Series 4, Episode 13: Overcoming adversity - A personal story about diversity, acceptance and driving a culture of workplace inclusion Artwork

reWorked: the Workplace Inclusion Podcast

A seismic shift has taken place in the world of work. Workplace culture continues to adapt and respond – as it always has done – to the wider world. Covid turned our working lives upside down; Black Lives Matter and the #MeToo movement challenged and changed our expectations of what a responsible and inclusive business looks and feels like. Society, culture and work now overlap in ways we have not seen before. The reWorked podcast provides a space to explore how business can respond to this complex, and sometimes contested, landscape. We speak to leading thinkers and doers about their ideas for what an inclusive workplace looks like in 2023. Listen below and on all your usual podcast platforms.

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reWorked: the Workplace Inclusion Podcast

Series 4, Episode 13: Overcoming adversity - A personal story about diversity, acceptance and driving a culture of workplace inclusion

June 13, 2022 • EW Group & Challenge Consultancy: Diversity and Inclusion Consultancy • Season 4 • Episode 13

In this episode, Sush Bastola, Sales Director at the EW Group and Challenge Consultancy, meets Graci Harkema to discuss overcoming adversity and creating a culture of belonging in the workplace. Graci is a US-based diversity specialist.

Graci shares her moving and inspirational personal story from being born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during civil unrest with little chance of survival, to being adopted, moving to the USA, realising her sexual orientation and ultimately accepting herself for who she is.

Graci says: “I was living for others’ expectations instead of accepting my own identities. For so long I saw my identities as my shame instead of my strength.”

Sush and Graci also discuss how employers can develop authentic leadership and truly be inclusive to support an internal culture which makes employees want to stay. Graci shares insights into how her past colleagues and employer supported her through her journey and helped her feel a sense of belonging in the workplace where she could be her authentic self.

With increasing pressure from customers, staff, networks and communities to develop more ethical and inclusive practices, they explore how fostering an inclusive culture not only gives organisations a competitive edge in the marketplace, but also positively impacts the bottom line as a result of stronger collaboration and teamwork which directly contribute to the productivity and service the organisation provides.

Follow Graci Harkema on LinkedIn and Twitter or visit her website. Graci’s memoir ‘Rising: From a Mud Hut to the Boardroom - and Back Again is now available for pre-order and will be released in Spring 2023.

Follow EW Group on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest news and thinking in diversity and inclusion or get in touch to explore how we can work with you to build safe and inclusive environments at work.