In episode 176, Kerel talks with sisters Carrie Bloxson, Chief DEI Officer at Hachette Book Group USA & UK, and Kolt Bloxson Pitts, Founding Executive Director at Miles Ahead Charter School. They discuss their family’s upbringing as Carrie being the oldest of four and Kolt being the youngest, how their childhoods differed and the impacts of their experiences to do the work they do today.

In their conversation Kolt shares why her son and his success was the main motivating factor creating and launching a tuition free Public Charter School and the 21st Century curriculum that prepares students to be real world ready. Carrie talks about DEI today in the corporate world, how it differs in the US versus internationally, and how she is dedicated to moving forward and making a difference because, in her eyes, there is no other way. The two sisters also share what their conversations consist of personally and professionally, what gets them both excited day to day, how they deal with imposter syndrome, anxiety, self-doubt, the music in their rotation right now and more.

Timestamps

0:00 : Intro

1:09 : Carrie shares what her and Kolt’s family upbringing was like, how it was completely different from one another, growing up with parents who were hippies

2:29 : How Carrie got so into reading, watching black people on television, which wasn’t prevalent where they lived, and how those experiences left an everlasting impact on her and part of the reason she’s so passionate about DEI

4:29 : Kolt shares her experience and relationship with Carrie growing up, how she praised her older sister, how she’s passed that onto her son, playing ice hockey and how that influenced her values and way of going through life

6:57 : Kolt expands on Miles Ahead Charter School, a tuition free Public Charter School, started by her and other members in 2019, the pivoting moment for her to launch the school, and the curriculum that allows students to be real world ready

12:11 : The state of DEI today in the corporate world from Carrie’s eyes, problems the industry faces in being the visionary while also taking concrete actions and what gives her hope for the future of DEI work’

16:55 : What types of conversations Carrie and Kolt have as sisters (oldest and the youngest of four), including topics of horror movies and helping each other in their careers

18:52 : What gets Carrie excited day to day, advocating for others, celebrating others, and investing time in the next generations who are the future of publishing

20:12 : What gets Kolt excited, having a great laugh, small moments with children at school and watching them learn

21:30 : Something Kolt wishes she were better at, how she deals with imposter syndrome and anxiety, and a great piece of advice that helps her understand how to circumvent life’s challenges

23:03 : How Carrie deals with performance anxiety, trying to figure out how to crush at being a mom and also at her job, and leaving the guilt behind when spending “too much” time on one thing

24:28 : What is in Carrie’s and Kolt’s music rotation including the soundtrack from El Capitano, SZA, John Legend, and the down low on the Drake and Kendrick rap beef

27:12 : How to connect with Carrie and Kolt online

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