Confession: On the last day of Inbound, our brains were full. We only went to see one speaker, Tarana Burke, founder of the #metoo movement.
She shared many things that I will be processing for some time, but some of what she shared pertains specifically to those of us trying to create workplace cultures where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued.
She talked about one executive who was bragging to her about all the "diversity he was bringing into his company." But he was hiring people to check boxes, rather than creating a culture of inclusion. "If you say you value diversity and inclusion, you have to make sure every person that you bring in values the same things you do." When you hire people who share your values, and include them as ongoing job expectations - that's when you are creating an authentic culture.
She challenged companies like ours to choose these values while we're small, not when we're trying to turn a battleship around. At A Brave New, we sincerely want to confront any issues wherever we may encounter them, and create a safe place for people to work, be seen, heard, and known.
#Metoo is complex, and hard to write about. Tarana challenged us to talk about the movement differently. It’s not just workplace harassment - there are people who have suffered and are suffering who need help. It’s not about the next celebrity downfall, it’s about people who have been harmed, are being harmed, who will be harmed.
We can all make a commitment to honor and protect one another in a real way - in the workplace, at home, any place we can. For those wanting to support people who are in need of help, you can donate to the #metoo fund at The New York Women's Foundation or at Girls For Gender Equity.