“It was a surprising conversation. It's going to be interesting to hear a different piece of our puzzle.” - Vivian Acquah
Welcome back to Season 2 of the Global Inclusion in Practice Podcast! Hosted by Vivian Acquah and Marjolijn Vlug, we're diving right into the heart of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) with fresh vigor. This opening episode looks ahead to the new season and takes note of what's going on right now in the space of DEI.
This season is a fresh chapter of even deeper, more meaningful, and always lively discussions with an even more global array of guests, as we want to honor the word Global in the name of this podcast.
This opening episode is for you if you’re curious to get to know Vivian and Marjolijn a little bit better, too.
This isn't just a podcast; it's our collective space for connecting and growing in the DEI world. So, we have two special requests this season.
Question 1 is, can you think of one person who would be great as a guest for this podcast because of who they are, their story, what they contribute, and how they show up in DEI? We’d love to hear! For example, we haven’t had a guest from Oceania yet, so if you are, or know, someone fabulous, let us know.
Question 2 is, as you're listening to each episode ahead and perhaps even this episode, what is one thing that stands out for you? Whether that's an insight, a connection, an emotion, or a question, do share it - with us or someone else.
Getting personal
Vivian kicks off this season with a deep and heartfelt reflection on her personal and professional growth over the past year. She shares how her experiences with neurodiversity and a disruptive injury have reinforced her commitment to promoting accessibility and neurodiversity in the workplace. One year ago, she seriously injured her ankle, and the recovery journey has been a roller coaster. A journey that brought her closer to herself and also forced her to slow down - which, to her neurodivergent brain, didn’t come easily. She notices the grace, gratitude and learning the year has brought.
“During this whole [personal] journey, I added accessibility to my menu. I'm also more vocal about neurodiversity. It's a whole palette now that I am supporting people with.” - Vivian Acquah
Currently, Vivian’s hooked on "The Good Doctor" on Netflix, a show that unpacks autism and ADHD beautifully.
Marjolijn opens up about her personal and professional growth.
“I am continuously growing as a person, as a parent and a partner, as a coach, and as a leader. As most of us do, I keep learning in the space of diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, justice. ” - Marjolijn Vlug
With her expanding experience as a coach, she is able to increasingly serve more different coaching questions, both broader and deeper. Specifically, she’s trained to coach in the space of trauma because trauma shows up a lot. While the majority of people have had adverse experiences and developed some trauma in their lives, this is especially relevant for people in the DEI space. Trauma plays up because we do this work most often because of our personal, frequently traumatic, lived experiences, and we’re in DEI because effecting change is especially important to us.
Current in DEI
We reflect on recent events in the media, with the hot mess that was this year’s Eurovision Song Contest sparking controversy around harassment, which was reported on by the Dutch Public Broadcasting Organisation NPO. This organization has itself been under a lens for its lack of inclusion and recurring sexual harassment cases.
On the other hand, Marjolijn and Vivian examine the role of TV series and films in shaping societal narratives around DEI. Marjolijn and her daughter are fans of the Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman. This graphic novel turned into a TV series centers on the romantic journey of two boys in a UK secondary school, and stands out for its inclusive representation of various sexual and gender orientations. Vivian recommends Ava DuVernay’s Origin, which not only addresses racism on various levels but was also created by a diverse cast and crew. These media examples are more than entertainment — when they get it right, they are instrumental in contributing to a culture of understanding and empathy.
Regarding current developments, Vivian acknowledges the latest ways in which DEI is being challenged in the US in their election year, with DEI teams being downsized. An article from the Washington Post signals that ‘DEI’ is being reworded into ‘Inclusion’ or even more general terms to prevent legal risks and ramifications.
In Europe, Vivian names recent news about regressions in laws on equal pay, hiring equality, and transgender rights. She’s anticipating a ripple effect from the developments in the US. Marjolijn can’t resist also highlighting her trust in the resourcefulness of DEI change makers:
“I'm noticing that change is constant and that there's so much resilience, resourcefulness and creativity in all of us that are involved in DEI, choosing to work on making change. We have the resourcefulness and the creativity to navigate it.” - Marjolijn Vlug
Opportunities and adventures ahead
One key thing that Marjolijn is an advocate for is that being coached can be a very constructive part of your support system when you're active in DEI.
Everyone who's creating change in DEI comes in with their own background and life experiences, which then interacts with the resistance we encounter in the work. It comes with a lot of emotional labor and that can make the work even more intense to handle. That means a good support system is important for doing what you care about, what you believe in, and what you want to create in this world.
