Frictionless Growth Marketing

Soon enough, we'll all work with people who are different from us in some way. And while engaging with people who are different comes naturally for some, for others it isn't quite as smooth.In this episode, Black talent share their experiences and perspectives on working with people different from them, while offering advice on how to engage and interact in a way that is both respectful and effective.The more we know how to interact with others, especially those who are different from us, the easier it will be to make more people feel like they belong with you.You can find all the episodes in this series at www.listentothem.co. There you'll also find details about the live workshops happening February 22-24, 2023 [Replay available. Get instant access when you sign up] where we'll develop action plans to help you apply the insights gleaned from these episodes.Get the episode transcript hereGet the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

There's plenty of research that shows diverse teams out-perform their non-diverse peers. Not only do they outperform them financially, but they also are more innovative.But just because you have a diverse team doesn't mean you'll automatically receive the benefits of having one. You have to be intentional about creating a team culture that enables everyone on the team to thrive, and be better together.In this episode, Black talent share their experiences working in high-performing diverse teams, and offer their perspectives on the environments that existed that enabled those teams to thrive.Go to www.listentothem.co for all the episodes in this series. There you'll also find details about the live workshops being held February 22-24 [get instant access to the replay when you sign up] to help you build action plans based upon the insights from the episodes in this series.Get the episode transcript hereGet the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

Micro-aggressions are like little pinches, slaps, and punches people from marginalized communities all too often at work. Sometimes the people delivering the micro-aggresions are aware that they are committing them, and other times they are both completely oblivious they are delivering them, and of the impact it has on the recipient.Micro-aggressions prevent and ruin inclusive cultures. If you want everyone on your team to feel like they belong -- including your talent from underrepresented and underserved communities, you've got to stamp out micro-aggressions from your culture.A smart starting point is to be aware of common micro-aggressions people on your team could be experiencing. In this episode, Black talent share common micro-aggressions they've experienced, how they deal with them, and how it impacts their working relationships.Go to www.listentothem.co for all the episodes in this special series, and to get details about the live masterclasses happening February 22-24 [get instant access to the replay when you sign up] to help you build action plans based upon the insights gleaned from this special series.Get the transcript hereGet the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter here

As a Black woman, I've grown accustomed to being the only one in the room on many occasions. But it's not just my experience. Ask any woman, person of color, or anyone else from a historically underrepresented group, and for most, being "the only" or "one of a few" in both personal or professional settings is nothing new.But we adapt. We find ways to push through the discomfort of those experiences in a manner that enables us to thrive.But there are costs that come with being "the only" or "one of a few." And when you know the experiences, the costs, and the burdens associated -- it equips you with the insight you need to make things better for Black team members and other people from marginalized communities who find themselves in this position far too often.As a result, you'll be able to make more of the people on your team feel like they belong, and create an environment that enables them to thrive.Listen to the entire "Listen to Them" series at www.listentothem.co. There, you'll also find details about the live workshops happening February 22-24 [get instant access to the replay here] to build action plans based upon insights from this series.Get the transcript hereGet the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

This year, I wanted to take the opportunity to do a Black History Month campaign that both elevated voices and shined a light on experiences people within the community have, for the purpose of educating others not within the community on how they can make life better for both Black talent and Black consumers.The result, is a special podcast series I’m dropping for you, you can find right here in the feed. It’s called “Listen to Them: Black Talent and Consumers Share Their Real Life Stories and Perspectives on Working in Teams and Inclusive Marketing.”In it, you’ll hear directly from people I interviewed in a narrative format - about various topics related to working in teams and of course inclusive marketing. We cover micro-aggressions, what it’s like being the only one, or one of a few in the room in a professional setting, what high-performing teams look like, and how to work with people who are different from you.This is beneficial for you to hear for anyone who works with others in a team setting – including leaders and individual contributors – because everyone plays a role in making people feel like they belong.From a marketing standpoint, we covered topics such as representation, authenticity, and the power brands have in how people feel about themselves.Have a listen to the episodes, and then go to www.listentothem.co to register for the workshops being held February 22-24 [get instant access to the replays when you sign up] to create an action plan based upon the insights from the episodes.Get the transcript hereGet the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter

We're days away from Black History Month 2023 in the U.S. and Canada. It is a wonderful thing that more brands are celebrating the achievements and contributions of Black people to society, however, there are some missteps I've seen over the years by brands that have cause a bit of backlash from the very community they wish to celebrate.I don't want this to happen to you. So in this episode, I walk you through 7 principles you need to be aware of before going live with your next campaign.Get the episode transcript hereFind the examples and visuals referenced in this episode here: https://inclusionandmarketing.com/black-history-month-campaigns/-----What inclusive brand type are you? Take this quick quiz to find outWant to go deeper with building your inclusive brand? Check out Inclusive Brand Academy at www.inclusivebrandacademy.com and find out which option is right for you.

