DEI/Inclusive Business Books

Through the power of allyship, each of us can create an equitable, innovative workplace where everyone feels safe, valued, and able to thrive How can you help someone else thrive? How can you interrupt the biases, microaggressions, and inequities that prevent people around you from excelling? How can you build an innovative workplace fueled by equity, diversity and belonging?  Every business leader today should be asking themselves these questions. Systems and processes have been skewed too long in favor of some at the expense of others, and things are changing--fast. How to Be an Ally shows how to take personal responsibility for driving change that's good for people--and for business. You'll learn the ins and outs of allyship and build the knowledge and skills you need to: Listen and learn new perspectives Identify your own biases Avoid unintentionally harming people with microaggressions Express empathy with courage Advocate for people in small, everyday ways Rethink your work to be more inclusive, equitable, and accessible Build team norms that cultivate allyship Create equitable, inclusive systems and processes Uniquely insightful and extremely timely, How to Be an Ally humanizes diversity and inclusion and facilitates greater empathy and understanding between people of all identities. It teaches us that every individual can learn about the imbalance in opportunity and work to correct it.  The key to true diversity, equity, and inclusion is allyship. This one-of-a-kind guide provides everything you need to use allyship to create a better workplace for ourselves and our colleagues.

How organizations can foster diversity, equity, and inclusion- taking action to address and prevent workplace bias while centering women of color. Few would disagree that inclusion is both the right thing to do and good for business. Then why are we so terrible at it? If we believe in the morality and the profitability of including people of diverse and underestimated backgrounds in the workplace, why don't we do it? Because, explains Ruchika Tulshyan in this eye-opening book, we don't realize that inclusion takes awareness, intention, and regular practice. Inclusion doesn't just happen; we have to work at it. Tulshyan presents inclusion best practices, showing how leaders and organizations can meaningfully promote inclusion and diversity. Tulshyan centers the workplace experience of women of color, who are subject to both gender and racial bias. It is at the intersection of gender and race, she shows, that we discover the kind of inclusion policies that benefit all. Tulshyan debunks the idea of the "level playing field" and explains how leaders and organizations can use their privilege for good by identifying and exposing bias, knowing that they typically have less to lose in speaking up than a woman of color does. She explains why "leaning in" doesn't work-and dismantling structural bias does; warns against hiring for "culture fit," arguing for "culture add" instead; and emphasizes the importance of psychological safety in the workplace-you need to know that your organization has your back. With this important book, Tulshyan shows us how we can make progress toward inclusion and diversity-and we must start now.

In the vein of #Girlboss and Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office, discover how to thrive at work from the head of the Global Innovation Coalition for Change at UN Women with this "passionate, practical roadmap for addressing inequality and finally making our workplaces work for women" (Arianna Huffington). For years, we've been telling women that in order to succeed at work, they have to change themselves first--lean in, negotiate like a man, don't act too nice or you'll never get the corner office. But after sixteen years working with major Fortune 500 companies as a gender equality expert, Michelle King has realized one simple truth--the tired advice of fixing women doesn't fix anything. The truth is that workplaces are gendered; they were designed by men for men. Because of this, most organizations unconsciously carry the idea of an "ideal worker," typically a straight, white man who doesn't have to juggle work and family commitments. Based on King's research and exclusive interviews with major companies and thought leaders, The Fix reveals why denying the fact that women are held back just because they are women--what she calls gender denial--is the biggest obstacle holding women back at work and outlines the hidden sexism and invisible barriers women encounter at work every day. Women who speak up are seen as pushy. Women who ask for a raise are seen as difficult. Women who spend hours networking don't get the same career benefits as men do. Because women don't look like the ideal worker and can't behave like the ideal worker, they are passed over for promotions, paid less, and pushed out of the workforce, not because they aren't good enough, but because they aren't men. In this fascinating and empowering book, King outlines the invisible barriers that hold women back at all stages of their careers, and provides readers with a clear set of takeaways to thrive despite the sexist workplace, as they fight for change from within. Gender equality is not about women, and it is not about men--it is about making workplaces work for everyone. Together, we can fix work, not women.

