One of the most powerful things about being a business owner is the ability to create a work environment according to your own principles. So many of us have worked within a company or organization and been disappointed by the way things were run, the way team members were treated. So, we wanted to ask some fantastic business owners and operators how they’ve gone about creating a more inclusive workplace.
Bernadette Joy
Ten years ago, I was the token Asian girl my employers would dump the DEI work on for free labor.
NOPE! Not doing that again. This week, I was the PAID keynote speaker for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion conference in front of the biggest employers in North Carolina. I’ve gone from burned out corporate professional to six-figure business owner and a debt free millionaire. I only started getting paid (a lot) once I stopped accepting “opportunities for exposure.” Read more>>
Jessica Mishu
Prior to starting Blue Ridge Yoga, I had been involved in the yoga scene from Singapore to NYC and many places in between. I became keenly aware that there was a lack of gentle beginner style yoga as well as an acceptance for people who did not look “the yoga part”. When I moved to Knoxville TN, I decided to start a yoga studio for a traditionally older bracket of people. I had just completed a therapeutic yoga training and was more keenly aware than ever of the positive effects of yoga for all people, Read more>>
Caleb Owolabi
“Trying to create an inclusive workspace is not easy. When working with the best of the best that the media world has to offer. Yet still I try to create an inclusive workspace by inviting interns to come on set and watch me work” Caleb, a T.V. & Media Producer based in Asheville, North Carolina says that engaging diverse talent at a young age can prepare them to apply for technical-specific roles in T.V. and film later on. Caleb employs an “open set” concept which allows students of various backgrounds or socio-economic status to engage with the director and be exposed to quality production, early. Read more>>
Juneil Bettis
When I think about creating a more inclusive workplace environment a lot of the companies, I work with initially focus their time and efforts on diversity and inclusion, providing unbiased training and workshops but one of the most common areas that I see get overlooked is the area of Financial Wellness. Financial Wellness is essential to creating a more inclusive workplace for any company and if COVID didn’t teach us anything it taught us that employees are struggling financially, and it is impacting their productivity, team morale, and their overall health. Read more>>
Aria Reid
Surprisingly the food industry is dominated by men. Middle aged men. I want to see more people that look me; Young, black, ambitious, and far from average. The food industry is not going anywhere, I want people to realize that and come build a career out of it, either for themselves or get in the field. Soon I hope to teach the generations after me that this is the place for them. Read more>>