High-Level Summary
In this dynamic episode of the Rise Urban Nation podcast, host Taryell Simmons sits down with workplace transformation strategist Kelli Lester to discuss the evolution and necessity of inclusive leadership. Lester shares actionable frameworks for embedding inclusion into corporate DNA, navigating shifting political and organizational climates, and cultivating resilience through self-awareness and purpose-driven advocacy.
Key Takeaways
Core Alignment: Successful diversity and inclusion strategies succeed when they are inseparable from the organization's core business mission, customer demographics, and workforce planning.
Self-Awareness as Foundation: Effective leadership starts with understanding one's own biases, privilege, and emotional triggers before attempting to lead diverse teams.
Active Sponsorship and Advocacy: Meaningful career advancement often hinges on sponsors who champion underrepresented talent in rooms where critical decisions are made.
Personal Board of Directors: Sustained career success requires cultivating an evolving network of mentors across communications, human resources, and entrepreneurship.
Detailed Outline & Topic Breakdown
From Communications to DEI: Kelli Lester recounts her journey from the Indianapolis Recorder to corporate diversity leadership at Sara Lee Corporation, demonstrating how passion and skill set intersection unlock true career purpose.
Overcoming Isolation in Leadership: Lester shares the challenge of being the first or only person of color in executive rooms and learning that true success comes from collaborative partnership across lines of difference.
Reframing Inclusion in Changing Climates: A pragmatic discussion on sticking to core organizational values, adapting terminology when required by regulation, and treating inclusion as continuous improvement.
Actionable Leadership Traits: An overview of essential traits including cultural intelligence, establishing communication preferences, soliciting feedback, and conducting comprehensive organizational assessments.
Career Resilience and Mentorship: Personal reflections on managing chronic illness, overcoming layoffs, and building an intentional board of directors.
Memorable Quotes
Kelli Lester: "Discomfort cannot exceed your willingness to be obedient or to be kind to yourself relative to your craft."
Kelli Lester: "A good leader doesn't know how to lead just one or two types of people. They know how to lead everybody to success."
Kelli Lester: "Life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it."
Resources, Tools, & Recommendations Mentioned
Books: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren; The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber.
Assessment Tools: ISO (International Standard of Operation) organizational health assessment; IDI (Intercultural Development Inventory) for inclusive leadership development.
Websites & Platforms: Onyx Rising website at https://www.onyx2rise.com.
People: Doug Harris (mentor), Oprah Winfrey (early inspiration).
