taking a Stand on Racial Equity
January 27, 2021 13:38 - 28 minutes - 26.7 MBIt’s rare for Fortune 500 CEOs to be publicly vocal about social justice issues. However, for Delta CEO Ed Bastian, speaking out and taking action have been part of his journey to become an inclusive leader. He joins host Porter Braswell to discuss how CEOs and senior leaders can lead change in their companies to address internal and external racial justice issues.
Sephora’s Deborah Yeh: Unconscious Bias in Retail and Marketing
January 20, 2021 16:27 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBWhat does it mean to be a consumer in America? Does race correlate to the type of service and treatment a customer receives in a store? Deborah Yeh, Sephora’s Chief Marketing Officer, joins host Porter Braswell to discuss unconscious bias in retail and marketing, as well as how it affects customers and their relationship with brands. Previously, Yeh held marketing leadership roles at GAP and Target.
iCIMS’ Charles Mah: Why Traditional Recruiting Pipelines Don’t Work
January 13, 2021 19:27 - 29 minutes - 27.7 MBCharles Mah, chief evangelist at talent cloud company iCIMS, has more than 15 years of leadership experience in talent management at tech companies, such as Workday, SAP, and Databricks. He joins host Porter Braswell to discuss the problems with traditional recruiting pipelines and how tech companies can improve their diversity recruiting. Mah also shares his own experiences building a career in the tech industry, as a talent leader with a non-traditional background.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 101 (with Richemont’s Doug Melville)
January 06, 2021 14:11 - 32 minutes - 30.2 MBWhat’s the difference between unconscious bias and a microaggression? How is diversity actually defined? And what’s problematic about using the term “minority”? Doug Melville, VP, Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Richemont North America, joins host Porter Braswell to answer questions about diversity, equity, and inclusion that can be awkward to ask at work. They define the terms we hear so often, address common misconceptions, and share their personal experiences with race at work.
Former Goldman Sachs Partner Edith Cooper: Recruit, Retain, Mentor
December 30, 2020 14:00 - 37 minutes - 35 MBEdith Cooper is the first Black woman to become a partner at Goldman Sachs. But she says she might have walked away from her finance career without the support of key mentors, who recognized her leadership potential. She joins host Porter Braswell to talk about the role race plays at work, employee retention strategies, and the importance of having sponsors for one’s career. Cooper led Goldman’s Human Capital Management division for a decade. She’s currently on the board of directors for...
PGA of America’s Sandy Cross: Making Golf More Inclusive
December 23, 2020 14:00 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBUntil 1961, women and people of color were barred from joining the Professional Golfers’ Association of America by the “Caucasian-only clause” in its bylaws. That limited who could work in the golf industry because the PGA of America is a trade organization for professionals who work in the business of golf at courses and clubs around the U.S. Now, Sandy Cross, the Chief People Officer of the PGA of America, is working to build a more inclusive and equitable culture at the organization’s c...
Cisco’s Fran Katsoudas: How to Talk About Race at Work
December 16, 2020 14:43 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBTwo days after the murder of George Floyd, Cisco held a virtual all-hands meeting on race for 30,000 employees. But that conversation was marred by racist comments posted by a handful of Cisco employees. Fran Katsoudas, Cisco’s Chief People Officer, joins host Porter Braswell to discuss how she addressed this incident and held people accountable for their actions. She also explains how Cisco engages with race in a global context and shares her experiences as a Latina climbing the corporate...
U.S. Congressman Antonio Delgado: Race and Identity in Politics
December 09, 2020 14:02 - 36 minutes - 33.5 MBWhen U.S. Congressman Antonio Delgado was running for Congress in 2018, his race made national headlines after attack ads portrayed him as an outsider and a threat. A New York Times article from the election noted: “He’s a Rhodes Scholar. The GOP Keeps Calling Him a ‘Big-City Rapper.’” The congressman, who is Black, is the first person of color to represent his rural district in upstate New York, where the population is almost 90 percent white. He joins host Porter Braswell to discuss the ...
Havas New York CEO Laura Maness: Listen, Learn, and Lead
December 02, 2020 16:02 - 24 minutes - 23 MBHavas New York CEO Laura Maness is at the helm of one of the world’s most influential ad agencies. Earlier in her career, Laura focused on helping women rise in corporate America, and now, her perspective has widened to address the lack of representation of professionals from underrepresented communities in the ad industry. She joins host Porter Braswell to discuss how having more representation is good for the ad industry, why breaking down systemic racism means looking at the language we...
ESPN’s Jay Williams: Sports, Culture, and Leadership
November 25, 2020 13:58 - 29 minutes - 27.6 MBESPN host Jay Williams started covering basketball, after his legendary collegiate career at Duke and his short time playing for the Chicago Bulls. Lately that means he’s also covering race, as professional athletes speak out against racial injustice. He joins host Porter Braswell to talk about the lack of racial representation in basketball leadership, what corporate America can learn from the NBA about reckoning with race at work, and how he approaches professional situations when he’s b...
Mastercard’s Former Chief Diversity Officer Donna Johnson: Advancing Company Culture
November 18, 2020 14:16 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBDonna Johnson pioneered the chief diversity officer (CDO) role at Mastercard a decade ago – long before CDO’s were en vogue. Until she retired in 2017, she led the company’s global diversity and inclusion strategy. Donna focused on increasing employee engagement to retain diverse talent and drive business results. She joins host Porter Braswell to talk about how to make long-term change to company culture, why she thinks we should talk about race at work, and when a company should hire a C...
WeWork Cofounder Miguel McKelvey: Blind Spots in Leadership
November 11, 2020 20:08 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBWeWork grew from a scrappy co-working startup to a tech darling with more than 800 locations around the world, before their well-documented undoing in late 2019. Cofounder Miguel McKelvey helped build the first WeWork in New York City with his bare hands, and later became the company’s Chief Culture Officer. McKelvey left WeWork in June 2020, a few months before taping this episode. When he looks back on his decade-long tenure there, he acknowledges that the blind spots he had, as a white ...
Introducing Race at Work
November 05, 2020 20:44 - 2 minutes - 2.5 MBNew from the HBR Presents podcast network: a show about the role race plays in our careers and lives. Race is a topic many of us struggle to talk about at work, yet it shapes so many of our career experiences and outcomes. But host Porter Braswell (Jopwell) is on a mission to create a safe space to share those stories – and learn from them. Hear leaders from business and government trace their personal journeys with race, equity, and inclusion. And learn from their mistakes and their triumph...