“This also means diversity of thought, because even if you have a demographically diverse team, but everyone went to the same college and thinks the same way, that’s still not going to be able to leverage and maximize the benefits of diversity.” -Dr. Ella F. Washington Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is more than just taking a course or hiring from particular demographics. It’s about how we want to feel at work and in society, and how we make others feel. Intention is everything and yet many people find themselves afraid of saying the wrong thing, this paralysis then also prevents us from saying the right things. When you are open to the possibilities in other people’s lived experiences, you are far more likely to be able to have the conversations you perhaps didn’t even know you needed to have.  Dr. Ella F. Washington, founder and CEO of Ellavate Solutions, organizational psychologist, author, and DEI culture expert is this episode’s featured guest. Ella speaks about the need for workplaces and workplace cultures to let everyone be their authentic self at work. If everyone isn’t thriving at work, feeling valued, respected, and happy, there is something wrong.  Whether you are an individual, a small bookkeeping business, or a big one, it is inspiring to listen to Ella’s vision for what workplace culture could be. If you want to have these complex conversations but aren’t sure where to start, this is the episode to get you comfortable with what you don’t know. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of building a utopia of inclusion, diversity & equity at work How to understand & challenge biases The importance of intention in building a healthy workplace culture Click here to find out more about Ella. Connect with Ella on LinkedIn and Twitter.  Click here to get your copy of Ella’s new book, The Necessary Journey. Time Stamps   01:36 - Ella talks about her career journey  03:38 - The core of diversity, equity & inclusion  08:39 - Thinking about & challenging our biases  10:52 - Creating great working environments  14:33 - Building a workplace utopia 17:30 - The power of intention in workplace culture  19:14 - The Necessary Journey, stories of client success 23:08 - Considering your whole sphere of influence 26:42 - Ella talks about her book