Equity Coverage

Triangle-area businesses putting focus on health equity in the workplace

Representatives from multiple local businesses participated in the first annual Health Equity in the Workforce Leadership Summit, hosted by the American Heart Association.

Grace Hayba, WRAL health reporter

Racial equity task force works to reduce disparities, curb bias in justice system

Governor Roy Cooper formed the Racial Equity Task Force after the 2020 police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. On Wednesday, that group heard from former Durham police chief C.J. Davis.

Matt Talhelm, WRAL reporter

Racial equity task force continues work, hears from former Durham police chief

A racial equity task force came up with 125 recommendations for the justice system, some of which have led to changes in North Carolina law.

Fact check: Biden claims the racial wealth gap reached a 20-year low

Ahead of South Carolina's February primary, President Joe Biden appealed to the state's Black voters by touting his administration's efforts to bolster racial equity in the economy.

Sara Swann, PolitiFact reporter

Let's destroy the glass ceiling: Deliberate steps to create an equitable workplace

Simply put, great leaders cannot create outstanding workplaces if they don’t support, promote and place women in important managerial and executive roles. Here are some action steps execs can take to improve their companies right now.

Decoding the C-Suite: Strategies for successful executive leadership

Since many people are in a reflective mood at the end of the year, let’s use this space to discuss strategies for successfully moving into executive leadership roles and then how to successfully wield that power to build workplace excellence. 

The leadership training conundrum – a global reality check

Editor’s note: Veteran entrepreneur and investor Donald Thompson writes a weekly column about management and leadership as well as diversity and other […]

Redefining leadership excellence: A call to action for change in 2024

The call to action for senior leaders is clear: Transform your workplace into a hub where employees thrive physically, mentally and socially. By championing well-being, we build organizations anchored in a culture of compassion, collaboration and resilience. 

Black professionals’ gains in management are evaporating, report says – what are they to do now?

A new McKinsey & Co. study reveals that Black professionals are no longer being elevated to managerial roles at the rates they had been between 2020 and 2022. In other words, the minimal gains made after George Floyd’s murder and the widespread corporate commitment to doing better have evaporated. For Black professionals, it’s as if the last four years never happened.

2023 business word of the year: Resilience (and may be next year’s too!)

When I think back over the last year, my nomination for business word of the year is “resilience.” From nearly every vantage point, 2023 has revolved around the emotional, psychological and physical fortitude to withstand challenges, mounting stress and traumatic events. 

Build great teams to create greater organizations – Collaboration empowers inclusive leadership

Success stories often begin with the notion of a singular heroic achievement or a brilliant lightbulb moment. While we enjoy these tales, one of the first things leaders realize is that teamwork is the true engine of organizations and the foundation of success. 

Life is now in constant warp drive – how we can cope, still implement change

Although we are all living in this era that seems like it is in constant warp drive, I have also tried to prioritize the emotional and physical health of my teammates and myself. Certainly, it’s not easy, especially with the many challenges constantly knocking at the door. Just like you, I am trying to figure out how to manage my life and abide by my own words: “live it well.” 

Balancing empathy and economics through well-being – A C-Suite guide

Senior leaders must be able to balance empathy and economics if they want to create workplace excellence internally and build brand reputation externally. And, while few executives would view well-being as a new initiative, its importance has increased with the move toward inclusive leadership. Let's take a look.

Unlocking the potential of collaboration: A leadership imperative

Editor’s note: Veteran entrepreneur and investor Donald Thompson writes a weekly column about management and leadership as well as diversity and other […]

Artificial intelligence in the C-Suite: A senior leader’s guide for maximizing AI’s potential

While I certainly don’t want to dismiss the many challenges we face if artificial intelligence implementation goes wrong, I want to explore the upside of AI. Let’s focus on some ways executives can think about and use AI to help their organizations win in the marketplace. 

Are you really leading? If so, culture change is a leadership imperative for you, your team

In this new era, inclusive leadership provides a new mental framework, prompting a profound shift in leadership paradigms. Together, executives and their teams can use inclusive leadership to create cultures that breathe resilience, authenticity and genuine empathy with each team member empowered to embrace change, adapt swiftly and innovate continuously.  Are you?

Fighting ageism, embracing experience: The midcareer workforce imperative

Leaders around the world spend countless hours thinking about talent. Here's a twist: The results of a new global survey on midcareer employees indicate that employers need to “radically rethink” how they engage with those who are age 45 and older. 

How businesses can incorporate DIB (diversity, inclusion, belonging) to be the greatest force for good

When The Diversity Movement asked TechWire columnist Grace Ueng to be a part of their “Ask the Expert” series, she synthesized her thinking into her diversity belief statement that she begins to share with us today …

Maximize your impact: How diversity and inclusion can transform your board

In today’s dynamic nonprofit landscape, the most successful boards are actively cultivating – and transforming – culture by implementing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as core tenets of their efforts.

AI in the C-Suite: Strategies for how CEOs can lead responsibly

Right now, CEOs are taking a deliberate approach to AI implementation, but recent studies reveal that many are uncertain of where the technology is headed or whether it can truly be trusted. Given these challenges, it is essential that senior leaders ensure that AI serves as a force for positive change and use their power wisely as the technology continues to develop and expand. 

Diversity pays dividends: The steep price of ignorance in business

No one expects their manager or boss to cancel out the noise they are hearing on social media and every time they turn on the television, but they do want to feel respected, safe, and fulfilled at work. My advice is to “show, don’t tell.”

Inclusive leader’s guide to mental well-being: Steps in mastering courageous decision making

The executives I coach, regardless of their level in their organizations, are accustomed to bearing the weight of decisions. Yet, the pace of change and toll that transformation takes means that leaders need to navigate their own mental health, both for themselves and their companies. Let's have a conversation about this.

Destroy the glass ceiling – deliberate steps to create an equitable workplace

Veteran entrepreneur and investor Donald Thompson shares his "leadership cheat code" for creating an equitable workplace, based on his experience building The Diversity Movement into a women-led organization.

Trust: The currency of success in today’s business landscape

Want a real-time CEO gut-check? Ask yourself a simple question: “Do these people really trust me and my organization: customers, clients, suppliers, shareholders and employees?” Here's how you can gain that trust.

How to be an inclusive leader: Four execs share their secrets to success

You have heard about inclusive leadership, but you may be wondering, “Does this shift really make a difference? Can embracing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) principles genuinely enhance my leadership effectiveness?” The answer is an emphatic, “Yes!” Read all about the experiences of four executives who share their successes and challenges.