In Deep Diversity, award-winning racial justice educator Shakil Choudhury explores the emotionally loaded topic of racism using a compassionate, scientific approach that everyone can understand--whether you are Black, Indigenous, a person of color (BIPOC), or white. With clear language and engaging stories that will appeal to readers of Brené Brown and Malcom Gladwell, Choudhury explains how and why well-intentioned people can perpetuate systems of oppression, often unconsciously. Using a trauma-informed approach that removes shame or blame, he offers us the tools to recognize, take authentic responsibility, and enact deep change. In easy-to-absorb chapters, Choudhury interweaves research into the brain and studies on human behavior with hard-won lessons from his career of helping organizations and CEOs create more inclusive environments. He models vulnerability and mistake-making, sharing examples of his own bias-missteps so readers are encouraged into their own racial justice journey without judgment. Readers will come away from the book with practical tools and an understanding of: How to becomes a systems thinker by developing "racial pattern recognition" skills in order to challenge racism and other forms of systemic discrimination when we encounter them, while minimizing the tendency to shame or blame ourselves or others. How to recognize when the unconscious influence of bias, identity, emotions, or power contradict our beliefs about equality, and how to realign our thoughts/words/actions. How to break the racial "prejudice habits" we have all been socialized into since birth, using research-based strategies. How the rise in authoritarianism and income inequality (among other factors) contribute to a rise in hate crimes and racial discrimination, and what to do about it. Traditional approaches to anti-racism overly rely on analyzing history to explain systemic discrimination, which only tells us a part of the story. What's missing, Choudhury argues, is to understand why humans do what we do, the evolutionary impulses underlying our group-ish nature and our struggles with power, bias, and social dominance. This is why psychology and neuroscience perspectives are critical to integrate into anti-racist work, as is practicing compassion for ourselves and for others. Deep Diversity is a unique, evidence-based approach to racial justice that seeks to overcome feelings of shame that so often block our progress and prevent deep change at individual and systemic levels.

The Antiracist Business Book is the first of its kind, as DEI business coach Trudi Lebrón offers business owners real-life lessons on how to build, reshape, and re-envision their work to support and repair the wealth of all people. The Antiracist Business Book: An Equity Centered Approach to Work, Wealth, and Leadership is the business book for the modern world. Trudi Lebrón has spent the last decade working as a DEI and impact coach for businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs. And what she learned over that time was that making a lasting change wasn't about fixing old systems; it was about building a new one. In this seminal work, Trudi lays out a plan for all businesses, leaders, entrepreneurs, and coaches to remix business, so that equity and impact become synonymous with profit and power. Trudi provides lessons on understanding the long-term impacts of living in a hyper-capitalist, post-colonial world (aka White People Sh*t) and an examination of the way we have viewed wealth (whether as an obsession or an obscenity). She will compel business owners and leaders to rethink how they do business. Trudi shares ways to create an antiracist business in a capitalist system, showing readers: How to make the shift from toxic capitalism to justice-based commerce - Trudi has spent years working with corporate leaders, online entrepreneurs, and mid-level managers on understanding how to build profitable businesses based on ethical transparency, justice-based leadership, and equitable business practices. She explains how justice can be found in a system that places profit above all else, re-imagining our economic systems not just in theory but in practice.  How to move from the streets to the suites ("-isms" in business) - Trudi identifies the new form of leadership, which isn't from above but is built from the trust, creativity, and community usually found in the streets. As younger generations demand a new world order, the old one is dying and is being replaced with something remarkably more dynamic, equitable, and wealth-generating for all.  How to make friends with money - This is for all you activists in the back row. Money is not the devil. In fact, without embracing and creating wealth generation, antiracism will always struggle at the corners of the conversation. In this work, Trudi will help readers heal their business journey, inviting them to redefine and re-envision their relationship to wealth. Unlike any other book on the market, The Antiracist Business Book takes an antiracist perspective. It applies it to how we are doing business--at the top, in the middle, and at the bottom, offering tools for advancement in how we work, earn, and lead. The wisdom inside this timely and essential book advocates for a new order of business that creates transparency, opportunity, and disruption. Businesses can no longer be successful while operating as tools of the status quo.

Learn to create an inclusive environment with this actionable and insightful resource Allies and Advocates: Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Culture delivers a powerful and useful message about inclusion and diversity in everyday life. Author Amber Cabral, a celebrated inclusion strategist, speaker, and writer, shows readers how to move away from discriminatory and unjust behaviors to supporting and building meaningful connections with people across our diverse backgrounds and identities. While some books settle for vague advice and catchphrases, readers of Allies and Advocates will benefit from the book's: Straighforward style and applicable action items Real-world examples highlighting inclusion best practices Implementable tactics to assist people in seeing how they can help create an inclusive environment Perfect for anyone who works in a professional environment, Allies and Advocates is especially useful for those in middle and upper management and those involved in the training and orientation of employees. If you are looking forward to building a culture of inclusivity at work or in your personal relationships, and want to learn how to use your privilege to be a better ally, Allies and Advocates: Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Culture is a must-have.

