1 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: Welcome to Money Making Conversations. It's the show that she 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:10,039 Speaker 1: has the secrets of success experience firsthand by Marketing and 3 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: Brandon expert Rashan McDonald. I will know he's giving me 4 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: advice to many occasions. In occasion didn't notice, I'm not broke. 5 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: You know. He'll be interviewing celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry 6 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: decision makers. It's what he likes to do, it's what 7 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: he likes to share. Now it's time to hear from 8 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 1: my man, Rashan McDonald money Making Conversations. Here we come. 9 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 1: Welcome to Money Making Conversations. I'm your host from Sean McConnell. 10 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: Isn't important to understand this? Listen up to everybody. Everybody 11 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:39,599 Speaker 1: travels a different path to success. They have to understand 12 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: that that's because your brand is different. Actually, people you 13 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: meet in life will be different, so the challenge you're 14 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: face in your life will be different too. So you 15 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: need to stop reading other people's success stories and really 16 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: start writing your own. Start planning your future. Stop trying 17 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: to be something that you're not. If you can't sing, 18 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: stop trying to sing. If you can't wrap, stop trying 19 00:00:57,600 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: to wrap. If you can't score a touchdown. Stop trying 20 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: to score to touch down. That is not your lane, 21 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: that's not your opportunity. But you can't be motivated by 22 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:07,320 Speaker 1: their success because their stories can offer you direction and 23 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:10,040 Speaker 1: help you reach your goals, understand the word your goals, 24 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: reach your planning, and through your community effort. My next 25 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 1: guest is Sharon Smith. I can sign you. She's the 26 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 1: CEO of Ray Mackenzie Group and the award winning diversity, 27 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 1: equity and inclusive marketing firm. Sharon works for Fortune five 28 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: hundred companies, nonprofits, and in October sixteen founded the People 29 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 1: of Color Career Fair as a way of closing the 30 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:33,040 Speaker 1: gap between between professionals of color and hiring managers. Sharing 31 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 1: is all about diversity, equity and inclusion with marketing strategies 32 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 1: that affect and attract, recruit, retain talent of color. Listen 33 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: to me, talent of color. That's what this interview is about. 34 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: Her new book, Colorful, Competitive Strategy to Attract and Retain 35 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: top Talent of Color, releases on February night of one, 36 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: but she here to do a presale request. I'm gonna 37 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: here to promote the book ahead of time because you 38 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: can buy the book. Put it on reserve, be the 39 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: first to get it. Please, Welcome to Money Making Conversation, 40 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: Sharon Smith. I can sign you. Thank you so much 41 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: for Sean, thank you for that awesome introduction. I'm really 42 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:08,800 Speaker 1: happy to be here with you today. Well, first of all, 43 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: you're a talker. You're a good talker. I have some 44 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 1: good questions. A little background on me, my degrees in mathematics, 45 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: my miners, and sociology. Uh, even though I have a 46 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 1: strong entertainment background. But in college two and a half 47 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: years I worked undergrad at IBM. I was in the 48 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:25,799 Speaker 1: administrative executive and then I worked two and a half 49 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: years professionally at IBM. And when I got there, and 50 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: I eventually left in eight six to pursue a career 51 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: as a standard comedian, I thought I'd be the next 52 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:37,119 Speaker 1: Aid in Murphy. And I guess what, I've been successful. 53 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 1: I'm not the next Aid to Murphy, but I'm the 54 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: first Rochelle McDonald. That's where I should have realized from 55 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: the very beginning that it's really when you start talking 56 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: about talent and recruiting that talent, it's about being yourself 57 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:50,119 Speaker 1: and understanding your value. Isn't that correct? Sharing absolutely. We 58 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: have to know our value. We have to understand, you know, 59 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 1: where we fit in, and we have to always be 60 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 1: willing to bring our authentic self to whatever it is 61 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: that we're we're trying to pursue. Because you cannot be 62 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: your best self. You cannot be productive at home, you 63 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:07,679 Speaker 1: cannot be productive at work unless you keep it real 64 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: and you always keep aware because you're in a world 65 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: where really, um, you're talking to white people. Absolutely, I'm 66 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: talking to white people every day giving them a safe 67 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: space to have this real conversation about making sure that 68 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: they uh do a better job in making rooms so 69 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,080 Speaker 1: that we can have a seat at the table. See, 70 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 1: we need to be at all levels of the organization, 71 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 1: from boardroom to the c suite to middle management all 72 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: the way through to make sure that we're impacting change, 73 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: not just because of us. Right, this is just good business. 