In this episode, we unravel the essence of diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI), and extend its significance beyond organizational realms to the very heart of our cities.
What is the link between DEI and our collective wellbeing? How DEI can help us build more safe and adaptable spaces?
Listen to the full interview as a podcast:
Yesmith Sánchez, a seasoned business strategist and DEI consultant, shares her experiences and wisdom regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in our latest podcast episode.
In this captivating conversation, Natalia and Yesmith delve into the critical importance of applying DEI principles not just within organizations but also in the broader context of our cities.
Yesmith’s personal journey, moving from Mexico to Finland, serves as a backdrop to her dedication to inclusion and diversity. Starting anew in a foreign land ignited her passion for understanding the challenges immigrants face in integrating into new societies. Her research at Hanken School of Economics paved the way for her advocacy in creating environments that value and embrace differences.
“I was starting anew in every aspect of my life but I just didn’t anticipate how hard it was going to be. I wrote my thesis at Hanken School of Economics, researching what immigrants do with their education and what organizations could do in order to make it easier for international talent. It was long ago, and it makes me sad that we continue to speak about these topics as if they were just discovered”, Yesmith shares.
Yesmith shares the essence of DEI, breaking it down into its three pillars:
“People quite often cherish the advantages of being diverse, but don’t want to do the effort of actually including everyone. When inclusion takes place, everyone will have the opportunity to be who they are and contribute with that uniqueness to their own”, Yesmith states.
Yesmith also emphasizes the profound impact of DEI on our collective wellbeing and mental health:
“Heightened awareness of DEI enhances cultural intelligence and communication skills, fostering emotional intelligence in individuals and communities.”
Drawing on her expertise as a business strategist, Yesmith highlights the strategic imperative of incorporating DEI into organizational values and strategies. She warns against relegating DEI to a mere side project or a temporary initiative, emphasizing its integration into the core of organizational culture.
“You should incorporate DEI both to your strategy and to your organizational values. Only then it will start to live within the individuals of that organization but also within the practices and the structures of the organization.”
Yesmith also introduces the crucial concepts of behavioral and structural inclusion. Behavioral inclusion focuses on individuals, emphasizing their acceptance and embrace of DEI principles. On the other hand, structural inclusion involves policies, practices, and organizational structures that must align with and support these principles.
Yesmith and Natalia discuss the challenge of making cities more diverse and inclusive. Yesmith underscores that diversity extends beyond demographics, encompassing beliefs, values, abilities, and unique ways of experiencing the world.
Cities should be considered as spaces that emulate the diversity of the world. To attract diversity, cities must become safe and adaptable environments for everyone.
She critiques the current focus on integration, urging cities to adopt a more inclusive approach that allows individuals to move freely within the societal structure. Yesmith also emphasizes the need to genuinely welcome and include people.
“We need to include, not only integrate immigrants in the society. Integration is like opening the door, but inclusion is to also let them in.”
She challenges cities to move beyond integration courses and activities, advocating for inclusion activities that foster a sense of belonging.
Imperfections are inherent in cities, which, like humans, are continually evolving.
“Resilience lies in a city’s ability and willingness to adapt, learn, and find alternative solutions as challenges arise”, Yesmith concludes.
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