Inclusion Begins with Me: Conversations That Matter

Thought leader, researcher and author, Dr. Britt Andreatta is going to explain the science behind purpose - and let us know what she's been up to since the last time she was here. We're going to learn more about how our brains and physical health react to having a purpose.

And if you’re looking for more from Dr. Britt, don’t worry! The second edition of her book “Wired to Resist” comes out next month!

At MetLife we believe making a difference in the lives of our customers, community, and the world around us is #AllT...

We keep telling you that the future of work is here but my guest today is going to tell us how to start acting like it! Raven Solomon is a speaker, futurist, and author of "Leading your Parents: 25 Rules to Effective Multi-Generational Leadership for Millennials and Gen Z." She's also the CEO of the newly rebranded Future Ready Institute. 

In the episode, she reveals strategies for improving workplace culture from any position, recognizing where businesses need to add value for their communities and customers and adapting your leadership style to an evolving team. 

At MetLife we...

To create the best social connection experiences for ourselves and others, we have to understand what makes us who we are. From the values, traits and strengths we bring to work, to how we take care of our physical, emotional and brain health. In this episode we go beyond the conversations with Sudhanshu Palsule, Erica Keswin and Wendy Suzuki about what it means to be a great human. We explore this complex idea through philosophy, science, emotions and personal experiences. It’s all connected.

At MetLife we believe making a difference in the lives of our customers, co...

Let’s be real. We try so hard to take care of ourselves but sometimes we fall a little short. With so much on our plates, are there ways to keep ourselves healthy that don’t require hours and hours each day? Wendy Suzuki is Dean of the College of Arts and Science at New York University and a Professor of Neural Science and Psychology. Her TED Talk, ‘The Brain-Changing Benefits of Exercise,’ has generated almost 18 million views. In this episode, Wendy breaks down the 4 pillars of keeping our brains and bodies healthy so we can show up as better h...

As humans, being intentional is easier said than done, especially during this AI surge. The connection that technology provides us, has its pros and cons, and we need to be aware of what they are. Luckily, there’s a recipe and a roadmap to guide us.  Author, Erica Keswin, has written three best selling books, and she calls it “The Human Workplace Trilogy". She’s joining us today to provide strong nuggets of actionable advice to bring our “human” back to work. The three Ps of intentionality; purpose, protocol, presence. The sweet spot between how we can use technology and create...

During this surge of AI integrating workplaces, understanding what makes us human is imperative. Purpose is a common word used around humanity, but what does it really mean? What does it look like in practice? Our guest, Sudhanshu Palsule, is joining us to talk about how we can live and work with our purpose. Did you know that dehumanize is more commonly searched than the word re-humanize? His book, Rehumanizing Leadership: Putting Purpose Back into Business helps unlock the human qualities needed for business success.

At MetLife we believe making a difference in the...

We don’t shy away from talking about difficult topics, or disagreeing. In fact, it’s good to practice those things! We're going beyond our conversations with our first guest ever Daisy Auger-Dominguez. And also featuring a special mini episode with executive leader, Shane Lloyd about social class and other dimensions of diversity. We’ll be giving a sneak peek into some exciting updates for the rest of this season as well! At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we believe making a difference in the lives of our customers, community, and the world around us is...

Daisy Auger-Dominguez was our first guest on the show, and we’re so happy to have her back! We have a lot of questions as we move forward. How do we combat any frustration or tiredness that we’ve been feeling? What can we do to make sure inclusivity continues to thrive?  Well Daisy made it her mission to provide us with practices that will benefit our mental health in order to stay lit up and avoid burnout. But if you’re currently experiencing burnout and are on the edge, we have remedies for that too!

At Metlife...

This is our 50th episode! And we’re going beyond the conversations with Amy Gallo, Reverend Jim Blake and Reverend Mark Fowler to talk about music, respect, affirmations, and personal values. We’ve come a long way since the beginning of this show, but we always stayed true to believing that conversations matter. In this episode we talk about the impact of our beliefs, how affirmations can be used as a tool, and we can all do to level up and raise the bar together.

