1 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to money Making Conversations. 2 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 2: It's to show that she is the secrets of success 3 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 2: experience firsthand by marketing and Brandon expert Rashan McDonald. I 4 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 2: will know he's giving me advice on many occasions. And 5 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,799 Speaker 2: in case you didn't notice, I'm not broke. You know 6 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 2: he'll be interviewing celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry. 7 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:23,280 Speaker 1: Decision make because it's what he likes to do. It's 8 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: what he likes to share. 9 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 2: Now it's time to hear from my man, Rashan McDonald 10 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 2: money making conversations. 11 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 1: Here we go, Hi, there, this is Rashi McDonald. And 12 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 1: it is cold in the south. That's right. Move to 13 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: the south is won no, no, no, no, move to 14 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: the south. And it is very cold. So this is 15 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 1: my air in summer. I'm got me tell you something. 16 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 1: Why I'm doing this interview right now in January. It 17 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: is cold. So whenever you hear this interview, if it repeats, 18 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: it's cold when I'm doing this interview. So when I 19 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: finished the interview, I'll be snuggling up in my gloves 20 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 1: and my big hat and my big coat and going 21 00:00:58,280 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 1: home and getting in the bed. That's going to keep 22 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: you warm all night. Yes, I am Rowshan MacDonald. I'm 23 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 1: the host of this weekly Money Making Conversation Masterclass show. 24 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 1: The interviews and information that this show provides are for everyone. 25 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: It's time to start reading other people's success stories and 26 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: start living your own. My guest on the show today 27 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: is doctor Chuck Wallington. He is the author of A 28 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: Seat at the c Suite Table, Insights from the leadership 29 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: Journeys of African American executives. Please work with the Money 30 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: Making Conversations Masterclass, Doctor Chuck Wallington. 31 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 3: How you doing, sir, I'm will Rashaan. How are you doing? 32 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:38,119 Speaker 1: And you someplace warned my brother, please tell me yes 33 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 1: I am. 34 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 3: I am not. I wish I were a Greensboro, North 35 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 3: Carolina and it's. 36 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:47,040 Speaker 1: Well, you know this is a climate change. Well I'm 37 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: experiencing the climate change because brother, it is a chili 38 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: chili chili. But I'm born and raised in Houston, Texas. 39 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: So I'm a Southern boy. So you're in Greensboro, so 40 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 1: you know that's that's the South too, So that there's 41 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: those statement that you so is woman in South. That's 42 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: not true today for you, nor I And how you doing? 43 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 1: You got a book out, book coming out? Tell us 44 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: about it right quick. 45 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 3: I am doing well and I do have a book 46 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 3: that's in the market and it's called A Seat at 47 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 3: the C Suite Table. And I was inspired to write 48 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 3: this book after having worked in corporate America for now 49 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 3: thirty five plus years. I'm still working in corporate America, 50 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 3: and I've always wondered, are there journeys for other people 51 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 3: who look like me the same as mine or are 52 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 3: they different? And so that's what inspired me to actually 53 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 3: write the book. And I reached out to thirty black 54 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 3: men who are currently working in the US corporations in 55 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 3: C suite roles, and I asked them if they would 56 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 3: share their leadership journeys with me, and they did so, 57 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 3: and this became my doctoral dissertation research and it's now 58 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 3: a book that's available in the marketplace today. 59 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: I have to ask you the question, why did you 60 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 1: not include a woman? 61 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 3: You know what, there's been a lot of research already 62 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:04,959 Speaker 3: about women and their stories are important for sure. As 63 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 3: a black male, though, I wanted to understand and to 64 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 3: highlight the unique journeys of black men. So that's why 65 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:16,519 Speaker 3: I chose to narrow my focus and focus on black men. Now, 66 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 3: if there's a part two to this, who knows, maybe 67 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 3: that could then focus on the journeys of black women. 68 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 1: Well, you know, being a former employee of IBM, I 69 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 1: worked at two and a half years undergraduate two and 70 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 1: a half years graduate of undergrads in mathematics. So I 71 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 1: was a guy who's journeying in that direction to an executive. 