74 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: When you think about the population shift, the demographic shift, 75 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: you know, people will tell us what we will be 76 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 1: a majority minority nation, that will be more black and 77 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: brown people in this nation. And then when you add 78 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: on top of that, Rashaant the buying power consumerism. Corporations 79 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: must be reflective of the customers they served and we 80 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: are you talking about one point five one point seven 81 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: trillion dollars in buying power just with the African Americans consumer, 82 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: another one point five or so with the Latino community. 83 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 1: You cannot afford not to make sure that your workforce 84 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 1: is reflective of the consumers you serve. Because we're getting 85 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: smarter and we're becoming more using our activist gene, and 86 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 1: we're asking more questions as we think about where we 87 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,280 Speaker 1: want to land for our next big career. You know, 88 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: it's really interesting because, let's say, my miners and sociology, 89 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 1: so I'm always looking from a black perspective, and I 90 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: have to look at life. So when you talk about 91 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: that minority number being the majority, there's a there's a 92 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:46,479 Speaker 1: that's a majority of this current majority fear that. And 93 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 1: so when you come in talking about trying to be 94 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 1: inclusive and trying to be a more diverse a color 95 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 1: pattern that fixed the general population, there's also an older 96 00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 1: generation that sees that that shrinking number. And and we've 97 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 1: seen it during this presidential administration and just gonna carry on, 98 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: uh the next four years or six years. And we've 99 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: seen how I read an article as a church out 100 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 1: there as white only people church on the only white 101 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: people to come to their church. So when you see 102 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: this this upheaval of negative spirit that don't want to include, 103 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 1: that don't want to share the opportunities at the table, 104 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: how do you deal with that? How do you see 105 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: that as a visionary? Yeah, I think that, you know, 106 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: I really feel bad, I really feel awful, Uh that 107 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: people are such a disadvantage, especially some white people who 108 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: haven't had the opportunity to learn how fulfilling their life 109 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,840 Speaker 1: would be by not having people in their lives that 110 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: don't look like them. It is so sad, you know. 111 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 1: And it's something that I teach young people as well, 112 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,159 Speaker 1: and I when I speak in schools, I said, you 113 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 1: really have to understand how fulfilling and how important it 114 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: is to make sure that you switch things up, you know, 115 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: really make sure that you are being intentional about building 116 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: strong relationships with people who don't look like you. It 117 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 1: changes things. And so when I see what happened in 118 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,559 Speaker 1: the election, when I see what happens in the White House, 119 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 1: it's just very sad because they're just cheating themselves out 120 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: of a fulfilling opportunity, uh, to just make their lives better. 121 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: Because it's so important. You know, Brian Stevenson teaches us 122 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:22,840 Speaker 1: about proximity. I don't know if you've read the book 123 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 1: Just Mercy, but teach us about proximity, and it's so 124 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: important to do that. This is how we create empathy 125 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: when you are getting closer to people who don't look 126 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 1: like us, and there and there, and it's a shame 127 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:38,599 Speaker 1: to have fear. Who wants to live like that? In 128 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: fear of another human being? That's that's just nuts. So 129 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 1: what we have to do as black people and people 130 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 1: of color is just to keep moving forward, keep being 131 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 1: who we are, keep being authentic, and keep teaching, educating 132 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 1: and using our voice to make sure that we are 133 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 1: creating change and embrace those allies and as my mom 134 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:01,840 Speaker 1: called him, embrace those good white folk. Right. Well, that's 135 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 1: what we saw during the civil unrest during the summer, 136 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: because white people came out and supported racial change. Police 137 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: brutality was that we had to stop. You know. I 138 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 1: would tell people, you know, some of the some of 139 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: the heavy riding was done in Portland, Seattle, and I 140 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 1: can assure you I've been to both cities. Very few 141 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: black people up there. Okay, there was a mad white 142 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: people up there. Who finally were open. And then when 143 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:31,120 Speaker 1: they saw try to create conversation, they were trying, they 144 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: were they were they were trying to shut them down. 145 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: And that's when the face of reality kind of came 146 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: back a wild You mean, like we changed just talk 147 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 1: about this, and this is what black people have to 148 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: deal with. I'm white and you treat me like this, 149 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: Treat me like I am a terrorist, treat me like 150 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: I am uh was supposed to have the first right amendment, 151 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 1: freedom of speech, and you're telling you're denying me that. 152 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: And so when I look at what you're doing, and 153 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: I do want to point something that. First, from an 154 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: advertising standpoint, when I look at commercials, I see diversity, 155 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: incredible amount of diversity. I see black and white couples 156 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 1: land in bed. I see him driving cars with nix 157 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: raged kids in the back seat. I see them jumping 158 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: out to each other when they come into the airport. 