More brands than ever are engaging in inclusive marketing. And increasingly, consumers are starting to take notice. And while it is a good thing that marketers are making more of an effort to serve a broader range of people, consumers from underrepresented and underserved communities aren’t just automatically flocking to those brands.Marginalized consumers want brands to prove they are worthy of their attention and dollars. They have higher expectations of the brands that are working to win their attention and get them to swipe their credit cards.In this episode, I cover five expectations diverse consumers have of brands that want to earn their loyalty.-----Get the episode transcript herePodcast mentioned in this episode: How Consumers Want You to Celebrate Heritage Months with Arturo Gutierrez (Inclusion & Marketing podcast, episode 23)What inclusive brand type are you? Take this quick quiz to find out: www.inclusionandmarketing.com/quizWant to go deeper with building your inclusive brand? Check out Inclusive Brand Academy at www.inclusivebrandacademy.com and find out which option is right for you.

In this episode – Sarah-Chen Spellings and I and cover a lot of topics ranging from what makes marketing truly inclusive, how to focus your efforts by going narrow to reach a wider audience, as well as best practices for building a high-performing diverse team.About Sarah-Chen Spellings:Sarah is the co-founder and managing partner of Beyond the Billion (BTB), launched as The Billion Dollar Fund for Women, the world's first and largest global consortium of 100+ venture capital funds and limited partner investors that have now pledged to and are actively deploying beyond US$1BN to be invested into women-founded companies. She also hosts the Billion Dollar Moves podcast.Here's what we covered in this session: Why leaning into diversity can be a growth pillar for brands How diversity can be a foundational starting point for building a high-performing team What to focus on when working to build a high-performing team that is representative of the people Why many leaders struggle to find diverse talent How to build a culture that is conducive for team members to share their opinions and experiences Why unconscious bias training isn't what moves the dial in building an inclusive culture (and what actually does) How to ensure you set yourself up for success in reaching your goals as it relates to your diversity and inclusion goals Get the episode transcript hereWhat inclusive brand type are you? Take the quiz to find out. www.inclusionandmarketing.co/quizWant to go deeper on how to attract and retain diverse customers and talent? Check out my program Inclusive Brand Academy and see which option works best for you. www.inclusivebrandacademy.com

Life is about belonging. And because of that business is about belonging. That's why the businesses that take the time to serve consumers from underrepresented and underserved communities are winning their attention, adoration, and loyalty. In this episode, I chatted with Jacqueline Snyder and Minna Khounlo-Sithep about how product-based businesses are winning more customers by leaning into inclusion in a manner that fits for both their business and their customers.Here are some key points covered in the discussion: The 3 areas product-based business owners infuse inclusion into their businesses Why it doesn't matter where your brand starts in terms of the types of consumers you're able to reach Why representation matters beyond just brand and product photography Why there's no one right way to build an inclusive brand Why feedback (or complaints) are a great opportunity to identify how to become more inclusive in your brand How to be resourceful in choosing how to be more inclusive in your business Why more doesn't equal more About Jacqueline and MinnaJacqueline Snyder and Minna Khounlo-Sithep are the combined force behind The Product Boss Podcast. They have grown a community of high-achieving product-based small business owners and have helped them scale their physical product businesses through masterminds, group coaching and digital courses designed specifically for product-based business owners ranging from start-up conception to multi-million dollar companies. Together their goal is to change the landscape of product entrepreneurship by connecting women around the world through a blend of real-life business tactics, creative strategy and modern leadership.Get the episode transcript hereJoin Jacqueline and Minna in The Product Boss Best Year Yet workshop seriesWhich inclusive brand type are you? Take the quiz: www.inclusionandmarketing.com/quizWant to go deeper in how to build an inclusive brand? Check out Inclusive Brand Academy: www.inclusivebrandacademy.com

As we arrive at 40 years of celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and work as an official holiday, many will revisit some of Dr. King’s most famous speeches, and reflect on how far we’ve come. Others will dedicate their time engaging in acts of service.If you are looking for additional ways you and your team can honor Dr. King and his legacy, consider going beyond just taking a pause on a day meant to commemorate him and his message. Honor him by focusing on continuing the work he started, but wasn’t able to finish. This episode covers how.Get the episode transcriptGet the Inclusion & Marketing newsletter