Equity, Inclusion & Diversity in the Workforce - A Women's Role
CREATE EQUALITY
" Humanity is the equity of the heart.” - Confucius
“The difference between equity and equality is that equality is everyone get the same thing and equity is everyone get the things they deserve.” - DeRay Mckesson
CELEBRATE INCLUSION
“When we listen and celebrate what is both common and different, we become a wiser, more inclusive, and better organization.” - Pat Wadors
“When everyone is included, everyone wins.” - Jesse Jackson
DIVERSITY MATTERS
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concern of all humanity.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
“Let’s stop believing that our differences make us superior or inferior to one another.” - Con Miguel Ruiz
“We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.” - Jimmy Carter
WHAT EQUITY, INCLUSION & DIVERSITY MEANS TO ME…
Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity exists in everything we do and every experience we encounter in our personal and professional life. The country we live in is a melting pot of immigrants from all walks of life imaginable. What makes this country a land of opportunity is the people that end up calling this country their home. All with humble beginnings, they come with their dreams and aspirations of one day becoming someone, someone who can provide for their loved ones. Some work to reinvent themselves, some work towards higher education, then there are others who are simply happy with having somewhere to call home. It’s these dreams that create opportunities and goals that require perseverance and the hardships that make champions.
As an immigrant myself, equity means fairness, having the same access and opportunities as anyone else in this world. everyone deserves a chance and to not be looked over because of their age, gender, sexual orientation, culture, or religious beliefs. My personal outlook on equity, diversity and inclusion and my experience as someone who immigrated to this country 20 years ago is the reason I always remind everyone around me to use their voice, be authentic. Everyone’s opinion matters and should be accepted!
EQUITY, INCLUSION & DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE…
I think it is more important than ever to be inclusive because of the pandemic. While a lot of us are working from home, we are not getting the face to face interactions like we were used to. It is imperative to take an extra minute or two to send your colleagues a greeting. Take the time to check in with your team and find out how are they handling the pandemic, isolation or in some cases extra stimulation because of kids.
OUR ASK …
Reach out to 2-3 co workers that you used to see everyday but do not anymore due to COVID. Ask about their day.
Coordinate a virtual happy hour with your team.
REFRENCES, READING & RECOMMENDATIONS…
As a professional female millennial of color in the workforce, some resources that have helped me with having an inclusive mindset are:
Book: Lean In: Woman, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg
Article: Top 10 Benefits of Diversity Diversity in the Workplace by Anja Zojceska
Ted Talk: The Myth of Bringing Your Full Authentic Self to Work by Jodi-Ann Burey
About The Author
Fei Zhong started working at Kaiser Permanente in 2011 as a member facing staff member in the Santa Rosa Pharmacy. She currently is working as an Account Manager in the Peninsula service area in the Large Group business line. She manages an integral book of business with over 130 clients in the high-tech segment. Her main goal is to grow and retain KP membership and ensuring members have access to the resources they need to achieve their total health goals. Previously, she was with Kaiser Permanente On-the-Job (KPOJ) as Associate Account Manager. Fei received her MBA from San Francisco State University and a bachelor’s from Sonoma State University in Marketing. She completed several digital marketing projects involving workforce health resources at KP during her MBA program which deepened her understanding of developing workforce health strategies for employer groups and the value of wellbeing.
On her spare time, Fei is an avid Elite Yelper and loves to scout for new places to eat! She enjoys being active outside of work. You can find her soaking up some sunshine on a weekend trip or thriving on her Peloton. She is passionate about wellness and having balance in life. Recently, Fei became a dog mom to a cavapoochon puppy named Yogi.