More Than Words Podcast

Unleashing Potential Through Leadership with Walt

Join The of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion, and equity through growth and learning.
In this episode with special guest Walt, we discuss unleashing potential through leadership and how it plays a critical role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in fostering effective leadership. We explore how embracing diverse perspectives, creating equitable opportunities, and cultivating an inclusive environment can unlock the full potential of individuals and teams. We discuss how actively promoting DEI, emphasizes the power of inclusive leadership styles in driving innovation, collaboration, and organizational success. The episode offers actionable insights and real-life examples, showcasing the transformative impact of prioritizing DEI initiatives in leadership practices.

Latinas in Tech with guest Hady Mendez

Join The of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion, and equity through growth and learning.
This week, we are discussing the importance of increasing representation of Latinas in the tech industry with guest Hady Mendez.
Hady is the founder and CEO of Boldly Speaking LLC, a company that aspires to expand the conversation around Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB). Through her role as a speaker and facilitator, Hady encourages employees andleaders to play an active role in creating more inclusive workplaces.
Hady previously served as Head of Equality for a major tech firm, held multiple customer-facing roles in high tech and financial services, served as a leader across various Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), volunteered abroad with incarceratedand formerly incarcerated women, and served as Community School Director at an elementary school in the South Bronx.
Hady’s additional advocacy work has her serving as a member of the NY Advisory Board at Room to Grow, a nonprofit organization based in the South Bronx. Hady alsoserves on the Board of Pan Peru USA, an organization whose mission is to empower low income women in rural Peru. In her free time, Hady is an amateur street art photographer.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadymendezInstagram: @hadyontheweb

DEIB in Healthcare with Dr. Terri Malcolm

Join The Aunties of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion, and equity through growth and learning.
This week, we are talking to Teresa (Dr. Terri) Dean Malcolm about inclusion in healthcare for everyone and how a coach approach is so important in healthcare. Dr. Terri is a Certified Physician Coach and the Founder of Master Physician Leaders, a coaching firm delivering dynamic, dedicated guidance for physicians committed to maximizing their leadership and wellness potential. 

The Aunties of Inclusion One Year Anniversary

Join The Aunties of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion, and equity through growth and learning.
Join Liz and Shara and they celebrate one year of podcasting! It has been an amazing journey with amazing guests. We hope you enjoy all the laughs, tears, reflections and shenanigans. 

DEIB in Media and Technology with Dr Joanna Jenkins

Join The Aunties of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion, and equity through growth and learning.
This week, we have guest Dr. Joanna Jenkins who talks with us about DEIB in media and technology.
Dr. Jenkins is a creative scholar-practitioner, with well over 15 years of experience at the intersection of creative, communication industry and education. Joanna drives insights and prepares inclusive spaces for culturally and ethically competent students and professionals to thrive in their education and careers. 
Joanna is experienced in K-12, collegiate, graduate, professional and executive studies. Her educational expertise includes inclusive curricula, culturally informed teaching methods, universal learning design, critical analysis and equity strategies. She is particularly interested in championing the needs and leadership of historically excluded populations in education and underrepresented professions in STEAM (A/ARTS), media, advertising and strategic communication. 
In roles of Consultant, Associate Dean, Academic Program Coordinator, Professor, Creative Director, Designer and Strategist, Joanna has a proven track record in audience engagement, program development, visual communications, curricula design, training, research, planning, DEI and corporate social responsibility. A Scholar with Rutgers’s Center for Minority Serving Institutions, her research and teaching encompass a range of eclectic and interconnected topics including convergence, media representation, inclusive leadership and visual communication. 
Her latest works include the textbook Advertising Creative, Strategy, Copy & Design (Sage Publications), Insecure #Awkward and Winning: Intersectionality in the works of Issa Rae (Peter Lang Publications) and ADColor’s State of the Workplace Study: Retention Outlook Through a DEI Lens. 
Joanna is an active mentor and alumni of Pratt and Howard University.