72 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 1: But we all need to be educated. So what exactly 73 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: do you mean when you say c suite? What does 74 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: that What does that term mean? 75 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 3: Great, that's a great question. So that term broadly refers 76 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 3: to people who are the chiefs of the areas for 77 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 3: which they're responsible. So think of the chief financial officer, 78 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 3: the chief executive officer, the chief operating officer, the chief 79 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 3: marketing and communications officer. It's the most senior person in 80 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 3: an organization who's responsible for that particular function and the 81 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 3: collective of those So the eight or nine or ten 82 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 3: on whatever the small number tends to be, those folks 83 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 3: typically report to the CEO and they're the ones who 84 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 3: make the strategic decisions for the organization. So that's the 85 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 3: C suite. There are not a lot of people there, 86 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 3: and for people of color, it can be a challenge 87 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 3: at best to get there, and then you have your 88 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 3: own unique experiences once you're there. 89 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 1: Yeah. You know the interesting thing about it, like I said, 90 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: I was it was, like I said, I went to college. 91 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,840 Speaker 1: I graduated in eighty three. So I worked for IBM 92 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: from eighty three to eighty six. And so a good 93 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 1: is about mentorship, and that word wasn't used back then 94 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 1: as it is used today about who you turn to, 95 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: who you communicate, because that helps you, that helps you 96 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,039 Speaker 1: total line, you know. So I had no one I 97 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: could turn to, even you know, there was above me. 98 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 1: I have people on my same level, you know, but 99 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 1: no one above me that can tell me, you know, 100 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,720 Speaker 1: reach back and pull me up or tell me what 101 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 1: I had to do get up. Did any of them 102 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 1: discuss that mentorship availability as they will growing their career objectives, 103 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 1: you know, sending the ladder. 104 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 3: Yes, there was great conversation among the thirty of them. 105 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 3: And remember I interviewed them individually and I kind of 106 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 3: pulled the data together collectively. So Yes, one of the 107 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 3: themes was that these men would love to have had mentors, coaches, sponsors, 108 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 3: and allies. Some of them did and some of them didn't. 109 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 3: Those who did have mentors, talk very finally about the 110 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 3: role the mentors played for them, how the mentors opened 111 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 3: doors for them, how the mentors helped them to navigate 112 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 3: the corporate culture. For those who didn't, they talked about 113 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,719 Speaker 3: how they yearned for mentors. Even today, even though they've 114 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 3: reached the c suite, many of them still yearn from mentors. 115 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 3: They talked about if you didn't have a mentor, how 116 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 3: they had to navigate the system themselves, had to figure 117 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 3: things out, how they had to figure out what the 118 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 3: culture of their organization was. And they talked about how 119 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 3: challenging it was. It wasn't impossible for them, but it 120 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 3: was more challenging. And they talked about how they just 121 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 3: wish they'd had mentors and sponsors and coaches and role models, 122 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 3: or at least more of them. 123 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 1: For sure, I know it's very important I can. I've 124 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:24,840 Speaker 1: shared my story of my experience of being hired full time, 125 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: because when you work part time, there's some you know, 126 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:30,039 Speaker 1: there's some allowances on how you should dress, and because 127 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: you're in college, you know so, so they won't be 128 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: as saying they can be more accommodating to your clothes 129 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 1: that you wear. When I came on full time. Then 130 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: I still was in that college mindset, you know, kind 131 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 1: of when and it was ibing. When IV's a M 132 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: was really you know, you had to really dress a 133 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,479 Speaker 1: certain way. You know, had to have that great gray suit, 134 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 1: their browsuit, that black suit, you know, that blue navy 135 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: blue suit, red tie, all that stuff, because that was 136 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: the that was the format that they had. Today, a 137 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 1: lot of people, a lot more casual people pitch casual 138 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 1: fridays a very major corporations. But I came on board. 