The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Executive Roundtable, a cohort of executives who are committed to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion, starts on April 1, 2021. The DEI Executive Roundtable provides a confidential environment for executive leaders to learn about DEI through facilitated discussions and coaching.
The DEI Executive Roundtable is being offered by Clarity Collective LLC – a local coaching and consulting firm specializing in helping individuals and teams achieve their full potential. Dr. Joy Pedersen, owner of Clarity Collective LLC, observed organizations responding to the racial justice movement of 2020 and recognized the need for executive leaders to be more fully equipped to discuss and address issues related to DEI. Pedersen says, “I’m excited about organizational change because organizations have the potential to shift our entire culture. Organizations are big enough to have an effect on the larger society, but local enough for us to change them. Also, a lot of us spend most of our lives in organizations. So when we make organizations more inclusive, we significantly improve people’s lives.”
Through monthly half-day sessions and one-on-one coaching, participants will enhance their cultural competency and develop more equitable and inclusive perspectives, behaviors, and practices. In addition, participants will:
- Heighten self-awareness and deepen self-knowledge to improve their effectiveness in DEI
- Identify opportunities and strategies for improving DEI efforts
- Receive weekly updates with DEI resources and tips
- Have access to the Internal Diversity and Equity Audit tool, which helps organizations identify areas for growth and implement best practices
- Grow with a cohort of other executives who are committed to improving DEI in their organizations
While facilitated by Pedersen, the group will also be guided by guest speakers, panelists, and experts. Pedersen says, “I believe in collective wisdom and the shared knowledge that we can generate together.”
Pedersen is a local resident of the Central Coast. Growing up in a biracial family in San Luis Obispo, her experiences with social justice are both personal and professional. She is a founding member of the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Faculty and Staff Association at Cal Poly and teaches multicultural counseling at Brandman University. Pedersen has a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Organization from University of California, Santa Barbara.