The Will to Change: Where Leadership Meets the Courage to Evolve

In this minisode, Jennifer continues the discussion about JBC's powerful prospective client questionnaire and the thinking behind each question. Discover how to use inquiry to determine the current state of the organization, what resources are available for change, and how asking the right questions can help an organization shape their goals and define success.

Joy Fitzgerald, Chief Diversity Officer at Eli Lilly, joins the program to discuss a study that the company undertook to gain a better understanding of the journey of women in their company, as well as some of the takeaways and key findings. Joy reveals what senior leadership needs to do to create a greater sense of safety and vulnerability for all women in the organization, including women of color. She also shares the unique approach that Eli Lilly took to sharing the data, and the impact that the study had on participants.

In this minisode, Jennifer discusses the importance of asking consultative questions during the sales process. She reveals some of the questions from JBC's powerful prospective client questionnaire and the thinking behind each question. Discover an empowering way to think about the sales process and why sales is a crucial aspect to ushering in positive change.

Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer for VaynerMedia, joins the program to discuss her own diversity story and discusses how she landed in her unique position. Discover the importance of empathy and "holding space" in creating a culture of diversity and inclusion, and why some of the ways in which we've traditionally spoken about D&I have potentially prevented progress. Claude also shares her insights on how members of the Millennial generation and Generation Z think differently about inclusiveness, and shares takeaways for leaders about how to move from intention to impact.

In this minisode, Jennifer discusses the difference between a service-based or product-based business and how to decide which one is right for you. She also reveals the difference between strategic consulting and training, and what she looks for when hiring consultants. You'll also discover how to find out more information about the new D&I Practitioner Program, a new virtual program from JBC.

Kerrien Suarez shares her journey of moving from being employed in the for-profit and social sector to her current role leading Equity in the Center, an initiative that addresses the gap in the diversity, inclusion and equity practices in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. She discusses the various causes of racism and how organizations can make structural changes that empower leaders to have a personal transformation. She also reveals how to build a "race equity culture" and the various levers that organizations can use to effect change.

In this minisode, Jennifer reveals how she made the decision to move from hired consultant to founder of her own company and how she has scaled her business. Discover the key considerations that you need to decide before starting a business, and the first team members to bring on board. Jennifer also shares how to raise capital and manage cash flow, and what to think about when deciding on a name for your company

Professor, author, storyteller, and filmmaker, Murray Nossel joins the program to discuss his diversity story of growing up gay in South Africa and discusses the healing power of listening and hearing on a deep level. Murray also turns the tables on Jennifer and asks her to share her own origin story of moving from being a professional singer to her current work in diversity and inclusion. Discover the importance of valuing your own story and how to shape our stories for maximum impact.

In this minisode, Jennifer reveals how and why you should be a panelist and the importance of taking the stage. Jennifer shares how being a panelist and moderator has helped her grow her business and shares tips for creating diverse and inclusive panels. Discover how to prepare questions, and the key qualities of a good moderator.

Wade Davis, ex-NFL player, speaker and author, shares his journey of being a a gay man in the NFL and subsequently becoming the NFL's first LGBT inclusion consultant. Wade reveals why it can sometimes be easier to have challenging conversations in the sports world than in a corporate environment, and discusses what senior leadership can do to make positive changes in their organizations. He also examines the struggle for gender equality, how to use fear in a constructive manner, and the importance of taking risks in order to grow and change.

In this minisode, Jennifer shares the 4 steps of the ally continuum, and what it takes to move from one step to the next. Discover how to best use your voice to support others and how to overcome the pushback that can sometimes happen when exhibiting ally behaviors. Jennifer also shares a possible 5th step in the ally continuum.

Dr. Bandy Lee, psychiatrist and internationally renowned expert on violence, shares her diversity story of growing up as a Korean woman in the Bronx during the 1970s and how it informed her research and career interests. Dr. Lee discusses the psychic toll of structural violence and exclusion, and how inequality creates psychological distress for all members of society. She also reveals tips for staying optimistic even in the midst of adversity, and shares self-care tips for advocates.

In this minisode, Jennifer discusses the importance of being able to reach out and meet people where they are, and how to compel allies to take action. Discover how to have difficult conversations in a respectful and productive manner, and how to balance the need for in-group experiences while still being welcoming of allies and accomplices.

Trudy Bourgeois, CEO and Founder of The Center for Workforce Excellence, and author of the book Equality: Courageous Conversations About Women, Men, and Race to Spark a Diversity and Inclusion Breakthrough, joins the program to discuss her own diversity story of growing up as an African-American woman in the segregated south in the 1960s. Trudy shares her journey of going on to break the glass ceiling in the consumer goods industry by becoming the first African American woman to rise to the level of VP, and eventually founding an organizational cultural change, training, consulting and coaching company. Discover an alternative way of thinking about allyship, the need for those with privilege to support marginalized groups, and what is needed to move from rhetoric about diversity and inclusion to true transformation.

