Scaling Everest—and DEI Work

Lauren Guthrie wasn't much of a trekker or backpacker, but there she was, climbing 9,000 feet to reach the base camp at Mount Everest. The opportunity to join an all-Black team of climbers was too good to pass up—plus, it taught her valuable lessons about diversity in the corporate space. Guthrie is the vice president of global inclusion, diversity, equity and action (IDEA) and talent development at VF Corporation, the company behind big-name outdoor brands like The North Face and Smartwool. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, she explains what it takes to create DEI initiatives that work and how to practice DEI on a global scale. 1:16 Adding "action" to DEI • 4:26 From merchandising to the IDEA sphere • 10:24 DEI work at home • 12:19 "Global" DEI work vs. domestic DEI work • 15:50 What makes a DEI initiative work? • 19:04 Climbing Mount Everest • 22:06 Extending an "invitation to participate" • 26:06 The power of partner dancing • 28:36 "Don't be fearful of being expansive" • 30:00 Show notes and credits