TALKS

Creating an Inclusive Workplace / Company Culture

  • Understanding diversity, equity, and inclusion

  • Supporting employees to bring their whole selves to work

  • Building belonging and inclusion in workplace culture

  • Moving from diversity to meaningful inclusion

De Mello explores the ways in which employees can bring their ‘wholeselves to work’. She breaks down the terms: diversity, equity and inclusion to give them meaning and help participants put them into practice. There are a series of workshop offerings under this theme that cover everything from tackling every day microaggressions to systemic discrimination.

De Mello, using 20 years of work experience in the private, non-profit and government sectors will explore the ways in which employees bring their ‘whole selves to work’.

She will examine inclusion policies to help folks determine what has been working and where there are still major gaps. Her doctoral research and proven experience have shown that a 'sense of belonging' is key to a sense of job satisfaction. Moreover, it can determine the retention of employees.

Feeling like you belong, knowing that you will be included, seeing your work community as ‘your’ community—matters. Diversity is not a goal to achieve, it’s a fact—workplaces have diversity present regardless of their efforts but inclusion is making a mix of people and backgrounds work.

This session will look at the ways in which we can make equity, diversity, and inclusion a shared responsibility. How do we build an equitable and inclusive workspace? What does inclusion really look like within an organization? What does diversity mean? To different people?

The session will include perspectives that contribute to diversity with a focus on power and the importance of a sense of belonging. It can also cover microaggressions, which are tiny comments, slights, and actions that result in people feeling that they do not belong.

70% of Canadians are conflict avoiders

Tanya shows the ways in which we can tackle conflict, so it doesn’t build up, and find mutually-agreeable resolutions to move forward.

  • “Toni’s data driven, thoughtfully researched presentation provided a solid backbone for an excellent training session which engaged our entire firm. She was dynamic and positive, speaking with both humour and vulnerability in a way that resonated powerfully with our firm. What I did not expect, and what made all the difference, was Toni’s ability to go beyond the academic material and to engage with the individual members of our firm, disarming skeptics, engaging allies and creating an atmosphere where everyone felt that they could be part of positive action and could reflect further on equity and inclusion.”

    —Dale Lastman, Chair of Goodmans LLP

CONTACT TANYA

To schedule a talk or consultation with Tanya for your organization, or to learn more, please fill out this form.

Or connect with Tanya on LinkedIn.

Illustration by Mariona López Bosch / Waitala