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"Diversity refers to more than people; there are dimensions to it. I think of it as a noun that can represent a person, place, thing, or culture. Everything about us is diverse, as we are all unique and individual, just like places and things. Embracing inclusivity means acknowledging that we're all different and can each offer something special. Therefore, we should do our best to approach each person in our lives as an individual. To be inclusive is to understand and respect our differences."
So says Chamber member and DEI Board of Advisors Co-Chairperson Stephanie Turner, Vice President, Diversity & Chief Sustainability Officer, MITRE. We recently sat down with Stephanie and discussed her path toward diversity and how her curiosity about the world led her to appreciate others' cultures.
"Exposure to other cultures is critical to understanding the world and ourselves. People like to lump Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion together, but the reality is that each represents something different. Each is its own variable that offers clarity. Diversity is a given, so I prefer to focus on being 'inclusive' because it means that I am listening to the other person and understanding their likes, dislikes, needs, and desires. Solutions can only be found through listening; talking cannot offer solutions without each person first listening to what the other has to say."
"My career did not begin within the diversity field; I became aware of its power while working as a marketing consultant for Big Oil in the 1990s. I was the only person of color in my regional office in Dallas, Texas, but didn't think too much about it at the time." It wasn't until several employees brought a class action racial discrimination lawsuit against our parent company Texaco, Inc., resulting in a threat of boycotts nationwide, that she began to take notice. Texaco brought in diversity consultants to oversee employee concerns, but their approach was counterproductive and offensive. The result was a confused workforce and co-workers who were constantly on edge about potentially offending Stephanie. "I had to tell them that I was the same person today as I was before that diversity meeting."
"I knew I could do better..."
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