You mentioned what you learned with the Racial Equity BRG. How else has the BRG influenced your allyship journey?
I’ve never worked for a company that makes space for inclusion and diversity conversations and takes a very proactive stance on it. I love it because I’ve had the opportunity to learn about the significance of these issues and how pervasive they are. The Racial Equity BRG has been a really good way for me to learn from other people’s experiences and walk the walk so I can make a real difference.
A lot of our focus has been awareness and education. I truly believe that knowledge is power. The newsletters and workshops we host create space for us to be comfortable exploring these issues. Sometimes, we’ll do prework like watching a documentary and then follow it up with a guided discussion about the topic. These issues are sensitive, and many of us may not be used to discussing them, but by creating these safe and dedicated spaces in small groups we can help people explore what they’ve learned and make concerted efforts to create change in our lives and at the firm.
Over time, I’ve come to really embrace that if I want a more equitable world, I need to be that change—the change in our personal relationships, our society, and our workplace.
What do you think people are missing when they don’t take time to understand privilege and allyship?
There’s this psychology concept, the Dunning-Kruger effect, that says people who know very little about something tend to think they know a lot about it. Yet the more someone knows about subject, the more they realize how much they don’t know about it.
For instance, understanding there are so many layers of sexual identity and attraction helps you understand it’s not a cut-and-dried issue. Learning about the true and dark US history, with a focus on understanding racial equity, shows you the impact of so many systemic issues, such as redlining.
When I was a kid, I used to tell my parents I wanted to know everything about everything. I grew up and realized I can’t possibly know everything, but there’s still so many eye-opening experiences to have that can only be learned by seeking truths and experiences of others, especially those unlike yourself. I believe learning about our history to understand how we’ve gotten to where we are, and the lasting effects, is important.
How can allyship be brought into the workplace?
I think it starts with being aware of our biases. For example, I’ve got to continue to keep track of myself and not let what I do or don’t have in common with someone influence who I get to know or mentor, especially in my role as a manager.
At the next level, allyship can include being involved in BRGs. I’ve learned so much about microaggressions with the Racial Equity BRG. It’s helped me coach others at the firm, even members of leadership, in how to identify and intervene with permission in situations where microaggressions are happening.
As a firm, as a team, as any group of people, we do better when we’re learning from diverse perspectives. We’re only going to get there if we invite everyone to the table and make sure they feel comfortable speaking and sharing.
From a racial equity standpoint, it’s my responsibility to ensure we’re making room at the table and inviting others to share their ideas so we can continue to do and be better for everyone.