Voices with Talking Talent Talking Talent

“Authenticity” was named one of the buzzwords of the year for 2020. And it hasn’t stopped buzzing. You’re heard it before:


“Be your authentic self.”
“Bring your whole self to work.”
“Dare to be you!”

But what does that really mean? What does it not mean? And why does it matter?

In this episode, we’re joined by Renita Alexander, a.k.a. The Leadership Locksmith, to explore the often blurry concept of being yourself at work while also maintaining your professionalism and privacy. What is the balance? Are there certain things we should consider before showing up as our whole selves at work? And from an employer’s point of view, what’s to be gained from cultivating a culture where employees can be authentic?

Tune in to learn more about the practice, benefits, and challenges of being authentic at work.

Renita D. Alexander is a retired U.S.Air Force Colonel with a passion for

leadership. She has turned that passion into a thriving business, Leadership Unlocked, and herself into The Leadership Locksmith by sharing her lived experiences as a leader in the male dominated, experiential leadership lab that is the U.S. military. Renita inspires aspiring and ambitious leaders to unlock their potential to lead powerfully and authentically in any environment.

#DEI #authenticself #LeadershipUnlocked TalkingTalent

The phrase 'psychological safety' might be a little off-putting for some, perhaps sounding like buzzwordy industry-speak, but it is both important and – actually – pretty common sense.

In this episode, Kate Giarchardi, Head of Talent at Invesco, sits down with Talking Talent's Lucinda Quiqley to discuss what psychological safety is, why it's important and how to implement it. The two also delve into how psychological safety impacts and is impacted by high-performance culture, as well as looking into what a psychologically safe workplace feels like.

Tune in to this fascinating and illuminating discussion and learn how to build an environment that fosters success.

#DEI #PsychologicalSafety #TalkingTalent

What does it mean to be professional? There are so many different interpretations of what that entails. For some, it means being impeccably dressed and well-groomed. For others, professionalism means speaking eloquently, behaving in a particularly reserved way, or adhering to certain standards. But at its core, being professional is about much more than just appearances or behavior.

Have we collectively projected ideas about the professionalism that may or may not have anything to do with what being professional actually means?

KK Harris joins the podcast to talk about what organizations and individuals miss when they adopt outdated notions and norms of what professionals should look like. She says, “Just be your best you, the best version of yourself…we can influence change by being the best version of ourselves."

KK Harris is a highly skilled and sought-after business psychologist, executive coach, DEI (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion) consultant, and mindset transformation expert with extensive experience in the public and private sectors. Her experiences, combined with her knowledge of psychology, have enabled KK to develop a deeper understanding of the complexity of people, which allows her to help leaders perform more effectively.

#DEI # authenticity #TalkingTalent

Have you ever heard someone say the phrase, “I don’t see color”? Although it may be meant to reassure others (or to reassure the speaker) that they are not racially prejudiced, this phrase and others like it are actually problematic. Because as well intended as it may seem to the user, “I don’t see color,” and similar phrases, are highly damaging to relationships and can unravel DEI (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion) efforts.

In this episode, DEI champion, Dr. LaTonya Jackson, joins us for an important conversation on how inclusive leaders can better recognize the factors that may be contributing to a disconnect in their communication around issues related to color and culture. Tune in to learn what it means to embrace what Dr. Jackson calls “cultural sightedness.”

Dr. LaTonya Jackson is a dynamic, forward-thinking people director with extensive experience in talent and workforce development, thought leadership, change management, instructional strategy, and facilitation. She is a passionate and goal-oriented human resources expert highly skilled in collaborative partnerships, individual and group coaching, and people development. Dr. Jackson has also done extensive research on the experience of Black women in Fortune 500 companies, and she is the co-author of 5 Blinders to Seeing Color, which addresses the impact of the unconscious bias behind statements such as, "I don't see color.”

#DEI #inclusivelanguage #TalkingTalent

Today we're going to be looking at challenging workplace attitudes to menopause. There is still such a stigma surrounding menopause that women are unhappy about talking about it and line managers – who are quite often men – just don’t know how to deal with it.

Talking Talent Executive Coach Lucinda Quigley hosts a fascinating and informative discussion with Melanie Leavold and Kathryn Colas. Melanie is head of a client operational management team for a major assets management firm and is also head of D&I within that organisation's women's network. Kathryn is co-founder of the Kathryn Colas academy, which, in part, focuses on training managers to understand and support women in the workplace.

#DEI #women #menopause #wellbeing #TalkingTalent

One in six U.S. employees are spending an average of more than 20 hours per week providing assistance of some kind to a friend or relative. Caregiving can be beautiful, an honor, and a deeply fulfilling part of our lives. But it can also be a financial, social, and emotional strain — and it certainly affects productivity and performance at work. Working caregivers are experiencing heightened stress, depression, and trouble sleeping.

In this episode, Sarah Johal joins us for an insightful discussion on some of the different ways that inclusive leaders can take better care of employees who are taking care of others.

Sarah Johal is an employee rights activist and is a serial founder of ERGs (employee resource groups) that have been featured by Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Slate for her successful advocacy for expanding working-family policies in the workplace. She is sought after for her suggestions to employers on how to de-stigmatize caregiving in the workplace, showing them they’re not alone and providing help and resources.

#DEI #caregivers #wellbeing #TalkingTalent