The Future of Business is Equitable and Just
Earlier this month, I had the honor of leading a session at BLD PNW (the B Corp Leadership Development Pacific Northwest Conference) organized by B Local PDX, our local community of Certified B Corporations who share the purpose and passion for using business as a force for good. The topic was “The Future of Business is Equitable and Just: Engaging Your Team in Learning and Dismantling White Supremacy Culture.” The story started with a journey back in time to my own experiences growing up as a Korean American immigrant and adoptee and how those experiences shaped my approach to anti-racism work at Avenue. I discussed what we’re learning about white supremacy culture, how we’re growing and what we’re changing within our company in an effort to inspire others to do the same. I believe that it’s up to us as business leaders and employees of B Corps and progressive companies to do our part to dismantle white supremacy culture in the workplace.
You can watch the full BLD PNW session here: The Future of Business is Equitable and Just: Engaging Your Team in Learning and Dismantling White Supremacy Culture
Engaging Your Team in Learning and Dismantling White Supremacy Culture
As a woman and Asian American CEO and business owner, fostering a diverse and inclusive company is a key priority of mine. I have first-hand experience with the cultural stigmas and systemic barriers that are present in the business and marketing industry. Sharing my story is an opportunity that supports my values, Avenue’s values and the anti-racism initiatives we are working on by shining a light on a historically undiscussed reality.
In the spirit of the future and transformation, companies need to do more than business as usual to create an ecosystem that is equitable and just. At Avenue, our purpose is to empower transformational change. For us, this means that we partner with clients who embody our values for creating global impact and change through their product and business model. We facilitate meaningful marketing efforts to further our client’s growth and impact and support transformational growth opportunities for our team members. I believe I have an opportunity to lean into my values and those of Avenue to understand and acknowledge our history, engage with the present moment and take action to lay the groundwork for a more diverse, equitable and inclusive society.
At Avenue, we are working to collaborate with communities to be greater than the sum of our parts by elevating this important conversation. This is our commitment to becoming the most authentic digital marketing partner possible for our clients. By doing so, we are finding the delicate balance between building and growing a healthy company that generates profit, while focusing on the inclusive and anti-racist business and culture pillars that matter.
Start a Conversation in your Workplace
I ask you to consider asking one question or sharing one insight about white supremacy culture with a coworker, friend or family member today. You can also learn more at Dismantling Racism Works (dRworks) and find resources to share with your organization, workplace and community.
For more DEI and anti-racism resources from our team, we invite you to visit this page.
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.
