Episode 022: Elevated Diversity with Rhonda Moret

The People Dividend Podcast

“At its very core, DEI work could mean some really good things for a lot of folks who simply haven’t had the opportunities in the past,” says Rhonda Moret, a pioneering leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion. In this episode, Rhonda shares with Mike Horne her journey from a first-generation college graduate to a top communications strategist for brands like Universal and Nike Golf. She discusses founding Elevated Diversity to help leaders develop impactful DEI strategies.

Rhonda highlights the evolution of DEI to include accessibility and belonging, stressing the importance of creating inclusive workplaces. She addresses the polarization in the U.S. and the need for organizations to adapt their DEI efforts. Younger generations, she notes, are crucial in advancing DEI due to their strong inclusivity mindset.

This episode challenges leaders to rethink their approach to inclusivity, emphasizing that the future of business depends on embracing diversity and equity. Rhonda’s insights demonstrate how proactive DEI efforts can drive growth and innovation, underscoring the essential role of diverse voices in shaping a more equitable workplace.

Quotes

• “At its very core, DEI work could mean some really good things for a lot of folks who simply haven’t had the opportunities in the past. That’s my personal take on it. But from a professional vantage point, I see it as being the next evolution.” (05:12 | Rhonda Moret)

• “It’s always been about ‘How do we connect people?’ It’s not like, ‘Oh, we want to give this group this and provide that group this other benefit.’ No, it’s ‘How do we create a much more equitable and inclusive workplace?’ And somewhere along the way, we kind of got off track.” (11:56 | Rhonda Moret)

• “How do we make sure that as leaders, we are prepared to lead a workforce that may look different than I do or may look different than the person next door? Those leaders need to be inclusive leaders and have the skills and the competency to be able to be effective in that role.” (14:39 | Rhonda Moret)

• “Diversity is not simply along color lines and a black-white issue, but it covers all of us. So, whether we’re women, whether we’re an older demographic, so on and so forth. So, it really is looking at the totality of these diversity dimensions and finding ways to accommodate people to your point so that they feel like they can show up authentically at the workplace and be prepared to do their best work.” (21:55 | Rhonda Moret)

Links

Learn more about Mike Horne on Linkedin

Email Mike at [e-mail]

Learn More About Executive and Organization Development with Mike Horne

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikehorneauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikehorneauthor/,

LinkedIn Mike’s Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6867258581922799617/,

Schedule a Discovery Call with Mike: https://calendly.com/mikehorne/15-minute-discovery-call-with-mike

Learn more about Rhonda Moret:

https://elevateddiversity.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhondamoret/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm