Inclusion and Allyship: The Cornerstone of High Performing Teams

As I wrote about last week, throughout my career, I’ve strived to lead with kindness and compassion, two values I learned from my parents. I grew up in a small farming community where my father was a physician – and what I remember the most is how he treated everyone he encountered with care, respect and dignity, regardless of their financial means or social status.

It may seem counterintuitive to write about a man during Women’s History Month, but watching my father interact with his patients, colleagues, friends and our broader community, helped to develop my equality framework. It’s also what made me realize men have to be part of the conversation.

My father set a positive example, he encouraged and supported me at every step, and by doing so, helped to #BreakTheBias in my career journey. Those formative experiences shaped my beliefs that having different role models from across a range of society, and supporting allyship, are an integral part of the best kinds of DE&I work.

Culture is one of the most important things a leader can create and influence. Most successful organizations are built on a strong culture foundation. To me, inclusion is a cornerstone of high performance teams, when everyone feels safe, seen and heard, and most importantly, valued.? As we begin to open up offices and define new models for working, we must remember that work is no longer a place we go, it’s what we do. And when we bring our full selves to work, including our backgrounds, experiences, values and ideals, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish together.?

And there are examples everywhere. This week I’ve been watching the confirmation hearing for Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to be nominated to the Supreme Court. I’m in awe of her life experiences, qualifications and steadfastness. She has worked every day of her life to #BreakTheBias and in doing so has broken barriers every step of the way.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention the recent passing of Madeleine Albright, the first woman US secretary of state. Secretary Albright was a woman of many firsts, and she undoubtedly widened the path for those who came after her. May Secretary Albright’s memory live eternal and her torch be passed to generations of women to come.