Diversity is all around us. It can be identified as race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, language, culture, national origin, religious beliefs and identity, age, disability status, and political perspective. Your confidence in navigating our complex world can be how you differentiate yourself as a leader and a human being. It can be scary to wade into a conversation about diversity and how we’re the same or different. You may find that some aspects of a person’s diverse characteristics may not be visible, and you may make a mistake or a microaggression. To magnify the degree of difficulty, we’re living in such polarizing times that everything has become politicized and respectful discourse isn’t the norm. But wade in you must.

Some tips on how to engage: Respect everyone’s identity and don’t make assumptions or create a story about anyone without getting to know them. It’s too easy to fall into stereotyping people of any color or background. You CAN ask questions to determine an individual’s preferences about their identity or pronouns. Most people won’t be offended if you make it clear that there’s no ill intent, just a desire to understand and be respectful. Don’t use outdated or offensive language or labels. For example: a person who is blind is not disabled. They have a disability.

When I engage in dialogue on this topic, I’ve become quite agile at meeting people where they are. I’m a businesswoman, a wife, a parent, a sister, and, yes, a person of color. I can find some commonality, shared experience, skill, or preference, and that’s where I find connection. I find that opening, then I step right in there to see and be seen. There’s one thing I know to be true, and that’s that chaos, anger, and dysfunction don’t result in a good or sustainable outcome. Do you want to run a business where employees are extraordinarily productive and loyal to you? What about a satisfied, diverse client or patron base? Do you want to create an inclusive brand or one that limits your outreach? A business wants to sell products to anyone who wants to buy them. Artists want to perform music for anyone who will pay to listen. We want tourists to come to our country and have a positive experience and enhance our economy. Bias regarding someone’s sexual orientation, gender, or race is simply flawed logic to me. Look at the global landscape. America’s competitive advantage is its diversity. No other country can recruit from such a diverse talent pool or take advantage of the wealth of experience that talent pool brings.

I used to give people advice on how to fit in and to move up the corporate ladder by being a political animal and simply working harder than peers. To some degree there’s still validity in that counsel. However, my perspective has shifted. Maybe that comes with time and experience.

For example, if women keep following the path laid out in front of them, some studies show it will be many, many years before there is gender parity in the C-suite or on boards. I now say be fearless, advocate for yourself, challenge the status quo, and push hard for what you want. It reminds me of the title of Laurel Thatcher Ulrich’s 2007 book: Well-behaved Women Seldom Make History.

Imagine what doesn’t exist and create the job you want. Be entrepreneurial, have a side hustle so you’re never forced to compromise in a way that hurts your soul. I often juggle multiple projects or endeavors at the same time. I like having the choice in how I build my brand and finances. Think on this. You may be surprised at what you can accomplish when you leverage your strengths.

Your professional career is interwoven with your personal life. There’s no getting away from it. I love what I do and feel blessed to have a career that has challenged and rewarded me. It’s important to pursue a career that suits you and plays to your strengths—one that allows you to be authentic.
As hard as it may be at times, circle back to joy and all the things that replenish you. That’s what realizing your potential truly is: the ability to accept what has happened in life that cannot be changed, learn from it, and love who you are because of or despite it.