Social Equity Lab - Melanie Graham

#058 - Today we talk to Melanie Graham, Founder & CEO of Social Equity Lab, an Oakland based boutique consulting firm that focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion, also on organizational development for nonprofits, corporate companies, startups, and governmental agencies - though Melanie says large nonprofits are the sweet spot.

Indicators that you need her are low morale, high turnover, and difficulty in recruiting. She loves to focus on the organizational structure to make a lasting impact.  You can do all the training in the world, but you must change the structures that allow the inequities to exist in the first place.

“looking at structures like, performance management systems or just like the hiring and recruiting process, just things that are very structural - I like to impact those because it'll really shift the culture of the organization. And frankly, it's easier to do that than it is to change people.  Behavior change can take a lifetime.  If structures change, people will change along with it.”

Melanie started the business in New York, about 5 years ago.  She moved to Oakland during the pandemic.  A Seattle native, she was drawn to Oakland’s history of activism and mobilization.

Many would assume Melanie finds it easier to work with west coast or Bay Area clients, but that is not necessarily the case.  Interestingly, she finds that people in other areas of the country are more open about where they are and more open about addressing the issues.

“organizations could be in a place where they think they're doing it well and don't think that they need this work or this support because, you know, listen, I'm from California.”

“working on the East coast might be a little bit more transparent with where they're at.”

“I would say the clients that I have in the South - their willingness to address it is a little bit more present."

Be sure to listen to the whole interview to hear Melanie talk about how DEI issues affect the bottom line.