René Lacerte’s Post

Transformative Experiences at the Black Woman Leading Conference: Join Us Next Year! Black Woman Leading I often discuss Significant Emotional Events (SEEs) during my training sessions in organizations. These pivotal moments fundamentally change how we think, act, and believe. Their power lies in their ability to transform our perspectives and beliefs. Attending the Black Woman Leading (BWL) Conference was one of those transformative SEEs for me. The sense of community, shared experiences, and powerful insights have forever changed me. I am grateful for the connections made and the wisdom gained. This conference truly embodies the strength and resilience of Black women leaders. Don’t miss out on this incredible experience next year! Watch the recap video to see why the BWL Conference is a must-attend event. #BlackWomenLeaders #LeadershipDevelopment #SignificantEmotionalEvents #TransformationalLeadership #DiversityAndInclusion #WomenEmpowerment

On the first day of Black History Month, I need you to pick up this book and learn. Dr. Janice Gassam Asare, Ph.D. gave all of us a clear lens to identify many of the ways w.ness is centered and how it harms but what I specially love is Chapter 8 — Decentering whiteness within us. It reminded me of all the pain I have gone through myself. As a child, these imposed beliefs is something we can’t change but as an adult, we can choose… we get to choose. And in this choice of decentering w.ness, we get to heal. Healing as I’ve always said is a way of telling yourself “I love you.“ Also, Chapter 10 — a guide on how you can center Black employees. It’s this month and every month of the year. Funny that Dr. Janice anticipated the backlash of this book and even acknowledged it. See how predictable our yt centered society is? “I anticipate pushback for writing this book. I anticipate disparaging and denigrating remarks and emails. Maybe there will even be some book ban A little bit s, but that just let me know that I’m pushing the right buttons and have put some thing out in the world that needs to be read .we often feel uncomfortable when we are in the midst of growth” #blackhistorymonth Alt text: A book titled "Decentering Whiteness in the Workplace: A Guide for Equity and Inclusion" by Janice Gassam Asare, PhD, with a foreword by Layla F. Saad on a marble background.

Echo this. Important read.

Insightful perspective by Andrew Roby - Event Planner.... I have argued this same point for years when it comes to race, geography, gender, and cultural norms. I've always been open minded because I've always been surrounded by a very diverse group of people. It's always surprising to me when I have a conversation with someone and they tell me that I'm the first Black person that they've ever gotten a chance to know personally. I've seen the direct effects of how discussing these differences, and sharing our culture can lead to a deeper understanding and ultimately a deeper level of respect. From a business standpoint, it's so much easier to be productive and intentional without the veil of racial and cultural misconceptions lingering around. From a personal perspective, it makes your inner being feel so much lighter when you make an effort to make genuine connections with others. If you find yourself in a room where there are ONLY people who look like you, take a minute to think about why that is, then take another minute to find ways to change that. #culturalcompetency #blackhistorymonth #diversityintheworkplace

🗣️🗣️ Using your network of friends, colleagues and family can certainly “autopilot” your career to the next level. Whether that’s having someone revamp your resume, share their career development strategy or simply connect you with other HR recruiters, it’s necessary to stay ahead of the “game” before the “last inning”, “last quarter” or “last half”! #CareerDevelopment #ResumeMakeover #Networking ⭐️✨💫

How long would you last if you could only talk to those in your household?   I know for many people during the pandemic this was a nightmare.   You were on a quest to find every way to get out the house and see other people.   You simply got tired of seeing the same faces over and over again.   However, many people traded the faces they constantly saw at home with a slightly different version of that face.   Did you know 40% of white Americans and about 25% of non-white Americans are surrounded exclusively by people who look like them?   It’s #BlackHistoryMonth and I am reminded how important it is to have a diverse community.   Building a diverse personal and professional network is crucial in today's interconnected world. A diverse network allows us to Broaden our horizons Challenge our assumptions Learn from others' successes and failures Surrounding yourself with people from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can provide you with valuable insights, innovative ideas, and new opportunities. It can also help you to Develop empathy Cultural awareness Collaborate effectively within diverse backgrounds Here’s a challenge to take this month. ↳Send a connection request to someone outside your race. ↳Send business to someone with a minority owned company. ↳Hire an employee who doesn’t look like the majority of your company ↳Attend a Black History Month event in your community with your family. P.S. What is one way you are creating a diverse community?

