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.

Christin Peeples

There are several ways to create a more inclusive workplace. Here is a highly effective plan I share with clients to aid in growing a genuine sense of community and belonging, while promoting employee well-being and business growth. Read more>>

Jamar Hébert

Creating a more inclusive workplace is essential for fostering diversity, collaboration, and innovation. I can vividly think back to many moments in which I have worked in organizations lacking diversity – I even wrote an entire book based on this experience, “The Only Black Man in the Room.” Read more>>

Marisa Bowen

Yeah I think we all have felt like an outsider or misunderstood as a person a time or two throughout life and can all agree it’s uncomfortable & we never wanna feel that way again. I think we’re all more alike than different although our interests or even beliefs may be completely opposite. Read more>>

Katie Brown

As a wedding photographer who values inclusivity, you recognize the importance of creating a welcoming and supportive environment for couples who are not “society’s standard”. Throughout my experience and journey of fostering an inclusive space I have received requests from couples in tears who have experienced discrimination, harassment, and hate that has no place in today’s society, yet is still so prevalent. Read more>>

Jasmine Sara

Dominant culture is full of harmful narratives that we have to work to dismantle in ourselves and in our own approach to business. Running an ethical business that challenges the status quo means speaking up against things like ableism, and embedding accessibility and inclusivity within our workplaces. Read more>>

April Wilson

I think the quote “Be the change you wish to see,” is important to not only any business owner, but to any minority business owner. Not only do I identify as a Black woman, but I am also a Black woman who owns a business. The way that these identities intersect have been crucial to the way that I approach not only the corporate world, but the fitness world. Read more>>

Welby Broaddus

Employers can partner with community and Government agencies that supports the blind and visually impaired to obtain qualified job seekers who are blind and visually impaired to fill their open positions. I have experienced being discriminated from employment because of my vision. Read more>>

Doreen Hunter

Interior design has been an industry where there has been one singular outlook for all cultures, and that must stop. As we are creatives with different views and experiences, we must be a part of the built environment conversations; from the very beginning of the discussions for our communities where our opinions matter and should not be marginalized. — design is impactful. Read more>>

Kyler Phillips

Be open to change. Progress isn’t made through staying the course. Creating and promoting an inclusive workplace is hard work that must be done by everyone in the organization. Actively seeking out diverse perspectives and experiences creates a culture that celebrates and respects differences. Read more>>