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.

Leandra Frost

Having an Inclusive workspace is important and a big part of our salon workspace it allows everyone’s needs of comfortability to be met. As well as new ones introduced; for example, having a wide range of cultures and genders represented, it introduces a new flavor and way of doing things other than your own, and can positively impact the productivity of your business. Read more>>

Eileen Lee

country!) and The Lola is a community and space where we come together to support one another under an abundance mindset and a psychologically safe and comfortable space where womxn can have unfiltered and vulnerable conversations. One of our community values is committing to be an anti-racist community and our priority at the start of our launch was to be intentionally diverse, inclusive and equitable for womxn across races. Read more>>

BJ Orr

One of my key challenges working in corporate America was finding a place where I felt valued and respected. I worked in a few settings as the only black guy in a majority white department. On occasions I was made to feel as though no one could really relate to me nor respected my opinions or ideas. And why would they? No one really thought like me or shared my life experiences. In order to truly contribute and grow within an organization you have to be able to connect and bond with people you work with. However, when you work in environment where you’re surrounded by people, who unlike you, share distinct traits, heritage and perspective; you are sometimes made to feel like an outsider. Read more>>

Aisha Batista

I’m working on creating a space where anyone women can come and feel beautiful after they leave. I want to make sure that no matter the condition of your hair or what you have going on in your life that you leave feeling your best. Read more>>

Amanda Allen

At Birch we always strive to create an inclusive workspace. We are a body positive and inclusive salon. It is so important to make each guest and stylists feel their best in our space. Read more>>

Patricia Olivares

I grew up in a small town near the Texas border, where you needed two qualifications to run for office. One you needed to be a man, and two you needed to be old. No one at any level of government looked like me. I was a young Latina from a hardworking neighborhood and a single-parent household. We had enough and when we didn’t our neighbors pitched in to help. Read more>>

Stephanie Rodriguez

We opened our business to create a more inclusive workspace for me (Yamel). After I graduated with an associate’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, I did multiple internships and applied for numerous jobs within my field and was never extended an offer. Through networking, I later found out that some of the people hired for positions I applied for had fewer qualifications than I did. After job searching for a few months with no luck Stephanie said “if you can’t find a job let’s create one” and that is how we started But Wait There’s More. Read more>>

Kendra Carranza

Since I remember I’ve been excluded of many places simply for being different; My studio is an open house for everyone with all kinds of ideas and ways of expression. It’s important for me to make everyone feel safe and comfortable specially when you want to put out your ideas and express yourself without holding back. Read more>>