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we beli...

This is our 50th episode! And we’re going beyond the conversations with Amy Gallo, Reverend Jim Blake and Reverend Mark Fowler to talk about music, respect, affirmations, and personal values. We’ve come a long way since the beginning of this show, but we always stayed true to believing that conversations matter. In this episode we talk about the impact of our beliefs, how affirmations can be used as a tool, and we can all do to level up and raise the bar together.

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we beli...

We can learn a lot about how to work better from faith and spirituality.
Reverend Jim Blake is CEO of Unity World Headquarters. Unity is part spiritual community, part retreat center, and part publishing house. As a part of the job, Jim is expected to bring religion and spirituality with him everyday, but it wasn’t always that way.

He had to learn how to bring his beliefs into work in a way that benefitted his colleagues. In this episode, he’ll tell us about how he used affirmations and his own spiritual beliefs to build a gr...

There are some parts of our identity that are invisible to the eye, but heavily impact how we show up in the world. Religion isn’t a new topic, but it can sometimes be a sensitive one. -  but this is why our conversations matter. Mark Fowler, CEO of Tanenbaum, is joining us today  with some of the best guidelines on how to embrace religion at work. But that’s not all. In order to understand where we currently are, and where we are going, we have to understand where we’ve been. So if history was one of your fav...

Are you a know-it-all? Is your boss insecure? Do you have a passive aggressive co-worker? If someone at work is difficult, our guest Amy Gallo can help you learn to deal with them. She is the best-selling author of Getting Along, How to Work With Everyone (Even Difficult People) and HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict. Amy has had a successful career helping organizations address and manage different types of conflicts. She will walk us through common workplace conflicts, the eight archetypes of difficult people, conflict management tips and the importance of being able to work with anyone. A...

We hear a lot about what our bodies need, but what do our minds need? Well the doctors are in the house! We are going beyond our conversations with Dr. David Rock, Dr. Alisha Moreland-Capuia and Rajesh Anandan.  We’ll discuss what our brains are doing at work. Don’t worry, we are going to have a few pop culture references to simplify the science! We also are going to gain a better understanding on what neurodiversity inclusion looks like in action. And last, but not least, how love plays a part in a lot that we do. 

Inclusion and neuroscience are inextricably linked. Evolution has made us crave inclusion and the workplace is no exception to that.

Dr. David Rock coined the term neuroleadership and founded the Neuroleadership Institute. He's also done years of research on how our brains work and written four books including, Your Brain at Work. In this episode, he walks us through his latest research and gives us unparalleled insights into the way we work. That includes how power affects the way we think, how bias works and why we have a biological need to be included.

At...

We are back with  Dr. Alisha Moreland-Capuia to talk about love, check-ins and workplace mental health best practices. We wanted to bring her back to highlight why mental health conversations need to happen. One of Dr. Alisha’s favorite quotes is by Dr. Maya Angelou, “I’m human, therefore nothing human can be alien to me.” The key to mental wellness is bringing back the human element of the work that we do. Recognizing that the people you work with are human just like you. Dr. Alisha provides simple step-by-step guides for anyone to take towards mental wellness. If you haven...

Checking in isn’t just for hotels. A simple and meaningful “how are you doing today” can go a long way in the workplace. Imagine how work would feel if we treated one another with the same level of concern, respect and care as we did ourselves and our friends. 

Dr. Alisha Moreland-Capuia  has made the pledge to be the best she can be, each and every day in order to achieve this. Her pledge is the root of her mission to provide workplaces with trauma-informed practices, culturally responsible methods and a clear pathway to remove the taboo of...

There isn’t only one way to think about DEI. Today’s guest has made it his literal business to encourage more neurodiversity in the workplace. Via Team X, Rajesh Anandan’s mission at Ultranauts is to help other businesses’ decode their workplace chemistry in order to unlock value.  In this episode we discuss what neurodiversity means, why it can make a business operate better and how to harness the differences we all bring as individuals

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we believe making a difference in the lives of our customers...

