The Change We Want to See
Elle Cheng
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leader l Psychotherapist l Community Builder 💫Builder of inclusive, safe spaces for healing, connection & growth 🪄Challenging stigmas on mental health, fertility treatment and motherhood
Pride month celebration has extra significance to me. One year ago on June 1 2021, I leaped from more than 10 years of marketing, to Diversity & Inclusion.
My first speech to the organisation in my new role, was for Pride month celebration.
As I re-read these messages one year on, I am proud to say yes, the organisation and our employees have moved towards greater awareness on topics of DEI. However, we still have a long way to go, when it comes to taking action and making systemic changes.
In the midst of new lockdowns, inflation, war, and mass shootings around the world, our world is divided and needs so much healing. Honestly, so many of us are fatigued and burnt out. How do we keep DEI at the forefront as inclusive leaders?
Recently I read the book "Wonder" by RJ Palacio, and I loved it. It is about a boy with facial deformities, Auggie, attending middle school for the first year. Because he looked different, he was shunned like the plague, and suffered from bullying. One kind boy, Jack Will, sat with him during lunch. After getting to know him, Jack genuinely wanted to be his friend because he found Auggie smart and funny.
There was a precept by the class teacher Mr. Browne which required the students to reflect on.
"When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind." - Dr Wayne Dyer
It brought me back to my school years, when I remembered one boy in particular who acted weirdly (in hindsight he should be neurodiverse) and was shunned like the plague. I was not a bully, but I also did nothing.
In the real world, in our very offices, there are Auggies around. They are different from us - whether they are LGBTQ+, or from different countries, ethnicities, have disabilities etc.
As an inclusive leader, answer to your calling. Do not turn a blind eye. Be curious, get to know them as a person, not just co-exist and see them as part of a statistic or a label.
As we kick off Pride month celebrations, let this be a reminder to keep showing up as allies. Choose kind.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leader l Psychotherapist l Community Builder 💫Builder of inclusive, safe spaces for healing, connection & growth 🪄Challenging stigmas on mental health, fertility treatment and motherhood
2yThanks to the awesome team who collaborated together to make this celebration happen! Warren Pearce Dr. Nivedita Debnath (she/her/hers) Jacques Marshall Katrina Yu Selene Tan Sophie Song Fei Fei Sophie Rayside
Kindness does indeed steer our hearts and minds towards compassion, which in turns leads to creating an inclusive society. Thank you for sharing your personal story and this reflection, Elle. While we look out for the Auggies, for all you know there might be others out there who see us as Auggie too! So be kind to others and it will find it's way back to you.
Coaching and Mindfulness to help you Live well and Lead well.
2yWhat a wonderful message! Choose kind, always! I’m not sure our paths ever crossed when I was at Avery Dennison but so happy to see what you’re doing in this space!! 🙏🏻