WHY I'M NO LONGER TALKING TO COMPANIES ABOUT RACE
Two years ago, there was a great window of opportunity to talk about race. We were all on lockdown, unable to run away from difficult conversations. I got to work with a lot of companies delivering keynotes. I released a video specifically talking about the plight of black professionals. I got to see how systemic racism showed up (and got denied) not just in the UK but also in Europe, South America, South Asia, Asia Pacific and North America. Each instance was nuanced, but the root of those problems remained the same.
I always told clients I wasn’t a race expert or an EDI consultant. There are far more qualified people in my network whom I recommend that can build programmes and assess and measure this impact. However, whenever I broached the subject with clients, I was always clear that dealing with race sits within the larger framework of inclusive leadership, and that, while working with me, it would be a small part of a broader change narrative.
If I am honest, most companies still suck at dealing with race. Like, badly. It was sad to see a lot of HR and EDI departments out of their depth with anything outside of gender.
I am still seeing watered-down Race Action Plans.
I still see Black staff being promised the world, even as they find themselves in the crosshairs of the latest restructures and redundancies.
I am still not seeing promises around leadership pipelines bear fruit at scale.
So, I am no longer talking to companies about race.
I am no longer doing any webinars or offsites on race. My coaching on inclusive leadership will include race, but I am past it being the focal point of any broader discussion. I happily work with affected racial groups in private offline communities across sectors about leadership and career development, but I am done talking.
I continue to coach underrepresented cohorts on leadership development. Still, I don't even work with ERGs on this anymore - unless there are demonstrable budgets and leadership pathways, I am out.
Can you demonstrate how you integrate racial equity as part of your leadership? Until the answer is a resounding ‘YES’, miss me out on this talking BS.
Talk is cheap. Action is priceless.
