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.

Kimberley Montgomery

As a young black professional woman, I wanted to be able to provide a space for other novice therapists of color to receive supervision and guidance while navigating the world of private practice counseling. I have provided opportunities for many men and women of color to provide therapy to the families in our community and learn how to build their own practice. I take pride in creating an inclusive workplace that not only engages therapists of color, but also provides clients the opportunity to be served by someone they can relate to and feel comfortable with. Read more>>

Porttia Portis

Creating a more inclusive workplace in coffee has been one of my biggest goals for a while now. For decades, the industry has been white male centric and vastly ableist, but I feel like I’ve connected to this newer generation of coffee workers aiming to amplify BIPOC voices, as well as make the workplace more accessible to those with disabilities. I try to mentor as many of the younger BIPOC and LGBTQ+ coffee professionals as I can, knowing that I didn’t have someone who looked like me to look up to in the industry when I first started. Read more>>

Indira Cristin

The mission of my company is “inclussion”. My cakes will make that nobody feels excluded when moment to cut the cake arrives. This is the best part of any party and should be celebrated together! No matter the allergies that someone can have, religion, lifestyle or diet, a cake from bettersweet will bring smiles and everyone would be able to enjoy it!! Read more>>

McKenzie Wren

Absolutely! It is my passion! Diversity and inclusion are buzzwords right now and what I know for sure is that it takes deep commitment to build a thriving inclusive culture. My work as a whole helps people learn to talk to each other in a way that strengthens relationships so that organizations can begin shifting their culture to be more inclusive. It’s easy to take a one-off diversity training but true inclusion centers relationships and helps create or strengthen feelings of belonging. Read more>>

Olivia Smalley

This has been a passion of mine since I started working in salons at age of 14. Ever walked in a business for the first time and had no idea where to go? When you walk into a salon and you’re greeted by everyone it makes you feel much more comfortable. I like to teach the importance of this to everyone in the industry. Read more>>

Hayden Dansky

system through the sustainable redistribution of otherwise wasted food to communities in need. We create No Cost Grocery Programs, which are designed to address these barriers by taking food to people in places they are already gathered, such as affordable housing sites. They are community led distribution points that engage the voices, experiences, and leadership of program participants. Read more>>

Cara Keyser

I believe each industry should be an even playing field. The music industry is very hard for women, non-binary and transgender people especially. I remember when I played on the radio once these two men actually laughed at me when I introduced myself and my preferred pronouns (which are they/them). It felt disheartening and embarrassing since I was being broadcast live. Too bad, it was a bummer, but all we can do is work hard on making the workplace more inclusive. Read more>>

John D Saunders

Our goal is to help 10,000 startups create beautiful, functional websites generating revenue and converting users into customers. For a more inclusive workplace, Talent shouldn’t be limited by zip code. Our team has members from around the globe in an effort to link diverse backgrounds and world views for quality collaboration. We communicate effectively via online platforms and virtual meetings to facilitate client projects with expertise. Read more>>

Michael Kohler

Recently, our 501c3 nonprofit bakery was presented with a challenge in that we had a young lady that was fully blind with a seeing eye dog come up next on our volunteer waiting list. I immediately thought how can we help someone with a seeing eye dog inside a commercial kitchen and overcome the fact that she is blind around hot ovens and sharp objects. I met with her and immediately started thinking outside the box to see how we could embrace her story and ultimately share the amazing journey that might help others realize that everyone “Kneads to be Kneaded”. Read more>>

Riane Roberts

When it comes to inclusivity, I am very passionate! I want to always challenge myself to grow and learn. I believe it is so important to continue to be progressive in this area. One of the main ways I have tried to make a more inclusive space is when it comes to the terminology I use when working with clients. I’ve revised the marketing materials I use, my contracts, and become more aware of how I phrase things. In the wedding industry, it is easy to think of everything as ‘bride and groom’. Read more>>