159 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:14,679 Speaker 1: So from an advertising standpoint, I think diversity is working. 160 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: They they have understood that we need to show how 161 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: America looks and should interact. Now we're talking about employment, 162 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: we're talking about leadership, we're talking about upper management, we're 163 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: talking about that's a lot different than a sixty second 164 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 1: or thirty second or fifteen second b roll on YouTube. 165 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,680 Speaker 1: A lot of harder journey. It's it's it is a 166 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 1: harder journey. But I don't understand why, because when you 167 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: understand good business, that same CEO who may ensure that 168 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,680 Speaker 1: that who hired that ad agency, who created that the 169 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 1: average the advertisement that you speak about, is that same 170 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 1: CEO who needs to make sure that his organization reflects 171 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: the consumers that they're serving. So that CEO that c 172 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: A your old needs to just decide that we're going 173 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: to reflect that. You've seen the articles, the recent articles, 174 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:09,679 Speaker 1: um you know about Coca Cola, right and there you know, 175 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: and they started years ago. They used to be leading 176 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: in this space when we're talking about CEOs at the 177 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: highest levels of the organization, and they just took a 178 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:23,839 Speaker 1: temperature check. They they went backwards. They're going back and 179 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: even as they have gone backwards, and this was as 180 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 1: a result of a multibillion out a lawsuit that happened, right, 181 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: And so they're going backwards. But even as they are, 182 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: they're still ahead of the game. They still the game 183 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: losing ground. So when CEOs just have to decide what 184 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: type of organization do I want to be? What do 185 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:48,960 Speaker 1: I want to represent? What do I want my legacy 186 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 1: to be? When I think about how all of this 187 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 1: got started in sixteen nineteen, when the first slaves you know, 188 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: rode up on the shores of Virginia, you know, uh 189 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 1: uh uh in chains. Although I want my legacy to 190 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 1: be and I believe that CEO's board members just have 191 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: to decide that this has got to stop. And just 192 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: like when this started in Minneapolis, after George Floyd was 193 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: murdered eight minutes and forty six seconds, that awakened all 194 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 1: of us, you know, and and the world saw all races. 195 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 1: As you mentioned earlier, wasn't just because it's not that 196 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: many black folk in Minnesota either. So everybody came together 197 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 1: and said, you know what, this is. Enough is enough, 198 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: Enough is enough. It is not okay that Sharon Smith 199 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: Akin Sagna has to have a talk with her twenty 200 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:41,319 Speaker 1: four year old you know about you know, every single 201 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 1: time she leaves my presence. She lives in Boston now, 202 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: but ever since she was a baby, you know, we 203 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 1: have to have that talk. You really are black here 204 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: here's you have to be aware of that. You know, 205 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: when I talked to my white friends about that. They're 206 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 1: just the paul that I have to do that not 207 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: only with her, but my nieces, my nephews, you just anybody. 208 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:03,560 Speaker 1: Just remember we have to be careful. And so it 209 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 1: awakened all of us and we have to keep the 210 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 1: pedal to the metal. You know. I wrote about it 211 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: in my article in b ET recently, and I talked 212 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: about how it's very nice that we have Rashida Jones, 213 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: who now is the head of MSNBC News, you know, 214 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:21,559 Speaker 1: the first black female head of cable news, a cable 215 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: news network. You know, we've got Kamala Harris right first 216 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:30,079 Speaker 1: of the black vice president. We've got all female communications 217 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,560 Speaker 1: staff in the Biden Harris cabinet, with three of those 218 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 1: members being black, all with natural hair by the way. 219 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 1: So we're seeing so much progress, right and in a 220 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 1: short period of time. But I also wrote about I 221 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:51,559 Speaker 1: see some flashing yellow lights to cast share warship warning, warning. 222 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: We have been here before. So what do we need 223 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: to do to make sure that we don't backslide? As 224 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 1: they say, church, we need to make sure that we 225 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 1: are giving those CEO s. Hey, this is awesome that 226 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: you did this. Who's next? Because we own social media, 227 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,319 Speaker 1: use it right, we own it. So make sure you're 228 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:15,439 Speaker 1: letting those CEOs and we're watching, we see you, Thank 229 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 1: you so much for that. Who's next? And we also 230 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: need to make sure that we are congratulating those leaders 231 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,080 Speaker 1: and saying we're looking forward to the change that you're 232 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:27,199 Speaker 1: gonna make. You know who you're bringing up behind you? 233 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: You know. So there's lots of things that are happening, 234 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:32,360 Speaker 1: but I see warning science. You know you remember this book, 235 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: what was it, Cracking the Corporate Cold? You remember that 236 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: absolutely absolutely, we did this a long time ago. Like 237 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: I said, you know because I've worked at IBM, so 238 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: I know that, uh, you know. I would tell people 239 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 1: about you know, the story. I always say that I 240 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 1: was an I being. I said, decisions made. You have 241 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: to do. You have to get in the eyeline of 242 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: people when they make decisions. And that's what black people 243 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:57,199 Speaker 1: really need to understand before we throw the word racism 244 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: out there, not be included. And I would tell people 245 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 1: decisions are made in front of you, left and right. 