“I think we inspire each other, we learn from each other so much, because we open up as we get to know each other.” - Yuli Kim
Yuli Kim is the founder of Inclusion Sensei, a DEI consultancy, and the Director of Program Development at Workplace Pride. She specializes in LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the workplace and often also addresses race and culture. Originally from Japan, she’s been living in the Netherlands since 2010.
Yuli opens us about her journey of gradual insights and growth. Prior to her career in DEI, she worked in business development, helping business organizations realize their financial goals. Focused on revenue, gross profit, net profit, and how to monetize services, she thought it was all about ‘the winner takes it all’: you have to be good at this, and you have to be strong just to suck it up and do it. That is until she started to notice that the people she worked with were getting seriously worn out. She also experienced personal incidents that really impacted her about how she felt in her workspace, where she was treated differently based on her personal characteristics, in terms of race and sexual orientation.
“At that time, this was 10 years ago, I didn't quite know what psychological safety in the workplace was, but I felt something needed to change.” - Yuli Kim
After starting a family, Yuli’s priority definitely shifted to different goals. She quit her steady job, retrained, and started her own consultancy.
“I left my very secure job and went back to school without knowing what would happen next. But I followed my heart, and this is the right thing.” - Yuli Kim
Nowadays, Yuli is committed - and equipped - to make workplaces better for our children before they enter the labor market.
Yuli talks about how she uses the privilege of her education and her space in the hierarchy of color to be an ally for others, stand up for others, and be in this together. She is becoming increasingly conscious of what she can offer to other people, “and sometimes I borrow a superpower privilege from my friends.”
“Even when you are an advocate specifically for gender inclusion, it doesn't mean that you have to look the other way when there is harm done upon other diversity levels.” - Vivian Acquah
This is also about paying it forward. Yuli is mindful of the fact that women in the past paved the way for us on matters like voting rights and marriage equality. And we, in turn, can pave the way for the next generation. Yuli makes this real through working with organizations and also by unexpectedly having become a role model for young professionals.
“In my mind, I'm just a middle-aged person, a mom, who works in this DEI field. I've been out for over two decades, this is the way I live my life. But I didn't realize that to some people, I can be an inspiration.” - Yuli Kim
Young professionals approach Yuli and thank her for doing her job, for demonstrating that they can be like her, openly queer, and have a good life and a good job. And she’s starting to realize that it’s not only those young professionals that she is impacting.
Yuli addresses that by getting to know each other's work in this field, we get the opportunity to unlearn bits of bias that we've individually accumulated over the past decades. Connecting across specialties and identities makes us better and more inclusive DEI change makers.
“How do you keep your energy up when change comes slowly and roadblocks show up?” - Marjolijn Vlug
Being seen as a role model is turning out to be as much a motivation for Yuli as seeing the impact of her work in organizations, which she also really appreciates.
“What I love is to have a hard conversation and take on tough questions.” - Yuli Kim
Her approach is to say thank you to the person asking those tough questions and opening up to her. Because yes we're all different. It's okay to talk about this. And we have to talk about this. What Yuli loves about her job is that she is in a position to lead those conversations with the people she works with. Let’s talk about where you’re coming from and where I’m coming from, she says.
“I try to open space for everybody so that they can ask those questions or share different viewpoints.” - Yuli Kim
Yuli’s aim is to become someone she’s proud of, paving the way for the next generation, for herself and others, to have a better experience in the workplace.
As you’re reading and/or listening, Yuli has a message for you: you, too, are an inspiration to other people. You may be skipping over how much you give and contribute to family, work, and society. We acknowledge your accomplishment and contribution. People don't always say thank you, but you're an inspiration. Genuinely, thank you.
About Yuli Kim
Yuli Kim believes a sense of belonging is a prerequisite for anyone to perform their best at work. Yuli’s from Tokyo, she moved to the Netherlands and earned an MBA at Rotterdam School of Management in 2011. Spanning 18 years in Japan and the Netherlands, her career focused on business development in IT consulting, advertising and market research. Yuli has witnessed and experienced non-inclusive workplace environments both in Japan and in the Netherlands, and now actively drives to change that.
Connect with Yuli Kim via
Creating a Better Future For Our Kids: Yuli Kim on her DEI Journey