Inclusion Unscripted

Are you confident that your hiring process is inclusive and accessible to diverse candidates? Have you considered how candidates from diverse backgrounds perceive your hiring process?

Join host Margaret Spence on this week's episode of Inclusion Unscripted as she discusses the DEI divide in talent acquisition with Melissa Dobbins, founder of Career.Place. In this thought-provoking episode, Margaret and Melissa delve into the challe...

Ageism is a real issue that affects many women, especially those over 40. Yet, despite the tremendous wisdom and experience that comes with age, society often fails to recognize women's value and contributions as they age. 

Whether it's in the workplace, media representation, or other aspects of daily life, ageism can make it challenging for women over 40 to find their voice and be heard. 

In this episode of Inclusion Unscripted, h...

On today's episode of Inclusion Unscripted, we explore the meaning of empowerment in the talent development process and ask the question: Do women of color need organizations to empower them?

Host, Margaret Spence, unpacks the construct of empowering women of color within an organizational hierarchy. Margaret challenges the traditional definition of empowerment, which implies granting power and delegating authority to managers over...

We all have moments where we wonder if we've made the right decision or if we're on the right path. But what happens when those moments turn into regrets? For example, have you ever wondered what you'll regret if you don't act now? On this episode of Inclusion Unscripted, host Margaret Spence tackles this critical question. We're exploring the theme of regret and how it relates to our sense of purpose. Join us as we delve into brea...

We'll Ask Black Women, What Do You Want Next? 

As Black women, we face unique challenges in the workplace, and it's essential to have a clear vision of what we want next in our careers. In this episode, we'll dive into the importance of having a career plan and being intentional about our goals. We'll also discuss strategies for advocating for ourselves, seeking growth opportunities, and pivoting when necessary to align with our ch...

We will explore the systemic erasure of Black women at work. Despite their significant contributions to the workforce and following the yellow brick road for advancement, the career ladder is stalled.

In this episode of Inclusion Unscripted, host Margaret Spence will discuss the state of Black Women's Careers and the unique and complex challenges that hinder their career advancement. From racial and gender-based discrimination to u...

In a soul-searching conversation with one of my fellow DEI Consultants, she asked the critical question that I immediately wrote down – Can We Stop Pretending? Can we stop pretending that you care about DEI? Can we stop pretending that if we follow the rules, we'll get promoted? Can we stop pretending that you want inclusive hiring practices? Can we stop pretending that you want to hire diverse people? Can we stop pretending that i...

If you're an ally, it's easy to say you believe in Diversity - But Allies Cannot Believe that Diversity Is Enough! Unfortunately, most allies commit to DEI verbally but not substantively, so how do we move beyond DEI is essential to having partners that build equity and inclusion. 

In this episode of Inclusion Unscripted, Margaret Spence will discuss how allies show up in the DEI conversation and why we need less lip service and mo...

The fight for diversity and inclusion intensifies, and the silence is deafening. All the beautiful "inclusive statements" have dried up, and the propensity to push back against the erosion of inclusion is lost in the shuffle. The courage to say your actions against diversity aren't right is lost in the zeal to return to normal. What is normal if diversity and inclusion initiatives are being eroded before our eyes? 

In this episode ...

Self-Reflection: Serious Thoughts Our Wellness, Actions, Motivations, and Resilience. 

One of my biggest struggles is finding time to support everyone who needs it while staying focused on the work I am trying to do every day. I know for most DEI Leaders, that is your struggle as well. So how do you stay focused and support everyone – when you also need support to keep going? How do you prioritize and get stuff done if you’re helpi...

When we discuss diversity and inclusion, we often don’t touch on health equity. How do diverse people navigate spaces to access and receive equitable health care? Diversity decisions in health care can affect your employee’s well-being in the workplace. Everyone shows up as whole people – how can you help your employees navigate their health care in the workplace? 

In today’s episode, Margaret Spence is joined by special guest Dr. ...

Can We Close The $2.3 Trillion Gap For Black Women?

In this episode of "Inclusion Unscripted" with host Margaret Spence, the economic impact of Black Women is explored. The discussion is fueled by a recent article on Black Women's hair, which sparked a conversation about the economic challenges they face. The episode delves into Economics 101 for women of color, shedding light on how they are held back and the implications this has...

What Season Best Describes Your Career? It's time to do more than survive! As we move toward the end of the year, it’s time to assess where you are in your career and begin the process of moving toward your renewed goals.

Many of you are still in survival mode. Some of you are in the cul-de-sac of your career. Others are in the whirlwind of undefined expectations. Like the transitions of seasons from fall, to winter, to spring, to ...

Introspection: Are women given winnable roles? What happens when women fail on the public stage?

Two days ago, I predicted that the British Prime Minister wouldn’t last until the end of the week. Of course, I’m sad that I was right. But her public demise should make every woman take a moment to think about their own rise and potential fall.

When women rise, are they adequately supported? What causes women to flame out in the first...

The overarching question can I trust my own people to have my back? 

Imagine standing next to a 150-story building; you’re looking up,  and through the windows, you can see your fellow brother and sisters of color working diligently, and you ask yourself, how can I get to that level? What kind of support do I need from my community to rise? What type of support should I expect from us – my people? If I ask for help, will I get it a...

When you think about equity, what are your first thoughts? The normal narrative around DEI goes something like this, “Organizations must make diversity not a nice to have but a key advantage in your organizations’ core mission, corporate and social responsibility, and because it’s the right thing to do.” Nowhere in that discussion do we add equity. 

In this episode, Margaret Spence will follow up on last week's episode, where she d...

It just seems that equity isn’t a high-level discussion in the DEI space. Most DEI practitioners focus on creating diversity, building inclusion, and talking through equality but then stop short of addressing equity within their organizations. Why aren’t we leading off with equity before talking about diversity? 

In this episode of Inclusion Unscripted, Margaret Spence will discuss what equity means at every level of the organizati...

Besides your parents, your family, and friends, who believes in you? Who believes in your vision, your purpose, and your possibilities? Who believes that you can be a leader? It’s imperative to determine very quickly if your leaders believe in you. As a person of color, the organization we work for must believe in us. Without ardent supporters, you will never advance beyond the employee desk. Therefore, having someone who believes ...

How can DEI survive if the story's narrative assumes that we are less than and need help becoming more than?

In this episode of Inclusion Unscripted, Margaret Spence will address how we narrate the DEI story. She feels that our DEI Story cannot be "Poor, pitiful you," and along comes a big organization to rescue us from ourselves. The story doesn't define the people – the DEI data is a person – the process requires not only vision ...