2023
VP, Automation and Process Excellence
INTERNATIONAL
Five ways that leaders can boost diversity and equity through their companies and their communities
Education: BS, Manufacturing Engineering, Grambling State University Company Name: Fannie Mae Industry: Financial Services Company CEO: Priscilla Almodovar Company Headquarters Location: Washington, DC Number of Employees: Fannie Mae has approximately 8,000 employees Your Location: Plano, TX Words you live by: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” –Maya Angelou Who is your personal hero? My mother Joyce Byrd. While being an only child raised by a single mother who saw endless potential in me, was selfless with her love and support until her last breath and sacrificed her needs by working multiple jobs to support my dreams and aspirations. She instilled and shaped my core values of faith, family and authenticity which continues to be reinforced to this date. What book are you reading? Unapologetically Ambitious by Shelly Archambeau What was your first job? Physicians’ after-hours answering service Favorite charity: Dress For Success Interests/Hobbies: Traveling, reading, volunteerism
54
2023 Fourth Quarter
Leaders today have a critical role to play in being inclusive in their support of the next generation of leaders. By actively promoting and supporting diversity and inclusion (D&I) efforts through employee resource groups such as Fannie Mae’s African American Business Leaders of Excellence (ABLE), leaders can create an environment that nurtures, empowers, and fosters a sense of belonging. While significant progress has been made towards D&I, we still have a long way to go to ensure there are no inappropriate barriers to inclusive representation in leadership. Some of the ways in which today’s leaders can support the next generation of leaders: 1. Mentorship/Sponsorship: Ensure your teams understand the difference and value of a mentor and sponsor and encourage both internal and external to your organization. Leaders can actively mentor and sponsor young professionals, providing guidance, encouragement, and opportunities for growth. From an organization perspective, assigning a mentor pod (behavior/leadership and technical mentors) with a future business leader is a productive way for future leaders to hone their hard and soft skills to be competitive for greater leadership positions. 2. Recruitment and Retention: Leaders must be intentional, plan, and invest strategically in growing future leaders so recruiting and retention is less about ad-hoc efforts and more about how we operate. This includes ensuring a diverse pipeline of talent applying to positions, increasing engagement with more Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), and networking with domain specific diverse organizations to engage with their leadership and tap into their pipelines. 3. Training for Leadership: Leaders should invest in thoughtful curated training and development programs that address the needs of all leaders. Rigorous leadership programs spanning 12-18 months ensure participants have ample opportunities to learn in a substantive way and apply classroom lessons, which increase their chances of success in the business world. 4. Visibility and Representation: Representation matters, and it is incumbent upon today’s leaders to demonstrate authentic representation versus assimilation through promotions, expanded roles, or rotations. In doing so, they are cultivating an environment where future leaders have role models at all levels and are inspired to keep investing in their career growth. 5. Celebrating Diversity: Leaders should celebrate and embrace diversity within their organization as well as their communities. This can be done by educating yourself, having courageous conversations around differences, understanding bias, and organizing events and initiatives that highlight different cultures, traditions, and perspectives. By creating an inclusive and welcoming environment, leaders can promote a sense of belonging and empowerment for all individuals to thrive. Leaders today can play a vital role in breaking down barriers and fostering D&I efforts not just within their respective organization but the broader professional landscape. Through mentorship, representation, training, and celebrating diversity, leaders can pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable future. www.diversityjournal.com
AWARD
Elonda Crockett