Leading with Courage and Authenticity: Advocating for Diversity in the Workplace

If you’ve missed the April 19th at 12:00 pm MT/2 pm ET talk presented by Idaho Women’s Business Center and Tree-Fan Events, during which our guest speaker, Anca Platon Trifan shared her personal experiences and insights on how to lead with courage and authenticity in business while advocating for diversity, worry no longer, we have the main takeaways below and the video recording during which she provided practical tips and strategies for building a culture of trust, honesty, and open communication, and for building strong relationships with colleagues, employees, and clients.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the importance of leading with courage and vulnerability in business
• Learn practical strategies for building a culture of trust, honesty, and open communication in the workplace
• Understand the role of biases and preconceptions in limiting diversity, and how to overcome them
• Gain practical tips and insights on how to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace and build better relationships with people from diverse backgrounds
• Learn how to implement diversity and inclusion practices in your organization to create a more welcoming and inclusive culture.

Overview of the Talk and Its Relevance in the Workplace

In today’s ever-changing world, it is becoming increasingly important to create inclusive environments that value different perspectives and experiences. But what does it mean to truly be an advocate for these values, and how can we implement them in our own workplaces? In this talk, we explored the topic of leading with courage vulnerability, and authenticity while advocating for diversity and equity in the workplace.

When faced with adversity, inequality, micro aggression, and discrimination, how do we effectively lead with courage and authenticity, while also promoting diversity and equity? Let’s dive in and explore the topic of leading with courage vulnerability and authenticity while advocating for diversity and equity in the workplace.

Brief Introduction of the Speaker and Her Personal Journey of Resilience

Anca Platon Trifan, CMP, DES is the CEO, creator, and strategist of Tree-Fan Events, a woman-owned and operated boutique event planning and production agency. As a woman in event production, she has had to learn how to lead with courage and vulnerability in a male-dominated industry and has had to overcome the fear of being seen as weak or emotional. She’s also had to be willing to take risks and do things differently, even if it means going against the status quo.

Leading with Courage and Authenticity

Leading with courage and authenticity means understanding the importance of being true to yourself and your values, even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable. It means being honest with yourself and others about your strengths, weaknesses, and limitations, in order to inspire others to do the same, creating a culture of honesty and openness that fosters trust and collaboration.

Understanding the Importance of Vulnerability

One of the biggest challenges to leading with courage and authenticity is overcoming the fear of vulnerability, because we often think that vulnerability is a weakness when in reality, it is a source of strength. By being vulnerable, we open ourselves up to new experiences, ideas, and perspectives. We show others that it’s okay to make mistakes and ask for help, and we create a culture of trust and authenticity.

Understanding the Importance of Authenticity

Advocating for diversity also means understanding the importance of being authentic, and true to yourself and your values, even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable. Being authentic means speaking up and addressing behavior in a professional and assertive manner. By taking action and standing up for yourself and your values, you demonstrate courage and authenticity and get to set an example for others in the workplace. You also help to create a more inclusive and respectful workplace culture, where everyone feels valued and respected.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have become something of a buzzword lately. Most people agree that diversity in the workplace is a good thing. The problem, however, is getting there. Bias is a major obstacle to diversity, but it can be unlearned. Humans are naturally prone to judging people according to clichés rather than their actual merits. These biases come in a number of different forms.

Takeaway

By being true to ourselves and our values, taking risks, admitting our limitations, and embracing vulnerability, we can inspire others to do the same. This creates a culture of trust and collaboration that fosters innovation and growth.

TUNE INTO THE FULL RECORDING BELOW FOR PRACTICAL STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME BIASES AND PROMOTE DEI IN YOUR WORKPLACE