You Are Now In The Chris Zone...

where?real world tactics are born and action is valued over celebration

I have given tremendous thought to what I want to accomplish with you ... the busy leader or professional.? As a primary architect and former leader of one of Diversity, Inc.’s Hall of Fame DEI programs (there are only 12 companies so honored), I feel a strong obligation to see the industry advance beyond current struggles.? In exchange for your time, I promise to: inform on?important matters for your personal, organizational? and career success; share actionable tactics and strategies that help you win at work and in life; and using my platform, elevate the voices of others so that some of you might? be able to help them. In this inaugural edition of my newsletter, I address these issues and more.

One, there is an important visa matter relevant to many Asian, African, and Latino members of Ascend, NABA, and ALPFA who are at risk of having to leave the country.? Two, an important announcement and call to action regarding Gender Justice.? Three, an introduction to someone who needs our support.? Fourth, an overlooked observation regarding the intersection of finance and the Islamic community. Fifth, for those? interested in the strategies, tactics and forceful rebuttals I shared regarding defending and improving #Inclusion #DEI programs during my globally viewed “defense of DEI” speech at Russell Reynolds last month, subscribe to the newsletter. I will then send it to you directly.? And finally, I have thoughts on how you fight back against overblown assertions that your programs are illegal and beyond saving.

For now, the newsletter will appear twice monthly (things are crazy out here). ? My book release has been delayed slightly while I evaluate various publishing opportunities (a good problem), and my entry into other areas of the DEI industry and dialogue will be determined and revealed very soon.? Meanwhile, I will be speaking in DC and New York in April and May, respectively, for those who want to be with me in person.? I would love to see you. In those speeches, in addition to outlining the ways we move forward with a "DEI Reset", I will be leveraging my mergers/acquisitions and banking background to emphasize the importance of renewed focus on women and minority entrepreneurs and corporate supplier diversity initiatives. A few weeks ago, I attended the New York Chapter of ALPFA's "Meet the Board Event" and witnessed the introduction of a wonderful group of new leaders, led by President Raquel Polanco and I hung out with old friends like Genaro Perez Jr., CPA Perez.

Ok, so about visas.? I have met many students and professionals whose visas are soon to expire and who are desperate to remain in the US.? Recent, obscure changes to the EB-5 visa program (based on conversations with immigration attorneys)? now offer a path to immediately extending the ability to stay in the USA and gain US citizenship in a timeframe far quicker than before.? For those of you with limited family financial resources, there may yet be ways to leverage the program, so don't assume you can not use it . It is also relevant to families desiring to enter the USA and facing years of processing backlogs.? For more details, feel free to send me a LinkedIn connection request, we can discuss directly and connect you to expert attorneys.

Next, it is International Women’s Month, as you know.? It has long been a “pet peeve” of mine that more men aren't more assertively involved in sponsoring and supporting women.? On two occasions, I have given keynote speeches for the “100 Most Powerful Women of Washington” luncheon.? Cathy Merrill Williams, CEO at Washingtonian Magazine said, “Chris Simmons’ speeches were highly inspirational, very entertaining, thought provoking and gave us a pathway for advancing women in society and the workplace”.? In the past, I would have been satisfied reminiscing about my participation in that forum.? But this year, I wanted to do more than just give an inspirational speech and catch a plane.? As a result, I have just agreed to? Co-Chair and spread the word regarding the new non-profit organization, “Global Fellows in Courage”, whose mission is to support and develop the next generation of courageous societal change leaders around the world, people like Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani woman who has been the target of assassination attempts for her activism in support of girls and women, or Nadia Murad, who fights for women’s rights in Iraq, or Nelson Mandela, or Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King.? Small group (8-12) cohorts will receive a 7 month virtual experience designed to accelerate and strengthen their ability to improve justice for all.? Fellows of the program will chart a course for lasting change in one of several areas: Gender, Environmental, or Life and Labor Justice. Fellows receive training, mentoring, access to powerful collaborators, and financial support to free themselves to focus on their work.? Selected Fellows will range from 25 to 35 years in age, and have a demonstrated track record of passion, impact and courage.

This year, the focus is Gender Justice around the globe.? I am not on the website yet, as I just agreed to join the effort, but my good friend, Harvard Business School classmate, and Providence, RI community leader Lorne Adrain is the Founding Chair.? I am excited to join another man, a white man and good friend- in doing what we can to advance women through action. Learn more and consider significant contributions at www.GlobalFIC.org.

The talented Harry Belafonte played a significant role in the success of Martin Luther King by supporting his family financially, thus freeing King to focus on his work. Black Atlanta construction legend Herman Russell was a major financial contributor to King and the movement, supplying bail money and other contributions.? What are you going to do that might change the world and improve living conditions for girls and women somewhere on Earth?? Let’s make this month about new actions.

In keeping with International Women’s Month, a woman from Zambia has been recommended to me by an old PwC boss of mine ( yes, a 70 year old white man trying to help a young black woman).? She is a licensed US CPA with a degree in accounting and finance, coupled with a dual degree in finance and business analytics.? She needs to find employment very, very soon to stay in the country.? She’s earned a 3.8 GPA as a black female student in the very non-diverse world of Iowa! Hardworking and ambitious, she needs our help. Anyone out there willing to go the extra mile, and? sponsor and hire someone willing to work hard for your company? Contact me if you have thoughts.?

I recently had the good fortune to be introduced to Aref Farraj, a graduate of Wesleyan University and the London School of Economics. He has focused me on the fact that the Islamic culture typically does not condone the paying of interest, thus making the use of lending to fuel economic growth more difficult. As a business person, this makes me wonder how we can partner with Islamic communities worldwide to help their businesses grow using means acceptable to their belief systems. He has designed and is implementing a robust mechanism to facilitate morally sustainable lending in these communities worldwide- inspired in part by his recent consulting work for South African tech social enterprises. There will be more on this later, and I am open to thoughts from each of you. And bright, young Aref is looking for a job in the consulting industry for those of you in need of smart, ambitious talent. I think the young man is going to be a high impact person in the world. I am so energized by the ideas and passion for positive change that exudes from so many of these young, diverse voices.

Moving to the more difficult, for those of you being told that you must completely end many of your DEI initiatives because of the Supreme Court ruling, please reach out to me, connect via LinkedIn, and we can talk.? I talk to the most prestigious national law firms who specialize in advising companies on continuing DEI and inclusion work while satisfying the Supreme Court ruling. There are many ways to promote diversity without exclusionary programs. These are the law firms that regularly argue cases before the court and are best suited to design DEI program alterations that leave the core work viable and effective.? Undoubtedly, some of your organizational leaders who never supported DEI are using the ruling? to question your work.? If you want to be able to more forcefully argue against changes that go beyond the necessary,?feel free to send me a LinkedIn connection request and we can discuss directly.

Finally, those interested in an edited copy of my speech defending DEI while challenging some of the historical approaches, use the “Subscribe” option for the newsletter, and it will be delivered directly to your email. ?

Anyone with suggested topics for future newsletter editions, or important matters to make me aware of such as significant advances or retreats by companies with respect to DEI, please connect with me to discuss.

Let's work together to reframe the narratives, promote fairness to all and make progress.

Chris?

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