Leaders need to be led from time to time. Whether it's by a mentor, a coach or their team providing feedback. Having a personal team of advisors is just one bit of advice our leadership arc has covered this season. We go Beyond the Conversations to get insight into why we need more than our own self assessment to improve, the differences in long-term and short-term mentoring relationships, and how knowing thyself is just the beginning to a successful leadership journey.

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we believe making a difference...

Everyone needs a mentor. But being a good mentor and finding a good mentor isn’t easy.

Dr. Ruth Gotian is an accomplished author and social scientist. She wrote The Success Factor: Developing the Mindset and Skillset for Peak Business Performance and her second book, The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring was just released in the United States. 

Ruth and I shared a mentor when we were working on our PhDs and our mutual admiration is off the charts. In this episode, she’ll explain why mentorship is important, as well as how to be a goo...

How you ever wondered what the secrets are for a winning team? Research shows that diverse teams are often more innovative and better performing than homogenous teams but those studies come with a caveat. Stefanie Johnson is a researcher, speaker, writer and professor at the University of Colorado Boulder. In this episode, she explains that we only reap the benefits of diversity when belonging and uniqueness are prioritized by leaders. 

She’ll tell us how we can all use self evaluation to become Inclusifyers.  

First, listen to the episode. Then, take Stefanie’s Inclusify Leadership Matrix...

There’s always room for improvement. No matter who you are, your industry, or where you are in your career. Over the past few years the idea of executive coaching has exploded.

Coaching experts, Scott Osman and Jacquelyn Lane are the leaders of the 100 Coaches Agency. In the episode, they help us explore what coaching actually is, who needs a coach and how to be coached.

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we believe making a difference in the lives of our customers, community, and the world around us is #Al...

We all have a role to play in creating an inclusive culture. From the most junior person on a team to the most senior person in a company, we can ask questions, make a plan for dealing with non-inclusive behaviors and contribute to DEI initiatives. Sally Helgesen is known as a prolific writer, thinker, and speaker. Her most recent book is titled, Rising Together: How We Can Bridge Divides and Create a More Inclusive Workplace. In this episode, we discuss what a trigger is and how to react, all the innovative ways women have transformed leadership, and why DEI...

Today’s guest describes us all as immigrants to the new world of work. With a workforce that spans at least 4 generations, she believes that many of us need to learn a new way of communicating in order to adapt to a hybrid workplace. Erica Dhawan is a speaker, researcher and the author of Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance. In this episode, she told me the subject line of an email is the new eye contact and a follow up or recap email is the firm handshake of the previous era. 

Who has the power to make a difference? Can anyone be a leader? How do we work together now that the future of work is here?

This is Inclusion Begins with Me: Conversations That Matter. I’m your host, Dr. Cindy Pace, Vice President and Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at MetLife.

From our communication style, to the way we connect with colleagues and lead teams, inclusion impacts our everyday lives. How do we practice inclusive behavior, and make ourselves better humans in the workplace?

We’ve always believed that it star...

Imagine a world that celebrates difference, is free from bias, and full of diversity. That’s the world International Women’s Day is trying to build with the themes such as Inspire Inclusion and Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress. All of the guests on our show are helping to push us toward that inspiring world. In this episode (recorded on International Women’s Day) we go Beyond the Conversations we had with 3 of the most inspiring women I know.

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we believe making a difference in the lives...

March is women’s history month in the U.S and International Women’s Day is coming up.  There is no one better to celebrate with than Irene Natividad. In this episode, Irene busts myths about women at work, gives us a few mini history lessons, and explains why simple economics demands more women in the workforce.

You can learn more about Irene and her Global Summit of Women here.

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we believe making a difference in the lives of our customers, community, and the world...

What pops into your head when you hear the word negotiation? What if we thought of compassion, empathy, and emotional intelligence? By the end of this episode (or master class if you will) you’ll have a completely new definition of the word negotiation thanks to Hannah Riley Bowles from the Harvard Kennedy School.