139 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 1: And that's why mentorship is important. Nobody told me, Rashan Rashank, 140 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 1: You're not in college anymore. You're going to have to 141 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: change the way you look. So I was rolling through, Chuck. 142 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: I was rolling through wondering why I wasn't getting promoted, 143 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: wondering why I wasn't getting invited into any inner circle 144 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: meetings that I felt would benefit me to grow as 145 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 1: a potential executive, because at that moment, that's what I 146 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 1: wanted to be. I wanted to be an IBM executive. 147 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 1: I wanted to go up the food change. But nobody 148 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: told me. So I was walking in there with my 149 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 1: little stylish pointy toe shoes and then I have a 150 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: little my little skinny tie, and I would have I 151 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: wouldn't wear a full suit. I would have a little 152 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 1: blazer jacket. You know the pants they were they will fly. 153 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 1: You know. Long as the ladies said they were looking nice, 154 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: I was putting it on. You know what I'm saying, Chuck, 155 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: and so you know what I'm saying. So but I'm not, 156 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: I'm not. I'm just telling people was truth. That's when 157 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: you don't have people telling you of pulling your coattail, 158 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: telling you, young man, you look nice, but what are 159 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: you trying to achieve here? If I had sat down 160 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 1: to sir, I want to be an executive at IBM, 161 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 1: they told you where you're dressing wrong, young man. That's 162 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: what mentorship will do for you. And that's why I 163 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 1: want to bring it up, because you can go through 164 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: the whole process. And I'm gonna tell you something. I 165 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 1: got hired with two white guys at the same time 166 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: and they were just flying through. But they were not 167 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 1: dressing like Rashan McDonald. They weren't as fly as Rashan McDonald. 168 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: They were playing the roles. They had the white the 169 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 1: white conservative Stacey adams On and conservative wing Tip shoes on, 170 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: and they had the white shirts with the tide that 171 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 1: there was appropriately deemed the role you should wear when 172 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 1: you go into the corporate experience. And I had to 173 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 1: go and talk to my supervisor and he had to 174 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: tell me, Rashan in a professional way, because you really 175 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: can't tell anybody, hey, you're dressing wrong when you're in 176 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 1: the leadershle. He just told me, you may want to 177 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 1: check how you are dressing. Look around, look around at 178 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 1: the leaders, look at around at the supervisors. Do you 179 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:14,079 Speaker 1: see anybody dressed like you, ra Sean? And I had 180 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 1: to admit no. And when I admitted to myself no, 181 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 1: then I went out and bought me some suits and 182 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 1: went in the store. At the time, I could buy 183 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: three suits for ninety nine dollars each. And I came 184 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:30,959 Speaker 1: back through that door and my life changed. My life 185 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 1: at IBM changed immediately because I played the role. And 186 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:38,680 Speaker 1: that's what you're talking about in mentorship. And I'm pretty 187 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 1: sure those examples of what they were saying, if they 188 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 1: had somebody, they may not be extreme ast mind, Chuck, 189 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 1: but I tell you need some guidance when you walking 190 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: into an environment that is predominant white. 191 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 3: That's true, So you have to have the guidance. And 192 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 3: certainly these men had some experiences as far as dress 193 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 3: is concerned, but their experiences with mentors or the lack 194 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 3: there went even deeper. So you know, when you go 195 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 3: into any organization, you know there's a culture, right, there's 196 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 3: a way that you do things in a way that 197 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 3: you don't do things. And some of it's how you dress, 198 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 3: but some of it's how that you act and how 199 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 3: you conduct yourself. Some of it's just the more nuanced 200 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 3: pieces of the white culture that some folks perhaps haven't 201 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 3: been exposed to. All of that's important, and you have 202 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:27,560 Speaker 3: to learn how to navigate an organization's culture in order 203 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:30,600 Speaker 3: to be successful. So again, these men talked about how 204 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 3: they learn how to navigate this white culture. And if 205 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 3: you pause and think about it for a second, you know, 206 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 3: the companies in the United States, for the most part, 207 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 3: were created by white men for the success