The People Lab’s Post

🌟 Thrilled to share highlights from an unforgettable evening spent at the Essex Ladies in Business Networking Event, where the fusion of creativity and networking painted a truly vibrant picture. The sound of laughter and conversation filled the air as we embraced the unique experience of clay pottery painting, an activity that reminded us all about the importance of crafting our professional paths with patience and precision. 🎨🖌 This gathering wasn't just about discovering our hidden artistic talents; it was a powerful platform for ambitious women in business to connect, share insights, and fortify relationships in a supportive and inspiring environment. The synergy between the arts and business was palpable, highlighting how creativity and innovation can drive success in even the most structured of fields. By embracing our artistic sides, we opened new avenues for dialogue and collaboration, underscoring the role of unconventional methods in solving traditional challenges. 🤝🏽🙌🏽 Tonight's event underscored the essence of networking - it's not just about meeting people; it's about building a community that uplifts, supports, and drives collective growth. As we painted our pottery pieces, we also painted a broader picture of the future of female leadership in business. ✨ Here's to more such events that not just bring us together but also pave the way for breakthroughs across industries. #EssexLadiesInBusiness #WomenInLaw #NetworkingEvent #CreativityInBusiness #ProfessionalGrowth

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending Colour Of Research (CORe) first in-person meeting. It was such an uplifting, welcoming event. Of course, we addressed a serious topic; racial diversity in market research. Whilst the industry is improving, we still have a long way to go. According to the MRS diversity, inclusion and equality in the market research sector survey from 2020, only 9% of market researchers who belong to an ethnic minority believe that people have the same opportunities in our sector regardless of ethnicity or race. This belief is substantiated by the fact that the average salary for researchers belonging to an ethnic minority was reported to be 20% less than that of white British researchers. Rectifying the injustice in our sector is not an overnight fix, but here are some of the tangible takeaways relevant to both agency and client-side teams that I took away from CORe’s Allyship in Action discussion: 1.      We need to give people permission to fail. Allyship is not passive. Often people ‘take a backseat’ out of fear of saying the wrong thing. Even with the best intentions, we are all human, and don’t always get it right. To increase the number of active allies and our impact, there needs to be a safe space for constructive feedback.  2.      Balance the heavy topics with moments of joy. Addressing inequality and the lack of diversity can often be a heavy topic. Leaning into this is important, but it's equally important to make time to celebrate the different cultures in your team and customer base.  3.      Ringfence budget to support groups like CORe. If nothing else, protecting budget to support organizations like Colour of Research is one of the most tangible ways you can increase the visibility and progress of the mission.  4.      Bring the topic to the agenda, no matter your seniority. Sometimes it can feel like it’s only the senior leaders who have the power to influence change. It’s important we empower insight professionals at all levels to champion diversity. There was something so uplifting about being in a room with people who had dedicated their evening to this topic. It’s great to have those moments, but the people who need to hear the discussion the most are not the people in that room. For that reason, we must bring the discussion to the team meetings, events, conferences, and research briefs where it may be missing.   I'm lucky to be part of a brand who truly celebrates diversity at Dr. Martens plc. I've recent joined AURA Insight volunteers who are all committed to improving the diversity in our sector and working with CORe and other groups to do this. Most of the people I met at the CORe event worked at an agency. Makes sense – but there’s a huge opportunity for us to hold hands on this. If you work in the insight industry in any capacity and care about this topic – register with CORe to learn more about their work. https://lnkd.in/eb8Httxj  

