Puma's Head of DEI Michelle Marshall on Bringing Diversity to Life

In this episode, I had the pleasure and privilege of sitting down with Michelle Marshall, the Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Puma.

Join us as we dive into the intricacies of DEI, exploring its essential role within organizations and addressing common misconceptions, such as the belief that "diversity is dying." Michelle passionately explains how diversity is inherently part of our society and why it is crucial for everyone to have a seat at the table and feel a sense of belonging. She shares valuable insights into the challenges DEI leaders face, from securing leadership buy-in to managing the emotional and mental toll of the work.

Michelle discusses the importance of building impactful relationships, advocating for all communities, and prioritizing self-care. She also highlights her involvement in various organizations outside of Puma, demonstrating how DEI efforts extend beyond the workplace. Whether you're an aspiring DEI professional or looking to foster a more inclusive environment in your organization, Michelle's experiences and wisdom provide a roadmap for driving meaningful change.

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KEY POINTS

On prioritizing self-care and addressing issues in the community
The importance of allies and resources
On leveraging employee surveys
The significance of business cases in the workplace
The pivotal role of inclusive leadership track for employee productivity
Privilege and its impact on making change in organizations
Michelle’s privilege she refuses to be guilty about

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QUOTES

“Diversity is about all of us. Diversity is about us having a seat at the table and being set up to succeed. And it's about us feeling like we belong.” – Michelle Marshall

“I have access to some very powerful people… I know I've built those relationships from me walking in my purpose. For me, [privilege is] trying to find ways that I can create more impact and always tell people — Make sure you're building those relationships for them to be a two-way street.” – Michelle Marshall

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GUEST RESOURCES

Michelle Marshall

LinkedIn | @mtmarshall1

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Amber Cabral

IG | @bamcabral

LinkedIn | @ambercabral

Facebook | @amber.cabral

Twitter | @BamCabral

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Watch Amber’s TED TALK episode here.

Grab a copy of Amber’s books at Amazon!

Allies and Advocates: Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Culture

Say More About That: ...And Other Ways to Speak Up, Push Back, and Advocate for Yourself and Others -

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Guilty Privilege is produced by EPYC Media Network

Reviews

Just finished the first episode (whispers: via YouTube) and I was NOT ready for the conversation to end. So I came on over to the apple podcast streets to subscribe and listen again on my commute to work. While this is not the work I’m exclusively dedicated to, I want to increase awareness around equity so I can be more intentional in my practice personally and professionally. This conversation is an absolute resource that I have the PRIVILEGE (time) to tap into and I look forward to digging into new episodes every week.

Shada_

Guilty Privilege

Wow! I couldn’t get enough of this. Wished it were longer. The conversation is real, authentic and can absolutely be life changing if you soak the info in. Just finished listening to the episode with Tieko Nejon on emotional intelligence and Amber asked the best questions. Tieko answered so thoughtfully and broke it allll the way down for us. Kudos to both of you. I am sharing this podcast with so many people.

Nataliegouche

Guilty Privilege

Great listen/watch. People really underrate how important emotional intelligence is in business. Hopefully more people will listen and utilize some of the information shared.

WillUBeThere.com

Guilty Privilege

I took away so much from this episode. The biggest is recognizing our true enemy. Also, equity is about choices. We have them and we can choose how to use our privilege.

Alaina Doyle

Guilty Privilege

About The Creators

Amber Cabral

Inclusion & Equity Strategist