Is Belonging Just a Buzzword?
Written by Patricia C Pope As someone who has spent the majority of my work life in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion field, the terminology has certainly expanded over the last five decades. At times, some have suggested that they’re confused by or tired of the buzzwords associated with this work. My personal journey began one weekend in 1977. My husband, Merlin G. Pope, Jr., and I sat down to create our first brochure. We had a dictionary, a thesaurus, and a bunch of Peter Drucker books on our coffee table. We were brainstorming like crazy and scanning through the resources on our table for ideas. Suddenly, in one of Drucker’s books he used the word ‘diversity’ – but not in the context of people. Merlin said, “That’s it! It’s about learning how to manage the diverse workforce!” We called our session for leaders “Leading a Diverse Workforce,” the session for supervisors/managers, “Managing Personnel Diversity,” and the one for individual contributors, “Enhancing Work Relationships.” About…
Preparing for the "Future Culture"
People now expect faster service, more options, and flexibility with almost everything. For most businesses, it has not been an easy adjustment to their new normal, but many are anxiously hopeful for the time we can get back to a familiar routine. Business…
DEI Dashboard: Identifying the Right Targets
Overview: This blog introduces suggested steps for identifying the right targets to monitor progress, measure success, and deliver results-driven diversity, equity, and inclusion plans. The evolution of diversity and inclusion trends, like placing more emphasis on belonging (DEIB) in the workplace, has many…
Exploring the Unconscious Mind and Microaggressions
Have you ever experienced that moment in a conversation when you realize you said or did something offensive in the mind of the person you’re talking to? Quite possibly, you notice a disapproving look on their face or a quick reply about how…
More Than a New Look—an Evolution in Pope’s DEI Offerings
Pope Consulting has pioneered diversity education, research, and organizational change solutions for nearly 50 years. More than at any other point in history, organizations now understand the critical importance of paying attention to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. As a…
Understanding the Definitions: DIEB
Our initial reflection on this topic had us think back to when we all first heard the words “Coronavirus” in March 2020. Many things about life and work drastically changed that year with the rise of the deadly pandemic numbers; a drastic decrease…
Celebrating Women’s History Month: In and Outside of the Workplace. Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Women’s History Month is an excellent time to recognize all of the contributions that your women-identifying employees make to the workplace, and to communicate your ongoing commitment to gender equity and continuous efforts to create an inclusive workplace for everyone, regardless of gender. At Pope…
How to Honor Black History Month at Work
Black History Month occurs every February to celebrate the contributions Black Americans have made to advance equality throughout the United States. This is a great opportunity for employers to recognize and honor Black culture and accomplishments and to encourage inclusion in the workplace. Acknowledging this month-long celebration at…