A few months ago, my friend Dr. Delatorro McNeal II, MS, CSP, CPAE held a birthday gathering in New York City. I went, intending to just pop in, give him a hug, and disappear. Robbie Quinn came with me. We had a great time, and we didn't end up leaving right away. And soon, Dr. Del had gathered everyone, stood in front of us to thank us all for coming out — and challenged each person in the room to stand up in front of everyone there and share a few moments of ourselves. Beyond a simple introduction: share a story, how we knew Del, something about who we really are, or what makes us tick. By the way, this was a room full of professional speakers — including Dr. D, who is in the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame — so it was understandably a bit daunting for the folks in the room who don't make their living standing on stages. But they each got up there and every one of them did an amazing job. That includes Robbie: as a photographer, especially one who makes an art of street portraits and a living doing professional portraits, he shared insights about the contradictory demands a great photo entails. Whether you're selling houses or running for office, he said, people want to see multiple sides of you at once: the warm, likeable person they want to have a beer with, as well as the bulldog who will fight for them and, whatever the job to be done is, get it done. His job is to draw all of that out of you in a way the camera loves. It was brilliant, and everyone walked away a little savvier about how to exist in front of a camera. I share that to say: when I read this essay by Anand Giridharadas about the dynamics of last night's presidential debate, my takeaway is not necessarily partisan. It is human. It is heavily gendered, yes, in that women have a much harder and higher set of demands made on the contradictions we must embody simultaneously, and without fail. But there is a degree to which this ability to contain multitudes is asked of us all. This insight also comes into play in our ability to be both innovative and empathetic; to lead with boldness and humility; to cast visions that are both future-ready and of the moment. There is a reason my work is drawn to contradictions, like "Tech Humanist" and "Strategic Optimism." Contrast adds dimension. Being able to manage these contradictions in your professional life is a skill. Being able to capture a portrait of someone demonstrating managing these contradictions is both a skill and a rare form of art. Being required to do all this at once on the highest of public stages because you are trying to override generations of sexism and racism all at once is reflection of flaws in our public imagination. But since all of these dynamics are always in motion, it behooves us to talk about them more openly. Kudos to Anand for this insightful essay. https://lnkd.in/e4gruPPf

Congratulations to Lesly Cardec with ClearEdge for being named 2024 Influential Woman in Talent Acquisition.  🥂🎉🥂 Lesly successfully launched a new division for ClearEdge called ClearEdge Recruiting. She went from being an in-house marketer to running strategic accounts at our agency to running her own recruiting /TA division. Most marketers don't jump right into P&L roles, but Lesly did. Her peers recognize her because she's paving the way for future marketers to do the same - a true inspiration to many. Profitable in its first year, Lesly is shattering industry records. Examples of her success. Placed numerous Marketing Directors at medium and large firms. Placed Fractional CMOs and Heads of Marketing. Achieved a 100% fill rate. She averaged 45 days to close ( exceeding the industry standard of 90-120 days). Lesly is a frequent guest on industry podcasts and panel discussions. "People truly turn to her as a thought leader in our space." her peer said. This annual Recruitment Process Outsourcing Association (RPOA) program celebrates women in Talent Acquisition during Women’s History Month with two awards based on peer recognition. #WomenInTA Congratulations Lesly! Keep your light shining! See a list of all nominees at https://bit.ly/3TfkjLG #ta #talentacquisition #rpo  

Are you passionate about driving meaningful change in diversity work? The impact of colonization and racial hierarchies continues to hinder progress across all sectors—from education and employment to health and innovation. In a field lacking clear standards, it's crucial for diversity professionals to reflect on their practice and ensure their work truly serves underrepresented communities. In our latest blog post, we dive deep into the challenges facing diversity work today and pose essential questions for practitioners. Are we genuinely the best fit to lead this work? How do our experiences shape or limit the conversations we’re having? Join us as we explore the gaps in representation and the need for accountability in our field. Read the full post to challenge your own approach, participate in my anonymous survey, and register for our upcoming webinars where we'll tackle these issues head-on. Let's build excellence together! https://lnkd.in/evhRbAsc

Join me and New World Women on Monday, May 20th on 1 pm CST for Mindfully Cultivating Awareness, Choice and Freedom This one-hour Zoom call is one session in a 12-series course entitled *Are You An Everyday Mystic?* You do not have to attend all sessions to enjoy this session and benefit from its wisdom. This is for you if you: 1. want to positively contribute to the new systems and the NEW WORLD we are co-creating 2. are ready to enhance your intuition 3. are curious how to develop your ‘clairs’ such as claircognizance, clairvoyance, clairaudience and clairsentience 4. want to integrate and embody expanding awareness and consciousness into daily living 5. want to learn how to re-center when you recognize you are out of alignment 6. want to remember who you are at your essence 7. want to align all areas of your life with your true nature 8. are ready to realize your full potential 9. want to find others who are everyday mystics and share your wisdom and experiences Get all the details here: https://lnkd.in/dmGTUBwx