Our Black History Month employee highlights continue! Today, we are putting the spotlight on Leabert Henry Jr., IT System Admin in our Corporate Office in Boca Raton, Florida. Can you share a pivotal moment in your career with us and how it has shaped your journey with Atlantic Pacific? "Working with Atlantic Pacific was a transformative experience for me. Transitioning from a family business to a corporate setting was initially daunting, but the welcoming atmosphere dispelled my fears. Starting as an IT contractor, I found joy in the work environment. A pivotal moment came when a branch head asked about my career goals, fostering honesty and goal-setting. This mutual support and transparency have kept me here for seven fulfilling years." What advice would you give to someone who aspires to follow a similar path in their career, and what lessons have you learned that you would like to pass on? "Certainly! Two key pieces of advice I've learned: First, building connections with your team is crucial. No matter how skilled you are, the team's collective impact is powerful. Second, take thorough notes – treat every professional interaction as an open-note test. Also, always follow up in communication; persistence is key." Could you share a cherished memory or tradition from your personal history or family that has influenced who you are today? "Growing up, my older sister was a profound influence. Her advocacy for justice, studying political science at Howard University, and later working in the district attorney's office shaped my values. Her decision to leave politics due to a commitment to personal ideals has set a standard for the principles I aim to uphold."

As Malcolm Gladwell explores in his book BLINK, our thinking is often influenced by a variety of automations, many born from references from our past experiences.  For this post, I want to unpack credibility and discounts.   Who do you give instant credibility to and why? And who do you instantly discount and why?   Reflecting on past observations, I realize how my maternal grandmother's habit of assigning credibility or discounting a person based on their appearance was an unhealthy echo from her past.   As a child, I studied adults. This included eaves dropping on as many conversations as I could get away with!  Most in person adult conversations occurred at my grandparents' house on the weekends. Whenever someone introduced a new character my grandmother would ask, "how they look?" Her response to the descriptions was always a clear indicator of her approval or disdain for the person.   If someone mentioned someone she had not seen in a while, she would ask, "what does he/she look like these days?" Again, her response to the descriptions was always a clear indicator of her approval or disdain for the person. The interesting thing is this: the response were never words, but some noise which granted insight into her thoughts.   She never asked about credentials or background, only how they looked. This was likely influenced by the difficulties my grandmother faced due to her mother's choice to move to NYC and pass as a white woman in the 20s; leaving her four children (including my grandmother) in Alabama to be raised by their grandmother.      Lesson:  one experience does not inform another. People are layered, complex, and not monolithic based on appearances.  While your feelings in the initial experience are valid, they should not be transferable.   It is important to recognize and challenge our own biases and not let past experiences dictate how we judge others.   So, who do you give instant credibility to and why? And who do you instantly discount and why? Let's use this Black History Month to reflect, learn, and grow.     #Echoes #BlackHistoryMonth2024 #LiveLove #SpeakLife #FreePeople

Shout out to the companies getting this ratio right. So many employers tell me want to get involved in Black History Month but they don't know what to say (cue the rushed social post). Instead I tell them 1️⃣ Listen & Learn  Talk to black team members and gather insights from external organisations about how you can support the black community using your expertise, connections, insights etc. 2️⃣ Take Action  Create a meaningful positive impact. For example, I host careers events where employers can teach a skill, share advice or start mentoring our network of black Gen Z students and grads. 3️⃣ Shout About It  Now here’s where many employers go wrong - you’re doing some great work, let the world know so you can inspire/challenge the next organisation The authenticity comes across when you exchange your time and expertise to create a positive impact on the black community and then you simply talk about that impact. Don’t let not wanting to say the wrong thing hold you back this year - your allyship is wanted. Want to chat about what action you could take? Drop me a connection request Or join my newsletter where I share insights from our black Gen Z careers network: https://lnkd.in/eyYbdBJy #blackhistorymonth #blackhistory #linkedin