Listen in as three powerful changemakers discuss how leaders can do impactful Diversity, Equity and Inclusion right in the workplace, specifically in the PR and communications industry.

This conversation is moderated by Sudha Singh – The Purpose Room Founder & PRCA Equity & Inclusion Advisory Council (EIAC) Chair

Panellists:
Adrianne C. Smith – Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, FleishmanHillard, Sacramento
Leela Stake – DE&I Global Practice Lead, FleishmanHillard
(Smith and Stake were behind FleishmanHillard’s award-winning DE&I initiative, which also won the Championing Diversity network award at the 2021 ICCO Global Awards.)

0:00 – 1:04 – Intro
1:05 – 5:00 – Death of George Floyd sparks global discussion on race, how this relates to PR industry and why it’s important for leaders and communicators to champion equity and inclusion
5:01 – 6:22 – “Communications is a catalyst for change”
6:22 – 8:54 – More being spent on “diversity” through increasing numbers than “inclusion”
8:55 – 13:19 – How the PR industry can fast track DE&I progress
13:20 – 15:35 – Importance of creating an industry standard
15:34 – 20:20 – What drives FleishmanHillard’s ambition to be the most inclusive agency in the world
20:21 – 23:41 – How a DE&I ethos informs the way an organization is built and engages with employees
23:47 – 27:32 – Benefits and pitfalls of DE&I practice
27:33 – 33:50 – How relevant are Employee Resource Groups?
33:51 – 39:37 – What it means to create a culture of belonging
39:38 – 44:43 – Why leaders need to be DE&I savvy
44:44 – 49:51 – Measuring DE&I progress
49:52 – 51:19 – Importance of having platforms to discuss topics like DE&I