9: D&I Leadership with Juana Slade
Our guest on this episode is AnMed Health’s Director of Diversity and Language Services, Juana Slade. During our conversation, we discuss the origins and the future of diversity and inclusion leadership in industries across the country.
Main Ideas
The diversity conversation at AnMed started as a strategic operation.
This work is both “head work” and “heart work.”
Healthcare systems need to understand and care about health inequity in order to meet these challenges.
Relationships Drive Results: A connection with people will override differences in background and perspective. The relationship-building is key to establishing a shared respect and providing world-class care.
Specific Actions Allies Can Take
Understand that the mission comes first, even though diversity matters.
Prove that diversity does matter and is in the interest of everyone.
“Differentology”—figure out how to use your differences for the good of all.
We Are at a Crossroads in This Country
In healthcare, professionals are beginning to own the inequities.
Many are realizing that nontraditional relationships (public-private) will need to be developed to address the challenges of inequality.
There is hope for diversity work in the future.
KEY Thoughts
5’00” — “There is usually a rush to creative strategic diversity objectives to protect the bottom line.”
10’28” — “It doesn’t matter where you come from, we still have to make sure we deliver the best healthcare possible. We need to make sure those experiences are positive in nature for every patient, every time.”
16’10” — “While diversity is important, the key, when it comes to the workplace, is about meeting the mission. Having a diverse and competent organization benefits all.”
22’45” — “It does me good to know that it’s not just the diversity officer or the diversity professional in an organization who’s trying to find these solutions: there are others who understand the value, and who are working on the solutions as well.”
Find Juana on LinkedIn.