S5E7: Shifting From Allyship to Activism in the Workplace feat. Kate Cañas
27m | Nov 9, 2023This season, we are focused on the experience of women in the workplace, and, as we’ve heard, women are facing a lot of challenges when it comes to professional opportunities, balancing family and work obligations, advancing to executive leadership, and more.
But we’ve also heard some great advice and some solutions for the unique challenges women face in the workplace, and that is what we are going to talk about today.
Here with us today is Kate Cañas, a professor in the management department at the David Eccles School of Business. Her teaching currently includes courses on managing diversity and business communication. She is also the author of the book, “Opportunities and Challenges of Workplace Diversity.”
Kate and host Frances Johnson sit down to discuss the up-and-coming generation of women in business, opportunities companies have to create inclusive workplaces, the role of empathy in DEI work, and how COVID-19 has changed us as a workforce.
Eccles Business Buzz is a production of the David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:
The power of allyship in amplifying diversity
[11:35] I am all about voicing yourselves. I try to teach it in my classroom, but I do think it's the responsibility of other women and other people, like men, in the company to be allies so that women don't have to feel like they're alone to advocate for themselves. People are already doing it for them. So an ally is, the definition is a person who supports diversity and wants to learn more, right? So, it's that person who is supportive, that person who participates in DEI initiatives, and who is there for other people. Sometimes, those allies, if they do have more power, they can speak on behalf of those with less power.
Empathy is a quality of a great leader
[13:54] Empathy is a quality of great leadership. In my mind, if you want to create this ethos of empathy, it has to come from the top, and it's so important. And I talk about leadership so much, and we do case studies and all the CEOs and chief diversity officers, but really, the CEO has to show empathy toward human beings. And there are some characteristics of an inclusive leader, whether they have to have some courage. They have to back up what they're saying with actions, right? So we have some famous CEOs who will march in women's marches or march in a pride parade, right? So it's showing like I'm talking about it, but now I'm going to do it. Also, in terms of leadership, they need to know their leaders, their kind of DEI shadow. That's what they call it—how people view them as leaders in light of DEI. And so there's all this stuff in terms of great, inclusive leadership. And empathy is one of those characteristics.
Creating a workplace where everyone belongs
[06:04] The whole idea around diversity, equity, and inclusion is that you want to make sure that every single employee in your organization has a sense of belonging so they can bring their whole selves to work…So that happens in a systemic way, but really, it becomes this idea of everyone should be able to bring their whole selves to work, right? And they shouldn't have to hide part of their identity. That's the biggest problem, and usually when they're hiding part of their identity, it is connected to diversity.
What Kate hope’s to see in her students future in the workplace
[21:15] I hope to see some of my students I have right now in leadership positions. I mean, they are so amazing. I hope they never lose their spirit. So, for that to happen, we have to have intentional strategies in the workplace. Following, when I attempted to talk about my integrated model, that has to be working on all levels. Recruiting, retention, you know, metrics, leadership, communication, outreach to the community—so many different levels. So people can walk in; these women can walk into these organizations and feel that I have a sense of belonging. I can be a leader. And I can have a family if I want to, if that's a choice. It doesn't matter. That's just a piece of it, but I can feel empowered. I can see myself as a leader in this organization. These organizations have to be welcoming to women.
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