246 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: If you're standing be hiding that decision maker, you won't 247 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 1: get choose. You won't get chosen. So that means that 248 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: you have to you have to work your way through 249 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:14,079 Speaker 1: proper training, proper relationships, or clear understanding that you want 250 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: to be successful. Because I mean, when I came on 251 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 1: board IBM full time, uh, you know, I sat down 252 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 1: with my supervise. He asked me what I wanted to 253 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:23,080 Speaker 1: do at IBM, and I told him I get back 254 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: with him. Meantimes with twitter white guys. Obviously, they told 255 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:28,199 Speaker 1: him exactly what they wanted to do, and they was 256 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: moving in front of me. Well, you know, four months later, 257 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,440 Speaker 1: I came in there, you know, crying wolf, Hey, what's 258 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: going on here? Why is Bill and Ted flying past me? 259 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 1: And he said he white guy said nights every shine. 260 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 1: You didn't ever get back to me about your goals 261 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:45,960 Speaker 1: that IBM. So I'm not I'm not saying that's holding 262 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 1: all black people back, but no, there are certain things 263 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 1: that you have to be positioned and ready to tell 264 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:52,559 Speaker 1: people you want to be great, if you if your 265 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 1: goal is to be this, to run this company, to 266 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: be a vice president, to be a manager. When they 267 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:58,679 Speaker 1: asked you, you better tell them and you better tell 268 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 1: them how you're gonna do that, because that shows leadership 269 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 1: and so, and I also know that raises promotions are 270 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:07,680 Speaker 1: tied to not because of hard work, but what people 271 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 1: think of you. Absolutely, absolutely you must know your value. 272 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 1: And you know how close mouth won't get faith, mouth 273 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: won't get promoted. Jared jaredy. We talk a long time 274 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 1: because see you you're starting to rock on me. Not girl. 275 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying. Every sho yeah that elbow 276 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 1: your way in right, you know, to make sure that 277 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: you're saying yes to those networking opportunities. Absolutely, Yes to 278 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 1: those virtual coffees, Yes to those quick fifteen minutes you know, 279 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 1: catch ups. That's how we learn those things. We must 280 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: know more people. I can't tell you how many calls 281 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 1: I get after someone has you know, been downsized because 282 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 1: of the pandemic or for whatever reason. And this says Sharon, 283 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 1: I really need to get to my next episode. And 284 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 1: I said, well who you know? You know? Who have 285 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: you kept in relationship with? What? That's where we're gonna 286 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: start first. Well, you know, I've been so busy, I 287 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 1: haven't done the networking that I need to. And you 288 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: know I have my head down. No, everybody, three to 289 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: five networking calls a week, fifteen minutes, three to five, 290 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 1: no agenda. Get to know people you know and let 291 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: and you could be genuinely interested in what's going on 292 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 1: with them, all right, and be able to share what's 293 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: going on with you and your future goals and opportunities, 294 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 1: especially now because we're all in this box, in this 295 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 1: square called zoom, and we have time throw a fifteen 296 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 1: minute meeting on that. I've been meaning to catch up 297 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 1: with that hr oh at you know said company. I've 298 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: been meaning to catch up with a friend of mine 299 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 1: who I had just you know, lost touch, you know, 300 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: for years ago. Catch up, y'all. We need to have access, 301 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:45,800 Speaker 1: and that is why I created the People of Color 302 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 1: Careers Social hiring network for professionals of color, because we 303 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 1: need to do a better job at networking with each other. 304 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 1: And also we need to do a better job at 305 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 1: networking and getting access to those high hiring managers and 306 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 1: decision makers ra sean that can help us move the 307 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 1: needle forward faster on our careers. So I want to 308 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 1: make sure everybody, if they don't do anything else, they 309 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: need to create their profile at People of Color Careers 310 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:16,440 Speaker 1: dot com because that's where we're going to get it done. 311 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 1: It's finally here, the season of celebration, and no matter 312 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 1: how you celebrate with family and friends. Whether you're preparing 313 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 1: for Reis Magos or Karamu lighting the Manura, are going 314 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 1: to midnight mass, Coals has just what you need to 315 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: make those traditions special. Plus you'll find gifts for all 316 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 1: your loved ones. 