Coaching Our Future with Sophia Toh

Join The Aunties of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion, and equity through growth and learning.
Meet Sophia Toh, the CEO of Illuminate U Coaching, LLC, a company dedicated to helping individuals thrive through executive coaching and inclusive leadership training.
Before embarking on her coaching journey, Sophia dedicated 20 years of her career to the corporate world. She held executive positions at Kraft Heinz and Procter & Gamble, where she managed the financial aspects of multi-billion-dollar brands. With expertise in Finance, Accounting, Strategy, and Organizational and People Development, During her tenure, Sophia served as the Chief Financial Officer of Walker and Company Brands, a P&G subsidiary, and as the Chief Financial Officer of a $5 Billion business unit and Vice President of Financial Transformation at Kraft Heinz.
Sophia has an MBA from Purdue University and a Nonprofit Leadership executive certificate from Harvard Kennedy School. She also holds certifications from prestigious institutions such as the International Coaching Federation, Coach Diversity Institute, and Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder-Centered Coaching Center.
Sophia is also passionate about giving back to the community. She contributes 20% of her time to nonprofit organizations and alumni networks, dedicating her expertise and experience to impact the world positively. 
Most importantly, Sophia is a proud auntie, mom, wife, daughter, granddaughter, mentor, student, and friend.

Redefining Creativity with Fred Agho

Join The Aunties of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion, and equity through growth and learning.
We caught up with Fred Agho while Liz was in Houston last month and were able to learn more about his purpose and mission as a photographer. He talks to us about why it's important to redefine what creativity means.
Fred Agho is an accomplished commercial and portrait photographer based in Houston, whose journey began with photographing his collegiate football teammates. His love for image making has since grown into a passion for capturing compelling portraits that convey a deep sense of connection with his subjects.
Drawing inspiration from his own life experiences, Fred has developed a unique perspective that infuses his work with a sense of authenticity and emotional resonance. His ability to connect with people and create images that capture the essence of their individual stories has made him a sought-after photographer in the industry.

Coaching Through Art with Dr. Erika Powell, Ed.D

Join us, The Aunties of Inclusion, as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion, and equity through growth and learning. This week, we are connecting diversity, equity, and inclusion through art and nature with guest Dr. Erika Powell, Ed.D of The Powell Consulting Group. 
Dr. Erika Powell has a background in Cultural Anthropology, Intercultural Communication, and Instructional Technology & Design. She has various passions including:
Passion #1: Creating a workplace where people from diverse backgrounds & walks of life can come together in ways that foster authentic & meaningful connection, that also honors the power of their lived experiences in this country and abroad, and that lives up to promise of inclusion, equity, and belonging for all. 
Passion #2: Creating business value, driving efficiencies, and producing positive results and impact through learning and development, employee engagement, & diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging initiatives.
She is also passionate about her 2 adorable furbabies.

Our Interconnected Identities with Miguel Joey Aviles

Join The Aunties of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion, and equity through growth and learning.
This week, we have a powerhouse of a speaker, consultant, and coach. Miguel Joey Aviles has been recognized as a 2021 Top 15 Champion of Diversity by Diversity Global Magazine, as a Top 100 Executive Leader by Diversity MBA Magazine, and featured as an Inclusion Innovator by the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM). Former Chief of Diversity and Inclusion at an 88,000 people organization with over 15 years of D&I Experience. He is a D&I Thought Leader with over a decade of experience at the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Interior (DOI), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 
TEDx speaker, featured at the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, Telemundo, the Change Management Conference, the Human Capital Institute, the SHRM Talent Management and D&I Conferences, Fortune 500 companies, and other global organizations. Architect of D&I interventions that equip global organizations to build a captivating business case for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, exponentially increase D&I budgets and manage D&I related national scandals involving domestic terrorism, United Congress progress convenings and high-stake televised cases.
Join us as we discuss our interconnected identities and why representation matters. You will be ignited with this conversation!

Design for Identity with Jessica Bantom

Join The Aunties of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion and equity through growth and learning. 
 
This week, we are joined by author, speaker, consultant, and designer Jessica Bantom who recently wrote the book Design for Identity: How to Design Authentically for a Diverse World.
 
Design is expression, a service, an act of creativity. But if designers design for everyone, how can there be so little diversity in the profession? In this book, Jessica Bantom examines the implications of design in everyday life, from spaces and products to images and the fashion industry.
 
Jessica Bantom is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) practitioner and workplace strategist whose goals are to help organizations develop customized strategies for transformational change and to enable individuals to take immediate action to become more inclusive. She is a skilled speaker and certified facilitator and coach with a passion for helping people and organizations reach their full potential and actualize the values of inclusion and belonging from the work team up to the enterprise level.