In this minisode, Jennifer shares her reflections on episode #32, Reversing The Generation Equation and how Millennial mentors are taking center stage. Discover what all of us can learn from developing and sharing our point of view and why the world needs to hear it now. Jennifer also shares some of the content marketing methods that she uses in her business, and shares tips for becoming a thought leader and influencer in your field.

Lisa Dolly, CEO of Pershing, a BNY Mellon company, and JamiLynn Cimino, Vice President at Pershing, join the program to discuss their reverse mentoring program. Lisa and JamiLynn share lessons and takeaways about the program, which allows Millennial talent to become mentors to executive leaders. They also share their thoughts about how the program helps younger employees learn organizational and leadership skills, and assists executive mentees in learning relevant issues that can inform business strategy for their firm. To read the white paper about the reverse mentoring program, visit https://information.pershing.com/rs/651-GHF-471/images/per-reversing-the-generation-equation.pdf

In this minisode, Jennifer shares her reflections and thoughts about a recent incident at Starbucks, and the lessons and takeaways for all organizations. She reveals the limiting beliefs and obstacles that can lead to blind spots and gaffes, and what leaders need to do to create more awareness and create a culture shift. She also discusses the role that storytelling plays in this process, and how to create powerful and authentic stories that support diversity and inclusion efforts.

Actress and author Tina Alexis Allen joins the program to discuss her recently-released book, "Hiding Out: A Memoir of Drugs, Deception and Double Lives". Tina shares her astonishing true story of recovering from abuse and finding healing, and shares lessons about the power of sharing your voice and truth as a path to forgiveness. Tina shares her thoughts about what is needed from men in order for societal healing to occur, and the transformation that occurs when people and organizations have the courage to own their story.

In this minisode, Jennifer shares her reflections about motivational speaker and author Tony Robbin's comments about the #MeToo movement and the broader takeaways for all leaders about becoming aware of their blind spots. Jennifer shares a powerful example about how a leader used a crisis moment to transform himself and his organization and reveals what is needed from male leaders in the age of #MeToo.

Entrepreneurial soul coach Rha Goddess discusses why we are at a ripe moment for corporate change and the invitation for white male leaders in terms of allyship. She reveals the conversations that we need to be having as a society in an open and transparent way and the work that needs to happen to shift culture and embrace inclusion. Discover how to liberate yourself and others, and how to use your voice to stay true, get paid and do good.

In this minisode, Jennifer discusses the need for safe spaces for men and male leaders to explore their vulnerabilities and how they can be allies to marginalized communities. She shares her experience of being a panelist at the NYC.AnitaB.org's Male Ally Summit 2018 and why events like the Male Ally Summit are crucially important. Discover the key qualities that future leaders will need to possess and why change can't always start from the top.

Michael Skolnik, entrepreneur, civil rights activist and speaker, joins the program to share his own diversity story and discusses how corporations are becoming more involved in social justice issues and the implications of that involvement. Michael shares the connection between culture and social movements and the changes that men and male leaders need to make in order to help facilitate positive change. Discover the importance of being honest with ourselves and others about power and privilege.

In this minisode, Jennifer discusses how creating and fostering exclusive communities in the workplace can actually generate more diversity and inclusion. She reveals how to balance exclusivity with allyship, and how in the future marginalized communities may become allies to one another. Discover why these communities can help retain and attract millennial talent.

Leanne Pittsford, CEO & Founder, Lesbians Who Tech., include.io + Tech Jobs Tour, discusses her journey as a queer woman working in the tech industry and why she founded Lesbians Who Tech, the largest LGBTQ network of technologists in the world. She reveals the reasons why the tech industry represents a great opportunity for diverse talent and shares the work that she is doing to help create more diversity in the tech sector by scaling referrals outside of existing networks. Discover how leaders can support these efforts and the importance of creating safe spaces within organizations.

In this minisode, Jennifer discusses why diversity and inclusion are integral to the future of work. She shares her thoughts on the importance of creating an organizational structure that looks at employees in a more holistic way, and explores how and why organizations can create a workplace where all individuals can flourish and thrive. Discover the important role that men have to play in the process of reinventing organizational structures and the need to redefine masculinity in the 21st century.

Keynote speaker, advertising director, and founder of the 3% Conference, Kat Gordon, discusses the efforts and success that she has had in challenging the lack of female creative directors in advertising. Kat shares her earliest experiences which led her to become aware of diversity and inclusion and reveals the common denominator that she sees in the early experiences of allies. Discover how men can best support women in inclusion efforts, why brands need to find the courage to take action and the opportunities that arise in learning from mistakes.