From the powerhouse author of  The Memo, the essential self-help book for women of color to heal--and thrive--in the workplace   In workplaces nationwide, women of color need frank talk and honest advice on how to deal with microaggressions, heal from racialized trauma, and find relief from invisible workplace burdens. Filled with Minda Harts's signature wit and warmth, Right Within offers strategies for women of color to speak up during racialized moments with managers and clients, work through past triggers they may not even know still cause pain, and reframe past career disappointments as opportunities to grow into a new path. Through action points, exercises, and clear-eyed coaching, Harts encourages women to summon hidden reserves of strength and courage. She includes advice from therapists and faith leaders of color on a full range of ways to heal. Right Within will help women of color strengthen their resolve across corporate America, ensuring that we can all, finally, rise together. 

2022 NAUTILUS BOOK AWARDS GOLD WINNER 2022 NATIONAL ANTIRACIST BOOK FESTIVAL SELECTION 2021 PORCHLIGHT PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT & HUMAN BEHAVIOR BOOK OF THE YEAR As we become more aware of various social injustices in the world, many of us want to be part of the movement toward positive change. But sometimes our best intentions cause unintended harm, and we fumble. We might feel afraid to say the wrong thing and feel guilt for not doing or knowing enough. Sometimes we might engage in performative allyship rather than thoughtful solidarity, leaving those already marginalized further burdened and exhausted. The feelings of fear, insecurity, inadequacy are all too common among a wide spectrum of changemakers, and they put many at a crossroads between feeling stuck and giving up, or staying grounded to keep going. So how can we go beyond performative allyship to creating real change in ourselves and in the world, together? In The Wake Up, Michelle MiJung Kim shares foundational principles often missing in today's mainstream conversations around "diversity and inclusion," inviting readers to deep dive into the challenging and nuanced work of pursuing equity and justice, while exploring various complexities, contradictions, and conflicts inherent in our imperfect world. With a mix of in-the-trenches narrative and accessible unpacking of hot button issues-from inclusive language to representation to "cancel culture"-Michelle offers sustainable frameworks that guide us how to think, approach, and be in the journey as thoughtfully and powerfully as possible. The Wake Up is divided into four key parts: * Grounding: begin by moving beyond good intentions to interrogating our deeper "why" for committing to social justice and uncovering our "hidden stories." * Orienting: establish a shared understanding around our historical and current context and issues we are trying to solve, starting with dismantling white supremacy. * Showing Up: learn critical principles to approach any situation with clarity and build our capacity to work through complexity, nuance, conflict, and imperfections. * Moving Together: remember the core of this work is about human lives, and commit to prioritizing humanity, healing, and community. The Wake Up is an urgent call for us to move together while seeing each other's full and expansive humanity that is at the core of our movement toward justice, healing, and freedom.

A step-by-step guide for managers, teams, and DEI leaders looking to create impactful, lasting change in their organization, from recruitment to retention, and beyond. Are you tired of hollow promises about diversity, equity, and inclusion in your organization? Do you want to take steps towards real change - beyond issuing mission statements, signing checks, and holding listening sessions - but don't know where to start? This book is your answer. Designed for teams to read together, Actions Speak Louder offers a comprehensive blueprint for leaders and teams who are ready to get out of their own way, look at their surroundings with new eyes, and turn their energy into a concrete plan.   Renowned DEI consultant Deanna Singh has led diversity trainings for a wide range of organizations, from non-profits to Fortune 500 companies. Using narratives, case studies, and the latest DEI research, as well as interactive exercises, Singh will teach you how to:     *  Write inclusive job advertisements because "minorities just don't apply here" isn't an excuse - you're just not reaching them   *  Design an interview process that reduces status quo bias and challenges hiring decisions that are simply "no brainers"   *  Create a retention plan that considers and prioritizes the needs of underrepresented employees - if you haven't intentionally designed one to be inclusive, you've unintentionally reinforced one that is exclusive.   *  Lead inclusive meetings - the bedrock of company culture - by practicing constructive dissent and elevating underrepresented perspectives   As Singh has seen time and time again, any organization can meaningfully change - you just need the right tools.

