Advice for Leaders on Creating a Culture of Belonging | Melonie D. Parker | TED

Celebrating Women's Voices and Addressing Equity

Introduction to the Discussion

• Sherrell Dorsey expresses her honor in sharing the stage with Melonie D. and highlights the importance of celebrating women's power, voice, and ideas.

• The conversation aims to address critical issues surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Reflection on Recent Events

• Dorsey emphasizes the need for grappling discussions about diversity and equity in light of recent societal events.

• She notes the commitments made by corporate entities over the past few years regarding these issues.

Google’s Response to Social Movements

• Dorsey prompts Melonie D. to discuss Google's commitments following George Floyd's murder and its implications for their organization.

• Melonie D. reflects on how COVID-19 highlighted existing inequalities, leading to a global racial equity movement.

Historical Context of Racial Equity Movement

• Melonie D. mentions significant cases like Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery that contributed to this movement.

• She shares a personal anecdote about her mother’s surprise at global awareness of police brutality against Black Americans.

Google's 100-Day Sprint Initiative

• In response to these events, Google initiated a 100-day sprint focused on building sustainable equity both internally and externally.

• The initiative involved collaboration across teams at Google to leverage products for social good while ensuring internal equity measures were taken.

Commitment Towards Racial Equity

• Melonie D. outlines eight commitments made by Google—four external and four internal—with an investment exceeding $500 million aimed at racial equity by 2025.

• She stresses that this work requires collaboration with civil rights organizations as it cannot be done in isolation.

The Role of Education in Addressing Inequality

Importance of HBCUs

• Sherrell Dorsey highlights how catastrophic events have opened discussions around discrimination and marginalization faced by various groups.

• They discuss partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), emphasizing their significance in addressing educational inequalities.

Future Work Initiatives

• The conversation shifts towards unique partnerships aimed at upskilling marginalized communities for future job markets.

HBCU Initiatives and Diversity in Research

Google’s Commitment to HBCUs

• At Google, the speaker leads an HBCU President's Council aimed at creating internship opportunities and amplifying research initiatives for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

• The council recognizes a stewardship responsibility to provide diverse voices in cutting-edge research, as no HBCUs currently hold R1 research standing.

• Recently launched an applied research institute with UNCF and TMCF focused on mathematical and computational research, providing hands-on opportunities for students.

• A significant partnership with Spelman College includes a $5 million grant for a women of color STEAM database, showcasing unique collaborative efforts.

Addressing Technology Gaps

• Project Elevate Black Voices at Howard University aims to improve automatic speech technology that often fails to recognize diverse voices effectively.

• This initiative highlights the importance of diversity in product design and services, ensuring representation in technological advancements.

The Impact of 2020 on Diversity Efforts

• The speaker reflects on how 2020 brought attention to organizations supporting diversity, leading to increased focus on chief diversity officers within corporations.

• There was a notable surge in commitments towards diversity initiatives during this period, including pledges across various sectors like retail.

Economic Challenges and Shifts

• By 2022, economic challenges such as inflation led to a decline in corporate commitments towards diversity initiatives previously promised during the heightened awareness phase.

• Concerns arise about whether the focus on marginalized voices will diminish or change language due to shifting priorities.

Hope Amidst Challenges

• Despite concerns about potential setbacks in diversity efforts, there is optimism regarding ongoing discussions about race in workplaces post George Floyd's murder.

• The speaker emphasizes that normalization of conversations around race is crucial for progress and that retracting from these discussions is not an option.

Understanding the Importance of Belonging in Diversity and Inclusion

The Need for Fairness, Respect, and Dignity

• Emphasizes the necessity to demand fairness, respect, and dignity alongside equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The Concept of Belonging

• Argues that diversity, equity, and inclusion are inadequate without a sense of belonging; everyone must feel included.

Science Behind Belonging

• Discusses research indicating that individuals need to feel rewarded, seen, recognized, and valued to truly belong. This highlights competencies essential for progress despite pushback.

Generational Perspectives on Belonging

• Mentions different generational needs regarding belonging; identifies as a "geriatric millennial" while acknowledging Gen Z's boldness in demanding recognition.

Shifting Mindsets in Corporate Culture

• Reflects on personal upbringing focused on fitting in rather than adding value; contrasts this with Gen Z's approach of identifying what they can contribute to culture.

Creating an Inclusive Culture: Advice for Leaders

Universal Solutions for Diverse Communities

• Advises leaders to recognize universal solutions applicable across humanity while understanding specific community needs for effective treatment.

Lifting as We Climb

• Encourages leaders to support others' growth by ensuring inclusivity within their organizations to achieve desired cultural aspirations.

Acknowledgment of Representation