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With auto dot ai, 338 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:54,920 Speaker 1: you can search the meeting notes, insert images, play back 339 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 1: the audio, and share them with your friends or coworkers. 340 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:00,359 Speaker 1: You can capture action items, remember meeting detail else and 341 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 1: keep everyone informed. Auto dot ai works for in person 342 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:06,920 Speaker 1: or virtual meetings like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google meet. 343 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 1: Sign up for free at auto dot ai or download 344 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: the app for free auto dot ai. That's O T 345 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 1: T E R dot Ai. I love that we're talking 346 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 1: about her new book Colorful, Competitive Strategies to Attract and 347 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:21,919 Speaker 1: retain top talent of Color. It releases in February, but 348 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 1: you can pre order this book right now. I'm talking 349 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: to Sharon Smith. I can sign you and we're making up. 350 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 1: There's when I'm reading the book as a couple of 351 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: terms that I always here pop out what exactly are 352 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:37,240 Speaker 1: c suite executives? What is that? What are those c 353 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 1: suite executives? Are those executives that work directly for the CEO, 354 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 1: report directly to the CEO, so that you can have 355 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:48,399 Speaker 1: a seat at the table where the decision makers, the 356 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:53,200 Speaker 1: cisims are being made. Because because because I'm going through 357 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:54,800 Speaker 1: your book, it was it was kind of like, you know, 358 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: it's like a recipe book, and it was so term. 359 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 1: I went, you know, you gotta know this term because 360 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 1: it pops up a lot. You know, I know what 361 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:03,639 Speaker 1: it is. But people they just walked quit past. What 362 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 1: exactlys c suite executives? Okay, that person, you need to 363 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:08,880 Speaker 1: get coached to the top of the food chain. That's 364 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:10,199 Speaker 1: what you need to be working your way up to 365 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 1: the top. Now, another person in reading they said that 366 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 1: that you are a proof of concept. One exactly that 367 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:20,479 Speaker 1: that when they made that reference, I really said, I'm 368 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: gonna let her explain what he meant when he said 369 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 1: you are a proof of concept. We talked about my 370 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 1: good friend Richard Davis, who is the former CEO of 371 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:31,640 Speaker 1: the nation's fifth largest bank, US Bank, and he's currently 372 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 1: the CEO of Make a Wish America and I believe 373 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 1: what Richard meant was is that I do what I 374 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 1: say I'm want to do, and that I you know, 375 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 1: so when you have a conversation with me, it's going 376 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 1: to be authentic, it's going to be safe, there won't 377 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 1: be any recrimination. We're gonna be able to have an 378 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:52,160 Speaker 1: honest dialogue because I recognize that as a CEO, particularly 379 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,119 Speaker 1: as a white male, because that was the point of 380 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:56,240 Speaker 1: view he was speaking for. He called himself, you know, 381 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: I'm an old white dude, and I believe support here. 382 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: So what he was saying is is that when I 383 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 1: tell you that I can help you do better and 384 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:08,160 Speaker 1: be better and recruit and retain top talent of color, 385 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: if you listen, then I will be able to do that. 386 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 1: Because what was important Richard than I. We used to 387 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,719 Speaker 1: have these knockdown dragons. They were in safe spaces and 388 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: we we had them and we moved on. Well, we 389 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,680 Speaker 1: learned from one another because I can ask him anything, right, 390 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 1: And so that's what we're saying that if you want 391 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 1: to save space to be able to have these conversations 392 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:33,160 Speaker 1: to help move your organization forward, then Sharon can do that. Well. 393 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 1: I took it as you are the truth. You know, 394 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:38,120 Speaker 1: just people like the truth. Man, Just just just let 395 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:40,680 Speaker 1: her talk for five minute. Understand that's the truth talking 396 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,160 Speaker 1: right there. And then because because that's what I took 397 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:46,200 Speaker 1: from a proof of concept. Because okay, you know each 398 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: how you go. Why does this work? Sharon, please come 399 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:52,400 Speaker 1: forward and tell everybody the truth that just walked into 400 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:56,879 Speaker 1: the room. Because because you're constantly in mental and you 401 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 1: have to maintaining certain tones that you don't become the 402 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:03,119 Speaker 1: angry black woman and then be too too aggressive because 403 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:06,959 Speaker 1: you're trying to bend thought process. You're trying to create acceptability, 404 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 1: and you can't be the person you know what you 405 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:12,119 Speaker 1: don't want sharing, there's somebody doing it because out of fear. 406 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 1: That doesn't work. Let's talk about that whole process. Because 407 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:20,400 Speaker 1: you can't protest your way to diverse opportunities, they can 408 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 1: assign wanted to shut you down. We're talking about a 409 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 1: plan in place that you are trying to implement, not 410 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:28,439 