of white men, 208 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 3: and so all the rules, all the regulations are for 209 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 3: the success of white men. So think about what happens 210 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:53,719 Speaker 3: when a black man or a black woman or some 211 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 3: other minority comes into an organization. The rules are already 212 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 3: set against them. Right. It doesn't mean they can't figure 213 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 3: them out, and many people do. It just means it's 214 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 3: a challenge on the front end to figure it out. 215 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 3: That's what a mentor or a coach can help you do. 216 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:12,440 Speaker 3: And the men talked about the advantage of having mentors 217 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 3: and coaches, and for those who didn't, they talked about 218 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 3: the struggle and fortunately they were still able to make it. 219 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 3: So you're right, it's everything that includes dress. But it's 220 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 3: not just dress. It's that and so much more. 221 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 1: Absolutely, I'm talking to doctor Chuck Wallington his book A 222 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 1: Seat at the c Suite Table, Insights from the Leadership 223 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,840 Speaker 1: Journeys of African American Executives, And I, you know, it's 224 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: really interesting because, like you know, when I was you know, 225 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 1: I come from inner city. I graduated from University Houston, 226 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:42,079 Speaker 1: which is in third Ward. I still hung out with 227 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: my friends. I pledged amegasci Fi Fraternity Incorporated, so I 228 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 1: my black culture. I came from a black neighborhood. I 229 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 1: went to a white school. I was fortunate to be 230 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,439 Speaker 1: a vice president's student body while I was there, so 231 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 1: I understood communicating with everybody. But it's still when I 232 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 1: got to IBM, I didn't have a role model. And 233 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: that's why I think the value of internship. Interning helps 234 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 1: as well, because I'm just talking about not just these gentlemen, 235 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: but we're talking about future. If you can intern at 236 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 1: a company, it will help you and I also lead 237 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:18,199 Speaker 1: you into some mentorship roles, because I think your book 238 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 1: is about more so about these men, but also how 239 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 1: society is today and how you can take advantage of 240 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: some of the things that are available today. 241 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 3: Correct, yup, that's exactly right. And one of the first 242 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 3: things that you have to do if you aspire for 243 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 3: a seat at the c suite table is to take 244 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 3: the opportunities that come to you now. And so if 245 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:39,559 Speaker 3: you are young and in college and thinking about business 246 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 3: as a career, that's great, And to your point, speak 247 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 3: out every opportunity to learn, Go in, ask questions. Yes, 248 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 3: you want to be compensated for what you do, and 249 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 3: you don't have to come in making a whole boatload 250 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:55,680 Speaker 3: of money as an intern. It's very okay to come 251 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 3: in and be compensated and then go in and figure 252 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 3: out what it is that you can learn so that 253 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 3: you become even better at what you think you want 254 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 3: to do. Internships also rule out things so You may 255 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:09,080 Speaker 3: go into an internship and think you want to pursue 256 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,560 Speaker 3: one area. You may decide I don't like that, right, 257 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 3: you discover something else along the way. That is the 258 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 3: value and the beauty of an internship. 259 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: It's really amazing how you sit down and you know, 260 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: I also encourage individuals to look at temporary employment opportunities 261 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,080 Speaker 1: because of the fact, like you said, I remember I 262 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: used that a lot as well, Chuck, and laying out 263 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 1: my aspirations because working at a temporary job, if they 264 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 1: like you, then they'll keep you and hire you permanently. 265 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 1: Because basically, especially the day a lot of companies are 266 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: trying to avoid you know, unemployment insurance and laying people off. 267 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 1: They'll hire people through through the through temporary inssignments. And 268 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 1: the whole thing that this conversation is getting to that 269 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: C suite and just seeing is that the company for you? 270 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 1: Because I knew and I eventually left IBM, not because 271 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:04,679 Speaker 1: of a bad company. It wasn't a dream that I 272 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: had for my life. I prefer entertainment. And that's all 273 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 1: you're saying as well, Chuck, is that understand the culture? 