B/ACE BOSS

It’s not easy being the first of anything. As the first Director of Diversity and Strategic Development at Sterling Bay, Keiana Barret sure has her work cut out for her. I had a chat with her about her passion for diversity and how she thrives in a primarily homogenous industry. Before working at Sterling Bay, Keiana had over 20 years of experience in the DEIA sector. Her first exposure was at Rainbow Push Coalition under the tutelage of Rev. Jesse Jackson.

TThis had a huge impact on her and made her want to ensure that “the despair that many of us (in the African- American community) face is not the period to our sentence. It’s simply a comma that this is followed by some triumphant opportunities.”

The end goal of diversity and inclusion is to create sustainable and systemic change that fosters an environment where young underrepresented people are given a banquet of options and a level playing field to compete. Incorporating equity into public policy is the key because it comes with enforcement which would make flouters more accountable for their actions.

How is Sterling Bay making inclusive changes?

The real estate company is making steady progress because they are willing to acknowledge the existing disparity in representation in their industry and open to fixing it through transformational projects and opportunities. Building pillars with measurable KPIs for their equity plan is necessary so they can measure, analyze and be accountable for their plan.

How can you achieve success in a homogenous industry?

Starting the day with affirmations is a great first step. Being the lone voice in an industry can get lonely. You can be in meetings where no one looks like you, and very few share your beliefs in diversity. But you should learn to appreciate your lone voice. It’s an opportunity to make a difference in an industry that would’ve kept making the same non-inclusive decisions over and over. To increase your success, you have to be observant, artful in presenting your opinion, and a master at convincing people individually. Reading, steeping yourself in information, mindfulness, and always collaborating to build relationships are also essential.

Keiana is sure Kerry Washington would’ve played her accurately if her life was a movie. And the movie would be titled ‘Mission Impossible.’ If it were a book, it would be nonfiction titled ‘The You In Us.’ She prefers white wine over red and is cheating on her favorite winery, Taber Hill, with Uncle Tito’s. Shhhh.

Construction Cares provides underserved members of the construction industry with the training, financial, and emotional support they need to remain actively employed in the industry.

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The CEC is committed to the community. We believe that every community has qualified candidates who would love to be a part of the ongoing developments around them. We are constantly looking for potential candidates who are currently working in construction or have a desire to be in the industry. If you are looking to join our network, please complete our Online Application at www.communities4construction.com.