Equity is an outcome. How can you be part of the change you wish to see.

Little did I know that the arc of my entire life would’ve prepared me for the work I am engaged in today – from the Board seats I occupy to my current role at 3M leading our social justice initiatives.

So why is this topic important to me.

I grew up in rural Jamaica with my parents, maternal grandparents, three siblings, several uncles, aunts, and cousins. I grew up poor but didn’t realize it because there was a lot of love given and felt.

After graduating high school, and not knowing what I wanted to do next, my godmother (to whom I am eternally grateful) provided an opportunity for me to take a summer course at the University of the West Indies. As I read through the options to choose from, I was drawn to Introduction to Microcomputers, as the keys on the computer reminded me of the typewriting course I took in high school. With my parents not being able to afford college, my godmother continued to look out for me and found a U.S. scholarship program for academically gifted kids living below the poverty line to study computer science in the U.S. This program led me to Wisconsin.

Leaving my homeland for the first time to head to the United States was quite an awe-inspiring experience. I had to learn a lot, and fast. You see, I left home, where I was part of the majority, to become part of the minority. It was while I was in college that I experienced racism for the very first time.

Fast forward to May of 2020, when George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis and whose untimely death sent ripples throughout the country and the world, it was then that an undeniably bright light was shone on injustice and inequity in our society. Part of 3M’s response was to create the first ever Social Justice executive role into which I was appointed. In his book “Tears we cannot stop”, Michael Eric Dyson says it well, “when we survey the land, we see a country full of suffering that we cannot fully understand, and a history that we can no longer deny.” It is against this background that I think we must all play a role in righting the wrongs of the past. How can we advocate for equity?

I thought I would ground us in the difference between equity and equality. Two words commonly used interchangeably but lead to very different outcomes.

Equality is giving everyone equal access, without consideration to the unique needs of individuals.

Equity is acknowledging the historical context of people with differing identities, working to remove barriers in order to create fair access to opportunities for everyone to thrive.

I am putting forward this M squared + I squared model as a simple framework that we can all apply.

1. Mindset: Foster it
2. Muscle: Build it
3. Impact: Understand it
4. Improve: Continuously

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1. Mindset: Foster it Start with curiosity, don’t assume

When we make an assumption, we tell ourselves something is true without actually knowing the facts. We often assume things because of our preconceived notions and belief system. Assuming can be bad and toxic for any relationship, workplace, and bonds we build with our loved ones. Instead, lead with curiosity. Understanding the why is powerful.

When you see someone hurting, struggling or suffering, ask what’s going on?

Bonnie Lyn Smith, author, editor and public speaker - “Ask if you need to, but don’t assume.”

Lean into spaces that are different than your cultural context.? ? Read a book. Listen to a podcast. Head to a different restaurant. Purchase your goods from a different vendor.

About a year ago, I was part of a board immersion experience that I signed up for to better understand the Hmong culture. It was an amazing experience which better helped me to understand their values, practices, and how they interact with the world. I am a more effective board member as a result of this experience.

1. Muscle: Build it

As Sean Covey shared – “we become what we repeatedly do.”? So be intentional about how you show up, over and over again.

Leverage your current role – if you are in a meeting and someone makes a stereotypically comment – intervene – “Jack or Jane – can I go back to a comment you made earlier about XXX.” “Is that what you intended?” “Or could we talk about that after the meeting to get more context to understand where you are coming from?”

If you are a marketer, make sure to increase representation in the stock photos/imagery used that reflects your markets/customers.

If you are in Information Technology – leverage your skills to solve a business challenge for a small/diverse business.

If you are in R&D – apply an equity lens throughout your innovation process.

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1. Impact: Understand it

How do you begin to understand the impact you are having. I suggest asking 2 questions: 1) Are your actions helping others be Net Better Off? And 2) Are you Net Better Off?

I leveraged a framework created by Accenture that includes 6 fundamental human needs: emotional and mental, relational, physical, financial, purposeful, and employable. Their research shows that 64% of a person’s potential is influenced by whether or not they feel better off across these dimensions.

These actions can be personal or corporate.

3M 公司 engaged in an effort to understand if our $50M racial equity investments are helping members in our communities be better off. I’m pleased to share that based on independent research, for every $1 invested we were seeing approx. $3 returned. The value is seen through increased lifetime earnings, families avoiding the justice system, improved health, increased quality of life etc.

1. Improve: Continuously

Our listening posture is incredibly important to the extent to which we will learn. So how do you listen – to win, to respond, or to learn. I implore you to learn!

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This is necessary work if we are going to build a society that works for everyone.

I encourage you to commit to taking one action, inspired from this model, to advocate for equity. Just imagine the collective impact that can be realized!