274 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 1: Understand is this your final goal is just the environment 275 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: that you want to aspire and the only way you're 276 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 1: going to do that is do interning mentorship as well 277 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: as job experience. Correct. 278 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 3: Yes, that's true. And you made a reference here that 279 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 3: I'm going to follow up on. Think about the industry 280 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 3: that you want to go into. So I had never 281 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 3: thought about going into healthcare, and twelve years ago had 282 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 3: a chance to come into healthcare in a leadership role, 283 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 3: and that's what landed me in my C suite role 284 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 3: that I'm blessed to hoole today. But I'd never thought 285 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 3: about health care. I'd worked in financial services and consumer 286 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 3: packaged goods and I'm a newspaper reporter by training briefly 287 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 3: right out of undergraduate school. So I never thought about it. 288 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 3: But everybody owes it to him or herself to think 289 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 3: about what about the industry and can I see myself 290 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:02,760 Speaker 3: in that industry? Can I get excited about the work 291 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 3: that happens in healthcare or in financial services or whatever 292 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 3: your industry of choice happens to be. And again, for 293 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 3: your younger listeners, the beauty of it now is you 294 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 3: don't have to have it all figured out. You get 295 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 3: to explore numbers of industry that you might be interested in, 296 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 3: and you will eventually land in one that really resonates 297 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 3: with you and speaks to who you are and what 298 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 3: you're passionate about. 299 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:27,359 Speaker 1: Yes, you don't have to go to find you a botanica. 300 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: You're that big old dictionary on that wall. Did you 301 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 1: have to look through all the different words and figure 302 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: out what's going on? I'm speaking to doctor Chuck Wallington. 303 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 1: He's the book. It's the book is the author A 304 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: Seat at the c Suite Table, Insights from the Leadership 305 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 1: Journeys of African American Executive. When we come back, I'll 306 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: be asking doctor Wallington, how did he select these mail executives? 307 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 1: Know the he put them out of the hand, but 308 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: they recommend it. How did he find he found thirty 309 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 1: of them? Where did they come from? We write back 310 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 1: with more money Making Conversation Masterclass. My guest is doctor 311 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 1: Chuck Wallington. He's an author of the book book the 312 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: c Suite and get correct name A Seat at the 313 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 1: c Suite Table, Insights from Leadership Journeys of African American Executives. 314 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: And these thirty African American executives are male? How did 315 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: you line them up or how did they come into 316 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 1: your book. 317 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 3: That's a great question. The headline there is there's a 318 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 3: God somewhere. And I say that with all sincerity because 319 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 3: when I started this research, I knew four, maybe five 320 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 3: of these executives myself, and I had a goal of 321 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 3: thirty and I said, you know what, I can get 322 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 3: to thirty. And the methodology that I used, quite frankly, 323 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 3: was as I would finish an interview with someone, I 324 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 3: would say, can you please refer me to someone else? 325 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 3: And so I got to the thirty because a lot 326 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 3: of the men that I interviewed and reintroduced me to 327 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 3: someone else. I'll also tell you that I reached out 328 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 3: to women that I knew and said, I'm doing this research, 329 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 3: can you connect me with someone? And I am surprised, Well, 330 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:05,920 Speaker 3: I am not surprised, but women answered my call and 331 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:09,119 Speaker 3: they really reached out and they referred me to folks 332 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 3: whom they work with or people whom they know. You know, 333 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,200 Speaker 3: a couple of cases, a couple of women referred me 334 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,640 Speaker 3: to their husbands, and that's how I arrived at the thirties. 335 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 3: So I owe a huge debt of gratitude not only 336 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 3: to the thirty men for saying yes, but to the 337 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 3: people who referred me to them for them to open 338 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:28,119 Speaker 3: up and to share their story. 339 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 1: Well, you've read of God and faith and how we 340 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 1: get there. I know that faith for a lot of people, 341 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:38,479 Speaker 1: they show it publicly and a lot of people, especially 342 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:41,200 Speaker 1: in the corporate world, you can't really display your faith, 343 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 1: you know. And so how have faith played a role 344 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 1: in your life? And how do you allow it to 345 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 1: be shared amongst people when you're delivering speaking and gave 346 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 1: me or do you keep it within yourself? 