Speaker 1: saying trying, but you are implementing that allows people to 411 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 1: understand this is the right thing to do. This can 412 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:33,400 Speaker 1: make your company more profitable. This can make your your 413 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:36,520 Speaker 1: work staff much more clear understanding what goes on in 414 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 1: all the communities, they can understand why, Okay, this person 415 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:41,679 Speaker 1: feels a certain way when they walk out there are 416 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: police stops them, or or their children go to school 417 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:46,679 Speaker 1: where they have different ways of communicating. This is what 418 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: this is about. An acceptance and the mental acceptance that 419 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:52,440 Speaker 1: this should be done this way. There are no other 420 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:56,359 Speaker 1: way it shouldn't be done. Absolutely, that's exactly right. And 421 00:21:56,480 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 1: those leaders who get that Rashaun are winning, They're going 422 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:03,080 Speaker 1: to leave their competitors in the dust. I promise you, 423 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:09,360 Speaker 1: when you truly understand the importance of building stronger, more 424 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 1: authentic relationships inside and outside your organization with people of color, 425 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 1: those that don't look like you, you will increase your profits. 426 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 1: Their studies that we don't take my word for it, 427 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 1: their studies, you know, go into all of them, right, 428 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: you know, the Mackenzie pick them. There's thousands of studies 429 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 1: that tell you will increase your profits, you will increase innovation, 430 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 1: and you will absolutely leave your competition in the dust, 431 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 1: and personally you will be better for it. See, my 432 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:44,600 Speaker 1: best friend is very rich and very white, very white, 433 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:50,600 Speaker 1: and we have these conversations that put us in different places. See, 434 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 1: she enhanced my life because of her network and her circle, 435 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:57,920 Speaker 1: and where we were able to get some things done 436 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:01,199 Speaker 1: around diversity, EQUI and inclusion, where she and introduced me 437 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:04,199 Speaker 1: into that world, and then she was able to have 438 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 1: a better understanding and be a better c. H. R 439 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 1: Oh in her work because of what she was able 440 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:12,439 Speaker 1: to do with me in my world and learn. I 441 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:14,520 Speaker 1: gotta tell you. I'll tell you a quick story. We 442 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:19,800 Speaker 1: went out to sit to a party to a professional couple. 443 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 1: You know, they had just moved to the Twin Cities 444 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 1: area and it was a beautiful, I mean beautiful, beautiful home. 445 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:29,639 Speaker 1: And so it's a Saturday afternoon. I'm being casual. I'm like, oh, 446 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 1: look at y'all. Y'all living like rich white people out 447 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:37,199 Speaker 1: here and Jenny, and Jenny looked at me, she said, no, 448 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:43,199 Speaker 1: I can't say that, right, that's exactly right, you know, 449 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 1: I said, but eventually you know, right, right, But those 450 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:49,360 Speaker 1: are the things, right, those are the things I want. 451 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 1: I want to comment on that, you know, when you're 452 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:55,400 Speaker 1: saying living like white people, because see that's whole which 453 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 1: is really really really key because you know, I always 454 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:00,879 Speaker 1: stories because of our form, our sitcom writer, and I 455 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:03,920 Speaker 1: will telling you know what happens is you know how 456 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 1: some people created a hit show and they can't create 457 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 1: another hit show because when they used to they create 458 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:10,240 Speaker 1: the first show, they were driving to work, they were 459 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:12,360 Speaker 1: eating the regular stories. When they made the hit show, 460 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 1: they started helicopter in the work. They start getting their 461 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:18,880 Speaker 1: news from CNN. And so so basically, people are rich 462 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,480 Speaker 1: white people, they have to be educated because guess what 463 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 1: they're missing steps, you know, they're missing steps, food is 464 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 1: being brought to it. They have made service, and so 465 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 1: they're looking at people from a different perspective. And the 466 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 1: information they're getting it from people from from maybe from 467 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 1: a non educated level. And so when we have to 468 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 1: surround their folks with information that their eyes open, go. 469 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 1: I didn't know. That's why I'm with George Floyd. A 470 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:41,600 Speaker 1: lot of white people didn't know. They really they were allowed. 471 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 1: The white people Black people just complaining and didn't didn't 472 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:46,800 Speaker 1: look caring. She out there just I'm a collumn. I'm 473 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:48,959 Speaker 1: a call of police right now, and tell them you're 474 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 1: about to attack me. When that got caught on film, 475 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:55,880 Speaker 1: they were like, wow, this really does happen. It really 476 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:58,680 Speaker 1: does happening, and it just you know what, it wasn't 477 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:00,240 Speaker 1: a We were in the middle of a pandemic when 478 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:02,920 Speaker 1: George Floyd happened, and as we still are, it wasn't 479 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:07,640 Speaker 1: a baseball game, football game. I get nothing to get 480 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:10,639 Speaker 1: in a way. Everybody saw that, everybody witnessed it, and 481 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:13,960 Speaker 1: it wasn't awakening. It really wasn't awakening. And I encourage 482 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:17,680 Speaker 1: everyone in the sound of my voice to be intentional 483 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 1: about changing your friend group because I want to know. 484 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:23,560 Speaker 1: You know, who do you call when you want to celebrate, 485 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:27,040 Speaker 1: who do you call when you're sad? Who's on your 486 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:31,440 Speaker 1: Christmas party list? Tell me about your golfing buddies, because 487 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 1: it just changes your life for the better. When you diversify, 488 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:39,840 Speaker 1: you learn, so we could be intellectually curious too about 489 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:41,879 Speaker 1: what's happening. I love you because you have that. You 490 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: know you could be a minister. You know that you've 491 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:46,000 Speaker 1: been told that before. Now, a couple of questions about 492 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 1: ask you have to read the book. The first one. 493 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 1: It's a strong question, but I just need you to answer. 