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we believe making a difference in the lives of our customers, community, and the world around us is #AllTogetherPossible. Learn more and join us at MetLife.com.

What’s preventing you from being inclusive? Is it judgment? Fear? Bias? Do you just not know where to start? That’s okay! Risha Grant’s super power is radical candor so she’s joining today’s show to tell you exactly how to practice self acceptance and have conversations that matter.

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we believe making a difference in the lives of our customers, community, and the world around us is #AllTogetherPossible. Learn more and join us at MetLife.com.

We’re kicking off 2024 with our Inclusion Resolutions! Listeners of the podcast from around the world shared how they’re going to create more inclusive workplaces and have conversations that matter. We’re adding context and advice to these resolutions so that you can set your own. Please share your resolutions with us either on our LinkedIn post for this episode or in the reviews on whichever platform you use to listen.

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we believe making a difference in the lives of our customers, community, and the world...

Our past few guests have taught us about creating positive work places. In this episode Dr. Cindy Pace goes Beyond the Conversations and shares her personal steps for making your workplace great.

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we believe making a difference in the lives of our customers, community, and the world around us is #AllTogetherPossible. Learn more and join us at MetLife.com.

The future of work isn’t coming - it’s here. That’s what Michelle King told us in part one. Now, she gives us concrete ways to navigate the new way that work works.

This is part two of our series with Michelle King. If you haven’t listened to part one yet please go back and listen.

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we believe making a difference in the lives of our customers, community, and the world around us is #AllTogetherPossible. Learn more and join us at MetLife...

Does anyone ever tell you how the business world works or do you just get thrown into it to figure it out for yourself?

In this episode, Michelle King unveils the unspoken rules of the modern workplace. She analyzes how we got here through her own origin story, and shares how to grow in your career without losing yourself. 

This is a two part series. Tune in December 5th to hear the rest of Michelle’s wisdom.

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equ...

Diversity, equity and inclusion is a journey that takes effort, commitment and a strategy. In this episode, Dr. Ella Washington talks about putting the thought and research of DEI into practice. 

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we believe making a difference in the lives of our customers, community, and the world around us is #AllTogetherPossible. Learn more and join us at MetLife.com. 

In this episode, Michael Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work shares insights about how to be a leader for all, not just for some and how to build great work environments for all. 

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we believe making a difference in the lives of our customers, community, and the world around us is #AllTogetherPossible. Learn more and join us at MetLife.com.

Whose job is it to create a positive work environment? What is the best way for teams to work together? What does it mean to have psychological safety?

Dr. Amy Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School. She has written over sixty scholarly papers and seven books, including her recent book, The Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well.

In this episode, we spoke with her about:

What does DEI look like in practice? How do DEI practitioners make systematic change? How does one prepare for a role in the diversity and inclusion space? 

In this episode, Dr. Cindy Pace shares more about:

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we believe making a difference in the lives of our customers, community, and the world around us i...

How can major brands and businesses use their platform to create change internally and externally? How can a CEO affect the entire culture of their organization? How can leadership teams create change that is long lasting and systemic? Tim Ryan is the U.S. Senior Partner at PwC and Shannon Schuyler is the Chief Purpose and Inclusion Officer. Together, Tim and Shannon helped to establish CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion. With over 2,400 signatories, it’s the largest business-led initiative to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.

In this episode, we spoke with them about:

How do you maximize the potential of diverse organizations? What does that work feel like when you’re in the middle of it? How do you teach DEI? 

Dr. Laura Morgan Roberts is an Associate Professor of Business Administration at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

In this episode, we spoke with her about:

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, equit...

What is the role of a Chief Diversity Officer? How do you approach DEI from a global perspective? How can a good CDO educate leaders and transform organizations?

Rohini Anand is a former Chief Diversity Officer and is the author of Leading Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: A Guide for Systemic Change in Multinational Organizations.

In this episode, we spoke with her about:

At Metlife, we are committed to diversity, e...