In this minisode, Jennifer discusses the work that she does with leaders helping them to excavate their authentic story, and how they can use that story to create change. Jennifer shares a powerful structure for finding the universal truth in any story, and reveals why the process of story development has value for a leader, even before sharing that story with others. Discover how to condense your story to any length and how to overcome some of the most common storytelling challenges.

Louise Chernin, President & CEO of the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) joins the program to discuss the benefits of being a LGBT-owned business entity and the efforts that the GSBA is making to have an impact both locally and internationally. Louise discusses her own diversity story, which includes moving from New York City to the Washington State, and the lessons and takeaways she learned from her experiences. Louise also reveals her thoughts about the unique challenges that LGBT business owners of color face, and how the common struggles of being a business owner can unite the LGBT business community.

In this minisode, Jennifer shares her thoughts on the #MeToo movement and the overall connection to diversity and inclusion efforts. Jennifer discusses the role that men can play as allies in being part of the solution and the important role that the workplace often occupies for diverse talent. She also reveals how women have often been left out of important mentorship opportunities, and how leaders can ensure that mentorship opportunities are more inclusive.

Sally Hogshead, New York Times bestselling author and CEO of How To Fascinate, discusses her own diversity story, which includes spending time with a tribe in Nairobi. Sally reveals how her work as a copywriter for top brands led her to understand the importance of fascination for brand development, and how she eventually applied that to personal branding, launching an assessment that has since been completed by one million professionals. Sally also discusses the importance of creating teams with diverse strengths and the blind spots that can arise when we work with people who have strengths too similar to our own. Discover how Sally is now using the science of fascination to help girls and women understand who they are at their very best so that they can show up as their most impressive and influential selves.

In this minisode, Jennifer provides tips for leaders who are struggling with where to begin in creating positive change when it comes to diversity and inclusion. Discover the first steps that any leader needs to take and how to get buy in from key influencers and stakeholders. Jennifer also shares her thoughts about the future of work and why individual change agents will be the leaders of tomorrow.

In this minisode, Jennifer provides tips for leaders who are struggling with where to begin in creating positive change when it comes to diversity and inclusion. Discover the first steps that any leader needs to take and how to get buy in from key influencers and stakeholders. Jennifer also shares her thoughts about the future of work and why individual change agents will be the leaders of tomorrow.

Kathy Martinez, Senior Vice President, Disability Segment Market Brand & Strategy for Wells Fargo & Company, joins the program to share her unique diversity story and how she came to be aware of and involved with efforts to create a more just and equal society. Kathy reveals why creating more accessible products and services ultimately benefits all consumers and why it makes good business sense. She also discusses misconceptions that leaders often have when it comes to workplace accommodations and the return on investment that comes with accommodating the needs of all employees.

In this minisode, Jennifer discusses the importance of sharing stories from underrepresented groups, as well as the fear and risk that can go along with sharing a stigmatized identity. Jennifer also shares the important role that allies have to play in creating a safe space where diverse talent can be recognized and heard, how to encourage allies to take a stand, and shares a case study in allyship.

Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin, CEO of Gaia Project Consulting, LLC and Founder of The Gaia Project for Women's Leadership, joins the program to discuss her own diversity story and how to effectively advocate for change. Elizabeth shares insights about how women can build allyship with men and reveals her hopes for the final outcome of the #MeToo movement. Elizabeth also details the steps that corporations can take to ensure that diverse talent feels valued and safe in the workplace.

In this special "minisode" Jennifer reveals the biggest obstacles that get in the way of retaining diverse talent and how leaders can shift their thoughts and actions in order to develop and nurture diverse teams. Discover what needs to be addressed in the workplace in order for diverse talent to feel acknowledged and heard, and the positive impact that can have on an organization. Finally, Jennifer discusses the need for men to be allies in this process, and the important role they have to play in creating change on a larger scale.

Innovation coach and tech pioneer Ellen Petry Leanse joins the program to discuss how to tap into the power of your brain to gain more focus, confidence and relaxation. Ellen shares what it was like to be part of the iconic 1984 Macintosh launch team, and her thoughts about the current state of the tech workplace for women. Ellen also reveals the importance for leaders of creating a safe environment for all employees.

In this special "minisode" Jennifer shares her reflections from hosting over 20 episodes of The Will To Change and discusses the importance of vulnerability for leaders. Discover why vulnerability is so important when it comes to diversity and inclusion, and the cost of failing to be vulnerable. Jennifer also shares her thoughts about balancing the need to be transparent with the possible risks that sharing your story can bring, and the potential positive impact that one authentic email or discussion can have on others in an organization.

