39. Say More About That with Amber Cabral

“I encourage people in my books to please lean into your privileges, they give you a chance to show up as an ally, take advantage of all of them and I do but I simultaneously also understand the implications of what not having that access looks like. And even though I can't fix all of that, I also have a bit of responsibility to be a part of the solution.”

In Episode 39 of Why Care?, I am joined by Amber Cabral to delve into her second book, Say More About That. We cover topics including how to use the best language to stand up for change, and how organisations can nurture a positive feedback culture and ensure accountability. We also discuss poignant issues, such as pushing back, calling out, taking ownership of family trauma, and standing up for our boundaries.

Amber’s passion for DEI is evident through her experience as a global inclusion leader, executive coach, best-selling author, and TEDx and keynote speaker. She has managed her own boutique company, Cabal Co for almost two decades, coaching large global brands to achieve sustainable and inclusive behavioral shifts. Her first book, Allies and Advocates, was released in 2020. Amber initially stumbled into the world of diversity during her time as a Diversity Council Leader at the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, later becoming the Senior Diversity Strategist for Walmart. Amber hosts a podcast ‘Guilty Privilege’ and is committed to organisations empowering the next generation of diverse decision-makers, including Brown Girls Do. 

During our discussion, Amber explains that she was initially inspired to put pen to paper after her colleague, Amanda Miller Littlejohn, pinpointed how she “always had the right words to say.” She therefore framed her book as a toolkit to help empower people to navigate their path to inclusion and equity. She hoped to guide people to choose the best language to speak up, especially those who experience microaggressions or exclusion.

Amber shares her own relatable experiences, and how she was determined to bring about change from a young age. However, she later realized that when it comes to nurturing inclusive spaces and challenging inequities, we have to have a broader mindset and look beyond ourselves. Amber encourages us to be mindful of every side, consider what each person needs to feel equally included, and if each battle to bring about disruption or change will have the right impact on the wider community.

Amber highlights the importance of providing feedback and speaking out when we are offended, so we can grow on the path to inclusion. She then offers tools for organisations and leaders to foster an environment of feedback, and explains the power of accountability. Amber then discusses how to respond to negative feedback and to approach pushing back on people in a non-confrontational, but influential way.

Next, we move on to the emotive topic of family trauma, and how this influences and shapes our ability to speak up about inclusion. She reveals how we should own and embrace our narratives, cultural stereotypes, and differences. This can help us navigate how we respond, create meaningful dialogue, and cause behavioural shifts. Amber then elaborates more about creating boundaries, and the value of recognizing our needs, delegating, and not becoming too accountable.

Amber focuses on the following key concepts of her book:

Feedback - we need to create mechanisms for organisations and leaders to help nurture a culture of feedback.

Taking ownership – it is not our responsibility to change our narrative, but it is our responsibility to be conscious of our family traumas or cultural stereotypes.

Standing up for boundaries - if we navigate standing up for boundaries, providing feedback, and creating accountability, we can all journey to an inclusive and equitable world.

Links:

Amber can be found on:

- LinkedIn. 

- Instagram

- Youtube

For more information about Amber, visit her website: https://www.ambercabral.com/