An accessible guide showing all people how to create and sustain diversity and inclusivity in the workplace-no matter your identity, industry, or level of experience Offering real-life accounts that illustrate common workplace occurrences around inclusivity and answers to questions like "How do I identify and handle diversity landmines at work?" and "What can I do when I've made a mistake?" this handbook breaks down ways that organizations (and all people) can improve their cultural awareness and become more equitable in their work and personal relationships. We know that diverse teams are stronger, smarter, and more profitable, and many companies are attempting to hire more diverse teams, but most struggle to create a real culture of inclusivity in which people from all backgrounds feel comfortable. As clinical psychologists, as well as individuals with marginalized identities, Dr. Stephanie Pinder-Amaker and Dr. Lauren Wadsworth show the emotional and physical impact of marginalization and how that leads to a decrease in employee engagement and, often, increased job turnover. "Did That Just Happen?!" will be invaluable for employees who come from underrepresented communities and identities (identities discussed include race, age, disability, sexual orientation, citizenship status, and gender expression). But the book is essential for leaders of companies, supervisors, HR departments, and for anyone who wants to understand and support diversity/equity/inclusion practices. The book will also make readers feel more confident in their navigating of friendships/interactions with people who hold different identities.

Meet the new Black friend you never had As a Black organizer, community, business, and organization leaders often ask: "How do I get diversity in my group?" The thing is, the work is real, but it's a minefield out there. And even progressive leaders can still, perhaps unknowingly, be racist and uphold oppressive systems. In The Token, your new token Black friend, Crystal Byrd Farmer, acts as the bridge between majority white organizations that are dedicated to social justice and "diverse" people in community they want to recruit, across identities of race, LGBTQ, education, socioeconomic status, and disability. With a blunt style that pulls no punches, Crystal tells you how it is, calling you out on tokenism, while extending a hand to help your organization make real transformative change toward diversity and inclusion. Coverage includes: What marginalized people experience and what they need to feel safe and comfortable in order to succeed Doing "The Work" - how to have deep conversations with your membership about the reality of bias, privilege, and microaggressions Practical exercises and discussion questions How to choose appropriate meeting locations and establish ground rules, when to bring in outside help, and how to recruit support within your organization Strategies on how to talk to friends who are resistant to progressive ideas. This no-nonsense, provocative, humorous, and accessible guide is for all well-meaning people leading progressive organizations who acknowledge the need for diversity but don't know where to start. AWARDS SILVER | 2021 Living Now Book Awards | Social Activism / Charity

Rethinking How to Build Inclusive Organizations Race, Work, and Leadership is a rare and important compilation of essays that examines how race matters in people's experience of work and leadership. What does it mean to be black in corporate America today? How are racial dynamics in organizations changing? How do we build inclusive organizations? Inspired by and developed in conjunction with the research and programming for Harvard Business School's commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the HBS African American Student Union, this groundbreaking book shines new light on these and other timely questions and illuminates the present-day dynamics of race in the workplace. Contributions from top scholars, researchers, and practitioners in leadership, organizational behavior, psychology, sociology, and education test the relevance of long-held assumptions and reconsider the research approaches and interventions needed to understand and advance African Americans in work settings and leadership roles. At a time when--following a peak in 2002--there are fewer African American men and women in corporate leadership roles, Race, Work, and Leadership will stimulate new scholarship and dialogue on the organizational and leadership challenges of African Americans and become the indispensable reference for anyone committed to understanding, studying, and acting on the challenges facing leaders who are building inclusive organizations.

Leading in organizations working for justice is not the same as leading anywhere else. Staff expect to be treated as partners and demand internal practices that center equity. Justice leaders must meet these expectations, as well as recognize and address the ways that individuals and organizations inadvertently replicate oppression. Created specifically for social justice leaders, Leading for Justice addresses specific concerns and issues that beset organizations working for social justice and offers practices and models that center justice and equity. Topics include: the role of a supervisor in a social justice organization, the importance of self-awareness, issues of power and privilege, human resources as a justice partner, misses and messes, and clear guidelines for holding people accountable in a manner that is respectful and effective. Written in a friendly, accessible, and supportive tone, and offering discussion questions at the end of each short section to make the book user-friendly for both individuals and teams, Leading for Justice is a book for leaders who want to walk the talk of supporting social justice, in their organizations and in the world.