347 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:56,159 Speaker 3: You know what, I have gotten to the point in 348 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 3: life where I am not going to keep my faith 349 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 3: to myself. That is a mean that I shouted from 350 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 3: the rooftop when it's inappropriate, But it does mean when 351 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 3: it is appropriate, I do not hide the fact that 352 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 3: I believe. I'm a Christian and I believe in what 353 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:13,439 Speaker 3: I believe in. And so in the workplace, you know, 354 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 3: there are opportunities in one on one conversations to weave 355 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:20,639 Speaker 3: in faith. There are times when people come to me 356 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 3: and they want to close the door and have a 357 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:26,120 Speaker 3: confidential conversation and I will listen. I can tell if 358 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 3: people believe in a higher being, and we can we 359 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 3: can turn the conversation to that, and I can encourage 360 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 3: them to be prayerful about whatever it is if they 361 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 3: are concerned about. So I am not one to walk 362 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:41,239 Speaker 3: away from my faith. And it is crystal clear to 363 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:43,239 Speaker 3: me that you and I would not be having this 364 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:46,919 Speaker 3: conversation right now if the God that I choose to 365 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 3: serve had not ordained all of it and set it 366 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 3: into motion. So I am thankful for that, and I 367 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:54,160 Speaker 3: appreciate you giving me this chance to have this conversation. 368 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: Well, you know, it's really one that I want to have, 369 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 1: you know. And I was speaking with a good friend 370 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: like ylanda Adams gospel singing legend, and I was trying 371 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 1: to get her to define the main difference between business 372 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:07,359 Speaker 1: and faith, and she said, rash on that one and 373 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: the same, you know, because you know you you know, 374 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: it's about efforts, about applying, you know, consistency and a belief. 375 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 1: You know, if you believe in your business, you believe 376 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 1: in your faith. They are tied together. Is that something 377 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: that you can relate to? When when she says that, 378 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: because I really thought you had to separate them, now 379 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: you trying to bring them together, she said, no, don't 380 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: try to separate them, embrace them and use them as 381 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: dual motivation for your ultimate goal. Does that make sense? 382 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:41,200 Speaker 3: If what she says makes sense, and I'm going to 383 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:43,760 Speaker 3: broaden it to work for me. So my faith is 384 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 3: a part of my life and who I am, right, 385 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 3: and I choose to not separate it as I go 386 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 3: through life. So I choose not to separate it from 387 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:53,400 Speaker 3: what I do at work. I choose to not separate 388 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,400 Speaker 3: it from home and family and friends. It is all 389 00:19:56,480 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 3: a part of who I am and part of what 390 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 3: matters to me the most. So that's how I choose 391 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 3: to look at it. I choose to not separate it out, 392 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 3: but look at it as you know, the way that 393 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:11,400 Speaker 3: I am, And that's a huge part of who I am. 394 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 1: I mean, let me ask you, doctor Wallington. You know 395 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 1: DEI Diversity Equity inclusion. You know it's two years ago, 396 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: was really hammered. Oh and even Elon Musk has an 397 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 1: issue with DEI, and he's getting in public spats with 398 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:31,639 Speaker 1: basketball owner Apartment used to be the owner of the 399 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: Dallas Mavericks. He recently sold the team. Boyd, I does 400 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 1: d I water down the accomplishment of the that being 401 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:43,400 Speaker 1: achieved by c suite executives. 402 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 3: I don't think it does at all, because remember, C 403 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 3: suite executives were achieving things long before diversity equity inclusion 404 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:56,640 Speaker 3: as we understand it now was a real, real, real 405 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:00,680 Speaker 3: focus of conversation. So those achievements are what they are, 406 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 3: and I celebrate those who've done them. I think now, 407 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:08,920 Speaker 3: you know, diversity equity inclusion are a foundation for what 408 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:13,399 Speaker 3: folks are striving to achieve, and diversity equity inclusion, in 409 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 3: my opinion, will always be important because there are gaps. 410 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 3: There are clearly gaps between the world that we live 411 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 3: in and function in the world that others are blessed 412 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:26,679 Speaker 3: to live in and function in. And so D and 413 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 3: I simply acknowledges their gaps, and d and I says, 414 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:33,360 Speaker 3: here are ways that we can close those gaps by 415 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:34,360 Speaker 3: working together. 