We are more powerful if we work together despite our differences.

 

Leadership is about fostering equity and inclusion, not dominance and power at the expense of others. A leader can unify a diverse workforce into a single, powerful and thriving organization by practicing better leadership and becoming the team's force multiplier.

 

In this episode of Fifth Dimensional Leadership, I interview Bonita Stewart and Jacqueline Adams, authors of A Blessing: Women of Color Teaming Up to Lead, Empower and Thrive. In our conversation, Bonita and Jackie talk about empowering people of color in the workforce and improving leadership through authenticity, innovation, and inclusion.

Bonita C. Stewart joined Google in 2006. Her career spans three decades leading multi-billion dollar operations, accelerating the adoption of digital technology and driving business transformation for large corporations in the computer, automotive and technology fields. 

 

Currently, Bonita is the Board Partner for Gradient Ventures, Google's venture fund focused on early-stage AI companies. Previously, she served as VP of Global Partnerships, overseeing the largest U.S. publishers across media/entertainment, news/publishing, mobile apps, search, and commerce. Widely hailed for her leadership, in 2014, Crain’s named her a Woman to Watch in Tech. 

 

Jacqueline Adams launched a second career as a communications strategist after more than two decades as an Emmy Award-winning CBS News correspondent and was the first female African American White House Correspondent for the network. Through her boutique consulting firm, J Adams: Strategic Communications, LLC, she counsels various corporate and non-profit clients. She has had multi-year engagements with the global communications strategy firm Burson-Marsteller and the Ford Foundation. She serves as a senior advisor to the new payment platform for publishers, NICKLPass, and she has a major role in the training program for rising star managers of color, The Diverse Future.

Things you will also learn in this episode:

• Why  “Generational Diversity” is so essential now
• What “The Great Migration 2.0” means
• What it means to move from “IQ to EQ to CQ”
• How the “Force Multiplier Effect” enriches our workforce
• What it means to be an “Only”

Quotes:

 

Bonita Stewart:

 

“Everyone deserves a great manager, no exceptions! And women of color deserve camaraderie.”

 

“Companies need leaders who are good with people, now more than ever.”

 

“We’re bringing data to this conversation because we know there’s a level of innovation that women of color can bring to the workplace that’s just been hidden or undervalued.”

 

Jackie Adams:

 

“A force multiplier improves the ability of an entity to achieve its goals and to exceed expectations.”

 

“We not only have to talk to ourselves and team up but also engage our allies.”

 

“Look for possibilities. Look for promise, not perfection.”

 

“We are driving for progress, and the managers have a choice to transform or lag behind, but those who transform will eventually see increases in profitability and productivity.”