494 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:56,480 Speaker 1: Why should we trust you? You should trust me because 495 00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 1: I have been doing this for for a plus years, 496 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:07,280 Speaker 1: really working hard to impact my community, really hard to 497 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:09,800 Speaker 1: be making sure that we're making a change in closing 498 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: those gaps, you know. So you know, I'm an open book. 499 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:17,160 Speaker 1: I'm pretty transparent and I get results. And and Richard 500 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:19,400 Speaker 1: Davis is one of those people that share that information 501 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:23,400 Speaker 1: with you, as those other UH executives in the book 502 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:27,360 Speaker 1: that I talked to. So I get results. I am 503 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:30,760 Speaker 1: proof positive. You know that when you work with me 504 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 1: and my team, we're gonna help you move the needle 505 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,200 Speaker 1: forward and it's going to be safe. So you should 506 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 1: trust me because I've done the work. I've been in 507 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 1: the trenches and I have those corporations that are behind 508 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:47,200 Speaker 1: me that's say hey, you know, she and her team 509 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:50,160 Speaker 1: are really moving the needle and getting it done. And 510 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:54,400 Speaker 1: because my mama says, so you know me. She said, look, 511 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 1: little girl, I know you are in a fetal position. 512 00:26:58,119 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 1: This was after George Floyd. You got to get up 513 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:04,720 Speaker 1: because it is a sin not to use your gift. 514 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 1: It is a sin to keep it to yourself. Now 515 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 1: you can be part of the solution or walk around 516 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:13,200 Speaker 1: soaking of oxygen. Right now, I'm saying you shouldn't feel 517 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:16,680 Speaker 1: what you feel, but I'm gonna need you to do 518 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:19,040 Speaker 1: what it is that you do your God giving gifts 519 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 1: and let this make even more change in the community 520 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 1: because you have accessed to people that most people just 521 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:27,840 Speaker 1: dream of, and you need to use that access to 522 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:33,120 Speaker 1: move things forward and make real change. Now, get on up, mother. 523 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 1: The question for close out the end of view? What 524 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:40,200 Speaker 1: are the real obstacles? We've talked about them for d E. I, yes, 525 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:46,480 Speaker 1: what are they? Well? The real obstacles um lie in 526 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:53,480 Speaker 1: the inability for those in charge to just decide that's 527 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:56,600 Speaker 1: the obstacle. And sweet because because I say that, because 528 00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:58,919 Speaker 1: I want to go to chapter three the key to 529 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:02,800 Speaker 1: attracting qualified professionals of color, and that's what you say. 530 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:06,200 Speaker 1: Make sure every message you send tells them you want them, 531 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:12,159 Speaker 1: welcome them, and value them as unique individuals. Right, because 532 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:15,119 Speaker 1: how what message are you sending? You know, when I 533 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 1: look at your LinkedIn profile, when I look at your 534 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:20,439 Speaker 1: company profile, I don't see anybody looks like me. I 535 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,120 Speaker 1: don't see you with anybody that looks like me. So 536 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 1: you have to be intentional. It's almost like that boss 537 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:29,119 Speaker 1: of yours who talked about talked to you when you 538 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 1: were at IBM, which not what do you want to do? 539 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 1: You know what you didn't tell him? Okay, you got 540 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 1: around to it, but you didn't do it right away. 541 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:40,239 Speaker 1: Same thing is happening in corporate America. You say you 542 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:43,920 Speaker 1: want me, but tell me how much you want me. 543 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:46,719 Speaker 1: You know, it's like a dating relationship. You know, why 544 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 1: don't I hear anything about it? Why don't you tell me? 545 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:52,320 Speaker 1: Why don't you show me? And so that is the 546 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:55,600 Speaker 1: most important thing to aid. Just decide and then make 547 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 1: it clear. We really do want to increase racial inclusivity 548 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:01,920 Speaker 1: at all levels of the organization, and we're willing to 549 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 1: do and learn whatever we need to do and learn 550 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 1: to make that happen because we know it's good for 551 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:10,520 Speaker 1: business and we know that we lose our competitive edge 552 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 1: when we don't do that. Awesome, She's amazing. She has 553 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:17,280 Speaker 1: a book out, Colorful Competitive Strategies to attract and retain 554 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 1: top talent of color. Sharon Smith at Consagna. You're wonderful, Minnesota. 