David Smith, Associate Professor of Sociology at the United States Naval Academy and author of "Athena Rising" discusses the importance of mentorship for job growth and how men can become effective mentors to women. David discusses some of the most common objections and obstacles that arise when it comes to men mentoring women and how to overcome them. He also shares the benefits that men report that they receive from mentoring women, and why he is hopeful about the future of gender equality in the workplace.

Author, entrepreneur and tech executive Elissa Shevinksy discusses the challenges that she experienced while working in the tech sector, and what led her to write her book "Lean Out: The Struggle For Gender Equality in Tech and Start-Up Culture." Elissa shares her perspective that gender and diversity inequality in organizations is often symptomatic of deeper problems, and how progressive movements and leaders can do a better job of creating allies and coalitions. Elissa also talks about her own evolution as a leader, and what she has learned along the way.

Aaron Dignan, founder of The Ready and co-founder of Responsive.org, shares his own diversity story and why he always felt different growing up. Aaron discusses how companies can move away from command-and-control bureaucracy towards new forms of self-organization, dynamic teaming, and empowerment. He also gives examples from his own company about the practices that he uses to create trust among diverse teams, as well as an overall culture of inclusivity.

Marketing, branding and management consultant Dorie Clark shares her diversity story of growing up as an LGBTQ individual in a small town in North Carolina, and eventually moving away and graduating from college when she was just 18 years old. Dorie discusses the changing world of work and the corporate power structure, and how becoming more entrepreneurial can afford individuals from traditionally marginalized communities the opportunity to claim their own power and voice and monetize their expertise. Dorie also shares the evolution of her own business, and what you need to do to become an authority in your field.

Tony award winning theatre producer Seth Greenleaf discusses his own diversity story and how that led him to be able to negotiate differences and build bridges between individuals and groups. Seth shares his perspective as a Broadway producer on the benefits of diverse casting in Broadway theatre productions and speaks about his journey of finding himself as a straight man playing in a gay football league. Discover the lessons that Seth took away from his football experience, and what led him to direct an award winning documentary about the National Gay Flag Football League. Finally, Seth shares his wisdom about how we can reject the ideology of intolerance while finding compassion and understanding even for people who hold misguided beliefs.

Malcom Glenn, strategic partnerships manager at Uber Technologies, discusses what led him to join Uber and the work that Uber is doing to increase accessibility for people with disabilities as well as other diverse populations. Malcom shares his perspective on the Google memo, both as a man of color in the tech industry, as well as a former employee of Google. He also discusses his perspective on what needs to happen to create lasting change in the tech industry when it comes to diversity and inclusion, and expresses why he believes the tech industry will be a source of positive social change.

Robin Zander, founder of Spring Space and The Responsive Conference, discusses the importance of reinventing work and the connection to diversity and inclusion. Robin shares his thoughts about what's missing from the current structure of work and education, and what needs to change. Robin discusses his background as a performer and how that informs his work, and the unique way that he plans and organizes his conferences.

Alexis Krivkovich, partner at Mckinsey and Company and co-leader of McKinsey's "Women in the Workplace" research, shares key takeaways and insights from the 2016 study conducted by LeanIn.org and McKinsey. Alexis shares insights based on her own experience as a woman in senior leadership and the unique challenges that women face in the workforce. She also discusses the role that men can play in fostering a more inclusive workplace environment and how to move beyond good intentions and improve diversity outcomes.

Alphonso David, Chief Counsel for NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, shares his experience of living through a military coup in Liberia when he was ten years old, and his subsequent experience of moving to the United States and being taunted and bullied by his peers. Discover how Alphonso found the courage to be true to himself and become an attorney fighting for LGBTQ rights. He also discusses the work he has done as Chief Counsel, including being instrumental in helping to get the Marriage Equality Act passed in 2011, and shares his thoughts on the current political environment and what activists need to do to create positive social change.

Ray Arata, Founder of The Better Man Conference & Co-Founder of The Gender Leadership Group shares his experience of developing his own healthy masculinity and the work that he is doing to engage men and women in partnering to support gender equality. Ray shares what he sees as the biggest obstacles that prevent men from embracing their full self, and the fears that male leaders have about addressing inclusion and diversity. He also shares his perspective on the importance of women embracing men as allies for gender equality, and why gender equality is beneficial for everyone.

Amanda Steinberg, author of Worth It- Your Life, Your Money, Your Terms and founder of DailyWorth and WorthFM, shares her journey of finding her identity and increasing her net worth. Amanda discusses some of the obstacles that keep women from accumulating wealth, and how to overcome them. She also addresses the need for women to invest their money in people and causes that they believe in and the social impact that investing can create.

Bob Gower, organizational design consultant, joins the program to discuss his own diversity story, including his experiences with masculinity. Bob shares his thoughts about how to generate more networked collaboration within organizations and how to create more diverse teams. He also discusses how organizations can become more agile and what leadership looks like in a customer-centric organization.