On the season finale, hosts Alex Allen and Callie McKee look back on some of the cutting-edge conversations of the season. With their colleagues at Cisco, they explore identity and inclusivity and dive into challenging and reshaping perceptions. The conversation urges a move past binary thinking to embrace human complexity.

Key talking points include the following:

- Rachel Sisco on being an Asian adoptee in a predominantly white community.

- Mary Fernandez on “accessible” entrances subtly enforcing disability stigma.

- Jack Naidoo recalls early racial awareness in his career.

- Callie stresses self-awareness in recognizing biases.

- Alex underscores leadership’s role in valuing diversity.

- Jim Jones notes his change in perspective through Cisco’s “proximity initiative.”

- Callie urges ongoing dialogue for societal change.

- Alex and Callie discuss the role of language in workplace inclusivity.

- Gloria Goins shares her continuous learning about biases and inclusion.

- Callie and Alex discuss empathy’s role in appreciating diverse views.

In recognizing the depth and diversity within ourselves, we can effectively address bias and discrimination, fostering both personal development and a more inclusive workplace environment.

You can find a human-verified transcript of this episode here. - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PrZydGrZG5ZCXtmgnyFUl9Ra47AhljBlo0fL88kkC5A/edit?usp=sharing

Alex Allen -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-allen-a4334210/

Callie McKee -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/callie-mckee/

Thanks for listening to the Let’s Get Proximate podcast, powered by Cisco. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#DEI #Diversity #Innovation #Transformation

Getting proximate requires us to navigate the nuances of our identities. As humans, we have a tendency to want to bucket things into right/wrong, black/white, or left/right. By adopting a both/and mentality, we can widen the lens through which we see each and experience each other to power a more inclusive future for all–where all means all.

On this episode, hosts Alex Allen and Callie McKee are joined by Gloria Goins, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at Cisco.

Gloria explores the tensions and intersections of our complex identities:

- We can possess privilege while also being on the receiving end of discrimination and unconscious bias.

- Experiencing discrimination of one form doesn’t mean we automatically understand all others’ experiences with being discriminated against.

- Trauma can be both individual and institutional.

- Taking care of ourselves and prioritizing wellbeing is foundational to our ability to show up as our best, authentic selves.

- Leaders must cultivate a psychologically safe and inclusive environment for their team.

By honoring the dissonance within our intersectional selves, we can combat bias and discrimination in our workplaces while also pursuing personal growth.

- Gloria Goins

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

- Cisco | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/cisco/

- Cisco | Website

https://www.cisco.com/

- Alex Allen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-allen-a4334210/

- Callie McKee

https://www.linkedin.com/in/callie-mckee/

You can find a human-verified transcript of this episode here. - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eTKoK2fXFPLtP5u07tx-zcj13XFsURjkox_-9t_Pl6Q/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks for listening to the Let’s Get Proximate podcast, powered by Cisco. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#Intersectionality #PsychologicalSafety #DEI #Diversity #Innovation #Transformation

While some can embrace their identity without fear of being treated differently, for others, authenticity can come at the cost of opportunity, community and even safety.

On this episode, host Callie McKee is joined by Traci Juarez, CXA TCE Co-Op Manager at Cisco, to learn about the challenges that she, and others like her, faced on her journey to authenticity as a trans woman.

Traci and Callie discuss:

- How not being able to embrace your identity can create deep-seated unhappiness that manifests in unhealthy ways.

- The need for allies to leverage their privilege on behalf of those who aren’t afforded the same opportunities.

- The current US legislative environment that is often outright hostile towards LGBTQ+ communities.

- Why allyship must work to elevate marginalized communities into leadership roles.

Traci’s story is a profound reminder of the responsibility that privileged communities have to advocate for their more marginalized neighbors.

Traci Juarez -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/traci-juarez-587605287/

Cisco | LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/cisco/

Cisco | Website -

https://www.cisco.com/

Alex Allen -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-allen-a4334210/

Callie McKee -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/callie-mckee/

You can find a human-verified transcript of this episode here. - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ao9jPmeMtBUVh6TRTAuraCpuTyi31SXf51aHll4DkXg/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks for listening to the Let’s Get Proximate podcast, powered by Cisco. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#DEI #Diversity #Innovation #Transformation