Let us get uncomfortable and have REAL Conversations
By: Veronica Noyola, HR Consultant
As a Booster, I am honored to be asked by our Chief Empowerment Office, Nicole Martin to speak my voice proudly and share some insights into my own experiences. I came across an article shortly after our own internal meeting on Active Diversity and it resonates. How to have more productive conversations about race in the workplace As a minority, I am heartened to see more and more conversations addressing social injustice and racial equality. I am a first generation Mexican American. My parents met in Chicago in the early 70’s after emigrating from Mexico. They fell in love, married and Ta-Da! I came along. Having an entrepreneurial spirit, they moved to the suburbs and opened one of the first Mexican restaurants in Elgin- “Los Porfis.” Like many, my parents sacrificed a lot to be able to provide us a good education through private Catholic schooling. We only spoke Spanish at home, so I learned English at school and practiced my enunciation because I did not want to have an accent. My schools were predominantly White, and I always did my best to try to “fit in.” This became a theme throughout my work life as well. I always knew I wanted to work in the business world and so I worked diligently to climb the corporate ladder. As a minority female in a management position, of course I faced discrimination and bias. Vendors would come to my workplace and be surprised I was the manager. They naturally assumed that my salesperson who was white and male was the person in charge. I grew accustomed to attending leadership meetings where I was the only minority. I knew that it meant I had to work twice as hard to be better to be treated equally. I am thankful because my experiences have made me that much more resilient and cognizant that one can overcome obstacles that at times can seem insurmountable.
Although conversations surrounding social injustices and racial equality are sensitive and can be uncomfortable, they are necessary. And they must be ongoing. Diversity and Inclusion are not new topics. But with everything happening in our world right now, it is evident that we have reached a critical crossroad. As the saying goes- “real change happens outside your comfort zone.” Let’s get uncomfortable. At HRBOOST®, I am here to partner and help you as you facilitate the conversations in your workplace, virtual or otherwise. We have first hand experience and have felt the emotional learning exchanges in our own work environment talking Active Diversity.
Yo y mi familia
