We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ama Agyapong a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ama, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Any thoughts around creating more inclusive workplaces?

There are numerous ways to foster a more inclusive workplace. It all begins with envisioning a workplace that is truly inclusive, crafting core values that align with that vision, and embedding those values into every aspect of your operations, from your strategic plan to interview questions, and even in the way you recognize and promote your employees. It’s crucial to assess the entire employee life cycle for inclusive practices, from attraction to attrition, to identify areas for improvement.

In addition to every important strategy mentioned above, I like to focus on talent development because that is where the most exclusion happens. I help leaders manage the dynamics of difference by focusing on feedback. We’re not only talking about performance evaluations because, honestly, it’s too late by then. We’re talking about opportunities to give and receive feedback throughout the employee life cycle. Inclusion is honesty, trust, and self-awareness. Feedback provides that. Feedback done correctly builds credibility, reliability, and connection, therefore building trust.

Why is this important to me? Because nonactionable feedback negatively impacts Black and Latina women. Did you know a study by Textio showed Black women are nine times more likely to receive nonactionable feedback in a performance review? Did you know a Lean In report showed Black and Latina women have the lowest promotional rate and pay? I see a correlation and it is feedback! There is a way to throw out the “sandwich method” and have a real conversation that inspires collaboration and change. Think about it: In business school, we’re taught how to manipulate spreadsheets but not how to give culturally competent, inclusive feedback. Well, that’s what I specialize in. Empowering leaders to build relationships, find the data point, describe the impact, and garner thoughts and opinions by way of feedback!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am Ama Agyapong, That Inclusion Lady, founder of Inclusion Enterprises, a training and development consulting firm.

Where did it start? Well, I was the quintessential corporate woman with degrees and a dream. I got married, had a baby, and quit my job, totally blowing up my plan of climbing the corporate ladder. In the blink of an eye, my priorities shifted from policy to parenting. Looking back, it was just God redirecting me. I went from stay-at-home mom for all of four months to consulting for HR Knowledge Source, a boutique consulting firm, to launching my own brand and company that focuses on Inclusion.

I speak and teach on Feedback, Inclusive Leadership Strategies, and self-awareness because Inclusion begins with “I.”
I am most proud of our cohort-style management training program called the ‘Art of Culturally Competent Conversations’ because this 6-part training program takes a deep dive into giving and receiving feedback, starting with building relationships and ending with documentation. Many facets of this program have improved retention and engagement for several companies.

God has been so good; I’m excited about what’s next!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

YEP! Building my brand while going through a divorce. It’s literally the dichotomy of building and tearing down at the same damn time. It was hard, but to this day, I surprise myself with the level of strength and grace God flows through me.

How did you build your audience on social media?

This is an interesting question because I am currently #rebuilding my social media presence. While going through the divorce, I amassed a nice-sized following, only to get hacked and disabled, having to start over …. from scratch. I was distraught, cried, disengaged, then started over. Below are a few of my strategies
– Be authentic and add value.
– Be consistent because consistency builds trust.
– Be a conduit – great content flows through you for other people; therefore, it’s not really about you.
– Be humble and show gratitude. – people choose to spend their precious time listening and communicating with you, so take that graciously. I respond to almost every comment, DM, question, and share because these are real people choosing to support me. Something they don’t have to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.inclusionenterprises.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/that.inclusionlady/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Amathatinclusionlady/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ama-agyapong/
• Other: tik tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@that_inclusionlady

Image Credits

Kim Taylor
Kimazing Photography
https://www.kimazingphotos.com/