You can intentionally set up and strengthen that support system for yourself. This frequently comes up in our conversations with our guests, who share how they've set up their own support systems.
“They share how they care for themselves, for their mental health, for their physical health, for anything they need. And coaching can be a very constructive part of that.”- Marjolijn Vlug
Vivian adds that she sees coaching as an opportunity to refine your personal leadership skills, exercise those muscles, and strengthen how you show up in DEI. This is a major reasons why we have created a transformative group coaching program where we are able to support you in your journey.
This 16-week group coaching program is for you, whether you’re a formal DEI leader or in another role passionate about making a change. The program focuses on strategy, empathy, and impactful leadership in the DEI space. And there's an early bird offer, so don't miss out!
Recovering and recharging
The conversation takes an introspective turn as we discuss how we manage our energy and recover from social exhaustion and introvert hangover. Vivian recharges by reading books, listening to music (hello Beyoncé), swimming, and setting firm boundaries for phone messages. Marjolijn’s secret sauce is in high-intensity workouts, reflection time, and family check-ins.
What’s Next: More Deep Dives and Cool Collabs
Looking ahead, the coming season is all about deeper dives and more exciting collaborations. What it has in store is a splash of pushing boundaries and delving into more personal and profound conversations. This includes interviewing our own partners and exploring the multifaceted impacts of DEI. Same as for us, your DEI life continues as you come home from work, so we figured this may resonate with you too.
We are committed to an inclusive approach, ensuring that every voice is valued and every story is given its space. Accessible both through audio and text this is also an inclusive podcast in the sense that in each episode we invite the Whole Person that our guest is.
Gratitude and a Call to Action
As we wrap up this episode, we open up about our gratitude to all of the listeners and guests.
“Putting my 9-year-old to bed, each night we say, What are you proud of today? What are you happy about? What are you grateful for?” - Marjolijn Vlug
We create and build this community. For us, creating safe spaces and holding space for others is essential to what DEI work is all about.
“I have been boosting my Inclusive Conversations muscles. I want us to be comfortable with conducting courageous conversations in the workplace. My hope is to do that more often.” - Vivian Acquah
So, here we are, on the brink of another season filled with promise and deeper connections. We hope you find inspiration, reflection, and perhaps even a bit of a challenge in the episodes to come. Let's continue this journey together, creating spaces where every individual can truly show up as themselves.
DEI work requires resilience, empathy, and a willingness to keep learning. Stay connected and keep being part of this transformative journey.
Here's to the upcoming season and the continued exploration of diverse perspectives!
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About Vivian:
Passionate and driven, Vivian Acquah CDE® is impacting the world of workplace wellness and DEI. As the Inclusive Workplace Wellness Advocate/ Certified Diversity Executive, Vivian is devoted to making the topics of workplace wellness and DEI more accessible for everyone.
With a name that literally translates to 'water,' Vivian has become an extinguisher of fires related to DEI, providing clients such as Heineken, LinkedIn, Google, Indeed, Deloitte, TIBCO, Cargill, Swift, Acrolinx, KLM and Zalando with tangible strategies for embracing inclusive changes.
Ignite Amplify DEI™ (Self-) Leadership Journey
About Marjolijn:
Marjolijn Vlug, a certified coach from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, specializes in partnering with DEI professionals, advocates and allies to create positive change and sustain their journey. With clarity, integrity and warmth, she helps navigate the challenges of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion work, fostering inner drive and leveraging strengths for lasting impact.
Resources & references in this episode:
The Good Doctor on Netflix
Heartstopper, the graphic novel and tv series
Origin, the movie directed by Ava DuVernay
The Washington Post article about US developments in DEI
Develop Your Inclusive Leadership Style
A Transformative Group Coaching Program
Are you a leader or change-maker who is involved in boosting diversity, equity, and inclusion within your company, and you want to elevate your inclusive leadership style? Look no further. We present to you our group coaching program, "Develop Your Inclusive Leadership Style," designed to help you rise to new heights and maximize your impact on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Choose This Program To Gain:
Our program offers a transformative coaching journey beyond traditional training, focusing on holistic growth, understanding, and practical strategy development. Here's what you can expect:
Increase your impact from personal leadership: Develop the ability to communicate with impact, create buy-in, inspire others, and champion inclusion effectively.
Gain actionable insights into DEI: Grow a deeper understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion, discover how these principles can enhance your organization's culture and performance, and take more informed actions.
Strengthen your confidence and energy balance: Learn to navigate challenging circumstances, and create a structured and sustainable energy management set up.
→ Register for our waitlist or reach out for any questions to Vivian and Marjolijn via globalinclusioninpractice@gmail.com
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