A few weeks ago, I arrived on-site (yes, you read that correctly — IRL) to help a client lead a portion of their board retreat. The organization is led by a phenomenal black woman, with a mostly white/white-presenting Board of Directors.
Minutes before the start of the meeting, an older, white, male board member walked up to the CEO who had spent weeks planning this amazing retreat — and asked if he won any prizes for pointing out spelling mistakes or grammatical errors in the meeting materials. Apparently, at 8:30 am, he’d found a few in the board packet. …
Like many of you (dare I say, all?), I woke up once again to the news of mass shootings and violence across the country. At the end of the first quarter, there were 126 incidents of mass shootings, and several more over just the past weekend — from Indianapolis to Kenosha, Wisconsin and Bryan, Texas.
Alongside these senseless shootings, we’re seeing another wave of protests across the country fueled by the continued murders of black and brown men at the hands of police. …
In 2020, I had the front row seat, watching leaders experience transformation and drive race equity in their organization. Most for the first time. Maybe that was you? Moved by the seismic shifts brought on by the pandemic, murders of George Floyd and other African Americans, and the resugence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Perhaps the divisive nature of the 2020 election forced you to take a pause and reflect: What should I say? Do I share my own perspectives? What are other organizations and individuals doing? What do I do? How can I support my staff, colleagues and…
My feed this week has been filled with #suicideprevention propaganda about checking on friends, seeking mental health, self care and so on.
Each post is a pinprick. Each a reminder of my brother’s untimely passing.
In the months following his death, I got hundreds of condolence emails, texts, DMs. Hundreds of “he’s in peace”. I was invited to join grief support groups.
What was rarely discussed is the toxicity of desi culture — the ‘log kya kahenge’ (what will people say), the hiding of so-called dirty laundry, ignoring early signs, being complicit in causing harm. The ways in which…
Small and medium-sized business guide to investing in long-term change.
The resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd, in the midst of a global pandemic, has created an explosion of consciousness among leaders across all sectors — and for the first time, small and medium-sized companies are considering making an investment in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Across the board, consultants are getting slammed with requests for information and proposals. My company, Moving Beyond, has had dozens of conversations with leaders who are making first-time investments in DEI. In these, I see a clear trend among the well-intentioned.
Persona 1: Training. Right now. In 2 hours or less.
Earlier this year, I was invited to speak at a women-forward community and workspace — The Wing in Los Angeles’ West Hollywood neighborhood.
At the time I was invited, I had seen some grumblings on Twitter about the experience of the staff at the organization, in particular black and brown employees that were hugely underpaid and overworked. A few women of color in my network indicated that it was a white woman’s space, but ultimately kept their memberships because of the connections and social capital.
The space was full of plush pastel seating, femme, gold accents, with a members-only lockerroom…
In the midst of a heavy weak for the black community in the United States, with a call to action from every imaginable group — the South Asian community remains oddly silent. Have we already forgotten about the brutality suffered by our communities in the UK, Canada, South Africa, and across the commonwealth?
As a fair-skinned South Asian woman, I was largely unaware of my own privilege until moving to the United States. …
I could publish a book with all the apologies I’ve received from white women, nay, a series. They always come years after a racialized incident, long after harm has been done. They rarely offer actions, or a desire to repair. They always tear open old wounds and leave me feeling wholly inadequate for days on end.
Some come from women I admire, respect, work with, have forgiven, might call an ally.
Last week I got two.
The first one said (paraphrased), “I saw your features while flipping through the 425 Business magazine. Congrats! You’ve come such a long way since…
Recently during a Facetime call, the person I was chatting with let out the fact that her pandemic life was in-fact pretty great. She is used to working from home, her pandemic-proof business is booming, and the ‘extra’ time has given way to cooking big, indulgent meals. Living in an affluent suburb with big homes, perfectly manicured lawns, and broad sidewalks, she said: “I’m sure someone is suffering, but I just don’t see it.”
I few weeks prior a colleague wanted tips on approaching her boss who was asking women on the team to “be honest about their hours” and…
Over the past month, we’ve been inundated with messages from influencers, philanthropists, individuals, companies, and any moderately progressive institution about how the normal never served the masses. It’s true, the inequity that COVID-19 has laid bare for all to see (or anyone will to), is centuries in the making.
Activist voices have highlighted these issues for decades, they are not new or accidental— essential workers on the frontlines are disproportionately people of color. In New York City, 75% of frontline workers are Black, Latino, and Asian. Today, African Americans and Latinos are dying at twice the rate of Caucasians. Asian…
Appyrae
Dreamer, Do-er, Dissent-er // All things women and girls, equity and innovation Co-Founder @futurefor_us & Moving Beyond