416 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:37,240 Speaker 1: You know, everybody has a title, No, every generation has 417 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:39,200 Speaker 1: a title, you know, Like when I grew up, I 418 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 1: would just want to I'm asking you because you're in 419 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: the game, you know, and some tim louse I'll only 420 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 1: just suspect I grew upative Affirmative action was the termed 421 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:52,240 Speaker 1: that I grew up with, you know, And it feels 422 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 1: to me that DEI is affirmative action, isn't it? 423 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 3: You know what that's I can see why you would 424 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 3: say that, And I don't know that I have a 425 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,639 Speaker 3: point of view one way or the other. What I 426 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 3: will continue to come back to is that there are 427 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 3: gaps right right, They're clearly gaps between Again, I'm going 428 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 3: to talk about what I know. If you look at 429 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:17,879 Speaker 3: the US corporations, you know there are gaps between positions 430 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:20,439 Speaker 3: of power, who holds positions of power, who gets to 431 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 3: make the decisions and doesn't get to make the decisions. 432 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:26,600 Speaker 3: There are gaps there. And so again, what I believe diversity, 433 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 3: equity inclusion does is acknowledges that there are gaps, and 434 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:32,239 Speaker 3: it gives us a foundation upon which to simply have 435 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 3: a conversation and say, if we all acknowledge their gaps, 436 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 3: what are we going to do to close those gaps? 437 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 3: And how can we work together to close those gaps? 438 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:43,639 Speaker 1: And the reason I brought up my listeners or let 439 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:47,879 Speaker 1: them know that, you know, it's so hard to achieve anything, 440 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: especially when you are a personal color, especially a person 441 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:53,399 Speaker 1: who's black, and especially if you're African American male. You know, 442 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 1: not the water down the achievements and say it's easy 443 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:04,159 Speaker 1: for African American females. African American males do place a 444 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:09,679 Speaker 1: much more crisis role in pursuing opportunities in the corporate 445 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:14,119 Speaker 1: structure that's predominantly male driven by whites. You know, what 446 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:17,160 Speaker 1: is the hopes for the next generation of black executives, 447 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 1: doctor Chuck Wallington. 448 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:20,879 Speaker 3: So I'll tell you my hopes, and I'll tell you 449 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:23,680 Speaker 3: what the thirty men whom I talked to hope for. 450 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 3: So the hope is that for those of us who 451 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:29,440 Speaker 3: are blessed to be in these roles now, that we 452 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:32,880 Speaker 3: will continue to do our very very best in what 453 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:36,399 Speaker 3: we have been asked to do and to leave the 454 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 3: door open for the next generation of people who look 455 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 3: like us. It's not enough to simply occupy these seats 456 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:47,960 Speaker 3: and lead. It is extremely important that we occupy these seats, 457 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:51,120 Speaker 3: that we're blessed to do well, and that we leave 458 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:53,880 Speaker 3: the door open so that others can come behind us 459 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 3: and do even bigger and better work than we've been 460 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:57,960 Speaker 3: blessed to do. 461 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,400 Speaker 1: Go to this question. You know, the society were living 462 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:08,280 Speaker 1: in race is at its highest. I think racial issues 463 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 1: of racial place itselfs out. The political climate is very 464 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 1: racially driven, you know, is you know you either this 465 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 1: side of the ledger or you this side of the ledger. 466 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 1: How can we close that gap trying to move forward 467 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:30,760 Speaker 1: and just be recognized not that's the late doctor markin 468 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:33,240 Speaker 1: Luther King would say, not by the color of our skin, 469 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:37,400 Speaker 1: because it seems that we are still being judged by 470 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:40,240 Speaker 1: that and that's not fair because when I walk in 471 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:42,440 Speaker 1: the room, you know I'm not a white guy. 472 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:46,919 Speaker 3: Right right, Well, I think the first way of closing 473 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:48,760 Speaker 3: the gap is to acknowledge that there's a problem. If 474 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:53,199 Speaker 3: there is a gap, and so there's that we have 475 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 3: to acknowledge that there's a problem or challenge or an opportunity. 