Attending conferences can be beneficial for personal and professional development in various ways: 💜💜 1. Networking Opportunities: Conferences provide a platform to connect with peers, experts, and professionals in your field. Networking can lead to collaborations, job opportunities, and valuable relationships. 👋🏾👋🏾 2. Knowledge Sharing: Conferences feature presentations, workshops, and panel discussions by industry leaders and researchers. You can gain insights into the latest trends, research findings, and best practices in your field. 💭💭 3. Professional Development: Conferences offer opportunities to enhance your skills, knowledge, and expertise through interactive sessions, training workshops, and educational sessions. 📊📊 4. Exposure to New Ideas: Conferences expose you to diverse perspectives, ideas, and approaches from speakers and attendees. This can spark creativity, innovation, and fresh thinking in your work. 💡💡 5. Personal Growth: Conferences offer a chance for personal growth, self-reflection, and self-improvement. You can learn from others' experiences, gain new perspectives, and challenge your own assumptions. 🤝🏾🤝🏾 6. Inspiration and Motivation: Conferences bring together like-minded individuals passionate about their field. Being surrounded by motivated professionals can inspire and energize you, reigniting your passion for your work. 🌻🌻 Overall, attending conferences provides a valuable opportunity for professional networking, learning, growth, and development, making it a worthwhile investment of time and resources. 💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾 ‼️‼️‼️BWICR Conference 2024‼️‼️‼️‼️ 📣 Early bird tickets for the Black Women In Clinical Research Conference are now on sale! Don't miss the chance to attend this amazing event. 🎉 Stay tuned for the exciting program that we have in store for you. Don't wait until the last minute to purchase your ticket! Get yours now at https://lnkd.in/e6etK29r Early bird ticket sales end on 07 Apr 2024. #bwicr #clinicalresearchassociate #conference #clinicaltrial #clinicalresearch #clinicalresearcHER #clinicalresearchassociate

Each year, we host over 40 panels, salon dinners, workshops, receptions, and trips for our future female leaders in policy and innovation, helping them grow personally and professionally. Are you interested in getting involved and jump-starting your professional development? Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/e8DRJPH8 #ProfessionalDevelopment #Policy #Innovation

Today I'm giving a presentation at the Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES) program about the need for workplace safety for women of color at academic institutions. I will be sharing Dr. Antoinette Candia-Bailey's story and stats such as those found below. ✔ According to the 2023 Women at Work report by Lean In and McKinsey & Co., "Women who experience microaggressions are less likely to feel psychologically safe, resorting to 'self-shielding' by muting their voices, code-switching, or concealing important aspects of themselves. The resulting stress is significant: they are four times more likely to frequently feel burned out and three times more likely to consider leaving their companies." ✔ Penn State professor, Leah P. Hollis, Ed.D., notes that 58 to 62 percent of employees face workplace bullying, with the majority being from marginalized communities. She points out that many of these employees feel powerless to counteract organizational mistreatment. ✔ A 2021 report by Lean In and McKinsey & Co. found that Black women, more inclined to confront bias and discrimination at work, also faced higher rates of retaliation for doing so. It's time to listen AND act when it comes to evaluating workplace policies and ways of working for marginalized populations. I'm crafting solutions for everyone to feel safe at work, so please subscribe to my mailing list to stay abreast of updates. #StopPlayingDiversity https://lnkd.in/e4pTrW8m

Can a signature solve the challenges of diversity and equity in brain sciences? No, but it is a symbolic act that commits! Together with 748 individuals & 224 organizations, DANDRITE recently endorsed the ALBA Network Declaration, indicating support for actively working to create an inclusive workplace culture and a healthy environment for all. DANDRITE is thus the first research institution based in Denmark to sign the declaration. Director and Professor Poul Henning Jensen explains: "We acknowledge that this journey is a long one and that identifying and implementing concrete actions to address these challenges is an ongoing and dynamic process. However, through this action, we aim to demonstrate our support and commitment to implementing measures within our research community". The ALBA declaration includes a long list of actions that organizations can take to recognize and counteract biases, create a community based on allyship and advocacy and create a healthy work-life balance. "Being a broad international research centre, we view this symbolic act as a way to show our international partners and colleagues that it's an agenda we're committed to," Poul Henning Jensen concludes.  The ALBA Network is a branch of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies - FENS. The aim of the network is to: - Share best practices to counteract bias - Recognise outstanding contributions to science and diversity - Provide networking and mentoring opportunities - Support career development of members of underrepresented groups. https://lnkd.in/d9czThpt #ALBAdeclaration