The 'real-time' unraveling of DEI, and Leaning In.

The best part of the last holidays for me was sitting with my siblings in our own ‘circle time’, to catch up on work, kids, school, faith and life in general. Some of us had not seen the other in as long as seven years… it felt so good to reconnect.

What struck me the most was that the least qualification on that table had to be a post-graduate degree, with some of us spotting multiple post-graduate qualifications, up to doctoral level, and a minimum of about 15-20 years of experience each. The expertise on that table cut across the legal industry, the medical field, artificial intelligence, network engineering, economics, commerce, and even theology.

Yet.. we all had eerily similar experiences on navigating life in our careers and with our kids in the free world, having to advocate for ourselves and our kids.

It warmed my heart, and was a succour to me, to know that whatever challenges I encountered in my professional and family life, I was not alone, as hearing my siblings share their own mountains, and how they conquered them encouraged me a lot. I took those discussions to heart, and armed myself with the reminder that I am never alone. I have my own God-given immediate community to lean into.

This is very important, as we witness in real-time the strides of the past 4-5 years in providing a level play-field being pulled down, with the ‘war’ on DEI. A complete about-face from 2020 is in motion, and like a slow-moving Charlie Chaplin movie.

A number of us were not caught unawares, in fact, many of us knew this day would come. This is why within our community (and as I would always say personally), it is reinforced that networking, likeability et al can only take you so far, but it is your work ultimately that has to speak for you. Especially when you are not in the room. Your excellence must always ensure you stand out.

The problem however is that a number of us who are easily the most qualified and most experienced in the room will in these times also feel the targets on our backs, as we are first viewed through the lens of a demographic, rather than the excellence that we are. None of us will be entirely immune.

Unfortunately, it is not likely to get better immediately; the coming days may be harsher, as overt and covert micro-aggressions at work will be blatantly on the rise, regardless of the depths and lengths of your experience, and the number of degrees you have. It is going to be a rather bumpy ride.

This is not to strike (more) fear in your hearts. And this is not the time to huddle in a corner, and whine that “they have taken my biscuit”.

Now is the time to brace up, and lean in. If there ever was a time for you to lean into your own circle for support, now is the time. Now is not the time for imposter syndrome. If need be, make a list of all your accomplishments, both within and outside work, memorize it everyday, and be ready to reel them out from the tip of your tongue when you are suddenly confronted with having to advocate for yourself.

Now is the time to brush up your skills with refresher courses or whatever else is out there, pay attention to details at work, and put your best in the game.

“But why do we always have to work twice as hard?” The time for questioning will always come. Right now, it is what it is.

Now is the time to remind the world that regardless of DEI policies or not, you are and have always been the epitome of excellence, you did not get to where you are by happenstance, and you own the space in which you have worked hard to get into.

And as you do this, remember to lean in with each other. As we say always in Africa, if you want to go far, you must go together.

Blessings.

Chinelo.

Patrick C. Egbunonu, MBA

Cynthia Egbunonu, PMP?

Emeka Innocent Egbunonu

Ikechukwu Egbunonu