Building Bridges: How Leaders Can Truly Connect and Cultivate Belonging with Alida Miranda-Wolff

About the Guest(s):

Alida Miranda-Wolff is an accomplished diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) practitioner. She is a three-time guest on the Think Inclusive podcast, showcasing her expertise in cultivating inclusive cultures. Alida is the founder and CEO of Ethos, a full-service DEIB and employee advocacy firm, serving a multitude of clients worldwide. She is also the host of the podcast "Care Work with Alida Miranda Wolff" and has written two bestselling books with HarperCollins: "Cultures of Belonging: Building Inclusive Organizations that Last" and "The First Time Manager: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion."

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Think Inclusive, Tim Villegas engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Alida Miranda-Wolff, focusing on creating inclusive environments within educational systems. Alida's seasoned knowledge as a DEIB practitioner provides valuable insights into the necessity of having diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at the forefront of leadership strategies in schools. This episode is tailored for those in educational leadership, offering tangible actions for fostering inclusivity and belonging among teachers, students, and administrators.

The discussion traverses the strategic application of DEIB principles aimed at empowering school leaders and managers, defining the nuanced difference between leadership and management, and addressing potential resistance to inclusive practices in contemporary educational settings. By weaving Alida's experiences and actionable insights into the narrative, the episode creates a robust framework for educational leaders to build a culture of belonging and address the recent controversies around DEIB practices. Filled with enlightening reflections and actionable strategies, the episode is essential listening for anyone involved in organizational leadership or educational management.

Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/O2TB1lIc3jb6l2xqhiasZ1NJDbw

Key Takeaways:

• Leaders and managers have distinct roles; understanding the difference is crucial in fostering school inclusivity.
• Modeling growth-oriented behaviors and offering employees care are essential habits for building inclusive school environments.
• Challenging conversations and transparency in leadership pave the way for effective inclusivity practices.
• Understanding and addressing resistance to DEIB initiatives involve acknowledging underlying fears in change and loss of status or autonomy.
• Achieving true inclusivity in schools means focusing primarily on the needs of students and then accommodating teachers and staff accordingly.

Resources:

• Alida Miranda-Wolff: https://alidamirandawolff.com/
• Ethos: https://www.ethostalent.com/
• Alida's books: "Cultures of Belonging: Building Inclusive Organizations that Last" and "The First Time Manager: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" (available where books are sold)
• MCIE: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/alida-miranda-wolff-belonging-leadership/ (find Alida's previous appearances on the podcast here)

Thank you to our sponsor, IXL: https://ixl.com/inclusive

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