555 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 1: That's a cold stage, young lady. Thank you so much, 556 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 1: and we're gonna just keep it moving. I know, by 557 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:28,920 Speaker 1: the way, the book, you can get the e book 558 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:31,800 Speaker 1: right now on Amazon as well. So I'm gonna bring 559 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 1: you back, you know, because I was. You know, we're 560 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:35,560 Speaker 1: closing out the year, but I want to bring you 561 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:39,000 Speaker 1: back in like in the late first quarter, because you know, 562 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:42,600 Speaker 1: you know vac vaccines, it's gonna be starting to get distributed. 563 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 1: And I want to get your mindset there as well, 564 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:48,800 Speaker 1: because what you talk about is uh, it is really 565 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:51,400 Speaker 1: important from a standpoint, Like I told you, you know, 566 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:55,040 Speaker 1: from an advertising standpoint, there's a clear understanding that by 567 00:29:55,120 --> 00:29:58,160 Speaker 1: being diverse in the advertising world, your product can be sold. 568 00:29:58,160 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 1: That's what they're doing. You said that in your bo 569 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 1: about brand loyalty. It has been shown that once once 570 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 1: African Americans feel that you care about them, you create 571 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:10,840 Speaker 1: brand loyalty. What the advertising world is accepted that you know, 572 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:14,640 Speaker 1: they're rolling in there and so. But from the corporate standpoint, 573 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 1: but had those closed doors, when you walk through those doors, 574 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:20,760 Speaker 1: they're still not admitting there's a need for that change. 575 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:25,440 Speaker 1: They have to just decide those that do and make 576 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:28,600 Speaker 1: it happen. Like I said, we'll leave their competition in 577 00:30:28,640 --> 00:30:32,360 Speaker 1: the dusk. Well, you are you fantastic, glad. Like I said, 578 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:34,080 Speaker 1: I have six sisters. I want to bring you on 579 00:30:34,120 --> 00:30:38,640 Speaker 1: board and my seven sister because because you you're entertaining 580 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 1: your I love your style and love your personality. I 581 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:44,360 Speaker 1: feel that you want of these people I can really 582 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 1: really have a great conversation about life, learn something from 583 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:50,000 Speaker 1: because of the fact that you're not a person that 584 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 1: I felt was supplying with information that I was being 585 00:30:53,080 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 1: forced upon me. And I think that's what we was 586 00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:56,800 Speaker 1: talking about earlier. When you talk to these white people 587 00:30:57,000 --> 00:30:58,640 Speaker 1: and I would say white people in the negative state, 588 00:30:58,680 --> 00:31:01,040 Speaker 1: But there are the people in power and we're talking 589 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:03,040 Speaker 1: to it. It is a stunt point. You have to 590 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:05,440 Speaker 1: be able to have a conversation with them, because what 591 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 1: happens is when they throw your left. You have to 592 00:31:07,680 --> 00:31:11,040 Speaker 1: have a right, but a soft right, a counter point, 593 00:31:11,160 --> 00:31:14,400 Speaker 1: a counter punch answer. Because of the fact that they 594 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 1: don't see nothing wrong they see they feel that successfully 595 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 1: stock is high. A classic example is uh mackenzie, who 596 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:26,600 Speaker 1: was formerly the the Amazon head. Jeff's from my wife. 597 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:30,320 Speaker 1: She giving that money left and right to Sbcus. Absolutely, 598 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:34,560 Speaker 1: he hasn't given that anything, nothing one of our good 599 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:40,320 Speaker 1: nonproplets and fifteen million dollars gifts from her. It's out 600 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:42,840 Speaker 1: the blue changed their entire lives, That's what I'm saying. 601 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:44,680 Speaker 1: So that's what I'm saying that you can have two 602 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:47,960 Speaker 1: people they're getting their money from the same location, where 603 00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:51,840 Speaker 1: one person has been exposed. She has opened the book. 604 00:31:52,240 --> 00:31:54,880 Speaker 1: She is a clear understanding. There is a need over there, 605 00:31:55,360 --> 00:31:58,240 Speaker 1: the same person over here getting that same money has 606 00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:01,600 Speaker 1: not been told. Is a need for this has not 607 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:03,880 Speaker 1: been told. There's a clear understanding that he can make 608 00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:07,080 Speaker 1: a change and effort to be able to move forward 609 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 1: and create and educate African Americans will making for better employment, 610 00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:15,160 Speaker 1: better doctors, better teachers, better lawyers, Barrika Congressman, better vice 611 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:19,120 Speaker 1: presidents of the United States. That's what happens when you participate. 612 00:32:19,160 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 1: That's what happens when you diversify. Sharon, thank you for 613 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:22,920 Speaker 1: coming on the show. I gotta let you go. Come 614 00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:25,400 Speaker 1: and keep talking to you and that's not good. But 615 00:32:25,440 --> 00:32:27,640 Speaker 1: thank you so much for having me. I appreciate you 616 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:29,600 Speaker 1: and I cannot wait to see you again in the 617 00:32:29,640 --> 00:32:32,320 Speaker 1: new year. You will definitely and please be safe and 618 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 1: tell your daughter high Ray McKenzie Group. That's the name 619 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:37,200 Speaker 1: of her company was she was one years old. She 620 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:39,840 Speaker 1: named that company after her daughter. Twenty four years later, 621 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:42,240 Speaker 1: she still has the problem. But guess what we got 622 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:45,000 Speaker 1: we got shared here. She not has not left it 623 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:47,040 Speaker 1: at all, and a mama still living because my mama 624 00:32:47,080 --> 00:32:49,440 Speaker 1: still passing out. That great advice. One thing your mama 625 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:52,000 Speaker 1: said that I believe into. I would tell people you 626 00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:54,640 Speaker 1: have twenty four hours in a day, learn to use 627 00:32:54,680 --> 00:32:56,640 Speaker 1: each hour. And when your mama said that about the 628 00:32:56,760 --> 00:33:01,200 Speaker 1: twenty four hours, I said, I love her. Mama, canma 629 00:33:01,280 --> 00:33:06,960 Speaker 1: to thank you? We're talking okay, bye bye, thank you. 630 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:13,320 Speaker 1: In this season of giving, Coals has gifts for all 631 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:15,959 Speaker 1: your loved ones. 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