476 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:58,720 Speaker 3: The second is to then bring together the right people 477 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 3: and say, if we acknowledge if there's a challenge or 478 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:04,159 Speaker 3: a gap, what are we willing to do as we 479 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:08,000 Speaker 3: work together to close the gap. And again I talk 480 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:11,359 Speaker 3: about that in the book towards the end. You're a 481 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:15,879 Speaker 3: if you're a CEO and you know that you don't 482 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 3: have representation from black men on your leadership team or 483 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 3: anywhere in your ranks, you know, first of all, you 484 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 3: have to acknowledge as a challenge, and then you have 485 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 3: to be willing to put together a plan that will 486 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:30,719 Speaker 3: bring in, you know, the right people, and then you 487 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:32,679 Speaker 3: have to support them along the way. You have to 488 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 3: prop them up. You have to give them the infrastructure 489 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 3: so that they will be successful. You have to also 490 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:42,199 Speaker 3: hold your other leadership colleagues accountable because if they have 491 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:45,879 Speaker 3: opportunities or openings in their areas, are they interviewing diverse 492 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:48,919 Speaker 3: slates of candidates to ensure that people who look like 493 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:51,159 Speaker 3: you and you have a chance to introduce these roles. 494 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:54,119 Speaker 3: If they are great. If they're not, that's a problem, 495 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 3: and what's going to be done about that? So you know, 496 00:25:56,880 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 3: that's one way to do it. Acknowledge that there's a 497 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 3: gap or a problem problem, and then bring the right 498 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:06,400 Speaker 3: people together focused on generating solutions that will help the close. 499 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:09,359 Speaker 1: Wow, how can we find How can we find this book? 500 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 1: Is it online? Is it the website? Help us out 501 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 1: right down? The book I'm talking about is A Seat 502 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 1: at the C, Seat at the Seat the Letter C 503 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:21,840 Speaker 1: Sweet Table. Insights from the Leadership journeys of African American 504 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:25,399 Speaker 1: Executives by doctor Chuck Wallington. How can we find it? 505 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 3: This book is available online at Amazon or wherever you 506 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:33,920 Speaker 3: buy your books online, but I would suggest that folks 507 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:34,960 Speaker 3: go to Amazon and. 508 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:35,800 Speaker 1: Pink up a copy. 509 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:37,120 Speaker 3: Would love to have you do that. 510 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:41,119 Speaker 1: Well, Doctor Chuck Waallington and I and George's conversation, I 511 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:43,439 Speaker 1: hope we was moving for you. I learned a lot 512 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:46,159 Speaker 1: and it's about exposing people to the next level of 513 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:48,720 Speaker 1: opportunity and you're providing with this book. The book was 514 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:51,359 Speaker 1: a very very good read, and I recommend it to 515 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:55,440 Speaker 1: anybody who's interested in this form of knowledge and learning 516 00:26:55,520 --> 00:26:58,080 Speaker 1: because we always want to take the next step. In 517 00:26:58,160 --> 00:26:59,919 Speaker 1: your book allowed that through my reading. 518 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:03,919 Speaker 3: Thank you, Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity, and I 519 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:05,879 Speaker 3: wish you well, and I wish your readers well or 520 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 3: your listeners well. 521 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:09,200 Speaker 1: Talk to you soon, and my friend, and be careful 522 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 1: and stay warm. 523 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 3: Thanks so much. 524 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 1: My next guest, my next guest, he's on the call 525 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: right now. And let me just tell you I used 526 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:18,720 Speaker 1: to be a little chunky dude till I met this guy. 527 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:22,200 Speaker 1: So if you're concerned about losing weight, if you're concerned 528 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:25,879 Speaker 1: about how to do it and still have fun, and 529 00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:28,720 Speaker 1: I have fun. He's my guests is coming up next. 530 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:31,679 Speaker 1: Don't go nowhere is New Year's Residu New Year's New 531 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:34,920 Speaker 1: Year's Resolution time. Everybody always said someone in wanting it's 532 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 1: about I think the number one is weight loss. Where 533 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:40,920 Speaker 1: my next guest is the man to talk to. Please 534 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:44,200 Speaker 1: come back to Money Making Conversations Masterclass. 535 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:49,679 Speaker 4: Thank you for joining us for this edition of Money 536 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 4: Making Conversations Master Class. Money Making Conversations Master Class with 537 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 4: through Sean McDonald is produced by thirty eight to fifteen 538 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:01,800 Speaker 4: Media Inc. More information about thirty eight fifteen Media Inc. 539 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 4: Is available at thirty eight fifteen media dot com. And 540 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:08,200 Speaker 4: always remember to lead with your gifts