Step Up: Equity Matters

Yesterday, Amy Kesling shared some thoughtful perspectives on navigating DEI conversations in today's workplace during our ?? livestream. Missed it? The recording is now available in our Step Up Together community, along with our "Art of DEI Conversations" course. In the community, you can: ?Watch the 15-minute session ?Access the self-paced course materials ?Connect with others interested in creating more inclusive workplaces We're building this space to share resources and learn together. We'd love to have you join us. Link: https://lnkd.in/gKpicPsk #StepUpTogether #DEIConversations

Yesterday, Amy Kesling, ACC did a livestream preview of our new Art of DEI Conversations course in the Step Up Together community. She focused on the idea of courage and what it takes to truly step up in the moments that matter. Building emotional intelligence is crucial to building courage. Since 2019, we have been part of the Six Seconds community, which operates on a simple but impactful model to help everyone build EQ skills. One of those skills is Pursuing Noble Goals, which helps you connect your daily choices to your overarching sense of purpose. That purpose focuses you on the longterm impact you want to have, whether that's impact on the world overall or impact on the individuals around you. It gets you out of the moment, into the long view. As you consider whether or not (and how) to gather the courage to speak up, here's a question to ask yourself: When I look back on this moment in 5 years, what will I want to see?

?? Going LIVE in 30 minutes! Amy Kesling will be sharing practical insights on DEI conversations in today's workplace. Join us at 12 pm CT right here in the Step Up Together community: https://lnkd.in/gKpicPsk Just 15 minutes might change how you approach difficult discussions!

As we evaluated what our people need most right now, we repeatedly heard this: #community. So, over the course of a few weeks, we rallied to build an online community to give space to share stories, resources, and connections. ??? Step Up Together is now live, and we're excited to invite you to join us there! Visit https://lnkd.in/gKpicPsk to check it out. What we're offering: 1?? A supportive community space where professionals can connect authentically about social impact and inclusive leadership 2?? Free access to our newest course: "The Art of DEI Conversations" - practical skills for navigating challenging workplace discussions with courage 3?? Join our live stream to preview "The Art of DEI Conversations" with Amy Kesling, ACC, co-founder of Step Up: Equity Matters, on March 13th at 12 pm CT. Amy will share real-world examples of workplace DEI conversations, explore how courage shapes outcomes, and preview key elements from our free course that can help you navigate challenging discussions with confidence Plus, we're planning a regular book club and new focused channels based on what we're hearing from our members! Small moments matter. Every conversation is an opportunity to build a more inclusive workplace. #StepUpTogether #DEIConversations #InclusiveLeadership #CommunityBuilding

Tomorrow marks International Women's Day and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration - a landmark moment in the global fight for gender equality. This year's theme—"For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment"—challenges us to reflect on our progress and renew our commitment. ?? Did you know? The Beijing Declaration was the first global policy document that specifically recognized girls' rights alongside women's rights, acknowledging that gender equality must include ALL ages to create lasting change. While we've made strides since 1995, the newly released "Women's Rights in Review 30 Years After Beijing" report reminds us that gender discrimination remains deeply embedded in economies and societies worldwide. We need bold action across six key areas: bridging digital divides, eliminating poverty, ending violence, advancing women's leadership, building peace, and achieving climate justice. As we celebrate tomorrow, let's commit to turning the Beijing Platform's vision into reality for ALL women and girls. Check out the full UN Women report to learn more about the Beijing+30 Action Agenda! ? #IWD2025 #Beijing30 #GenderEquality #WomensRights https://lnkd.in/eUDSZ_Tb

The intersection of DEI and HR is where organizational culture, growth, and success truly thrive. By aligning these two key areas, DEI leaders can create an environment where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to contribute to a shared mission. Here are some ways to communicate your organizational culture that reflect the values you want to bring attention to. → Impact Statement: Create a clear connection between daily responsibilities and organizational goals → Growth Path: Outline potential career progression and development opportunities → Values Integration: Include specific examples of how organizational values manifest in the role → Team Context: Describe how the role collaborates with others to achieve mission objectives How do you communicate about your organizational culture in the hiring process?

Our latest newsletter is here! Dive into Tania Ibarra, CPA's inspiring journey launching our #StepUpTogether community, explore our groundbreaking nonprofit merger case study, and discover Monster's DEI survey insights revealing how equity benefits everyone. We're seeking founding members to help shape this space where transformation meets action. Link in comments for those ready to step up with us!

Step Up is honored to support the Saving Our Babies Project, which was recently recognized with the Collaboration Award from United Way of Dane County! Through project management, branding, and financial strategy and management, we are proud to contribute to this vital initiative dedicated to improving infant health and well-being. To learn more about their mission, visit savingourbabieswi.org #SavingOurBabies #StepUp #CommunityImpact

Have you ever struggled with noticing your own biases? Think about a situation you had involving DEI or bias. Follow this guide to see how biases may have been at play and how you can recognize, own, and disrupt those biases, and how you can make a change in your workplace for the future. Understanding our own biases can help us overcome them and recognizing is the first step to achieving personal and societal growth. How will you start recognizing, owning, and disrupting your biases?

Inclusive Leadership is about more than championing DEI, it’s about living and showing those values through your words and actions. Leaders gain trust by being transparent and recognizing their biases, as well as fostering environments where diverse perspectives are not only heard but valued and sought to be understood. Being a great leader means continuing to learn, grow, and embrace the power of inclusion, while making decisions with a commitment to fairness, equity, and long-term impact. Over the next couple months, we will be sharing some ways you can champion DEI as a leader. This week, we want to highlight the importance of trust and support as a leader, and how your actions will speak louder than your words with diversity and inclusion at heart. What's one action you can do to show your organizations values? #StepUp #Leadership #Equity