Founder's Story: Marilyn Nagel – Championing Diversity and Communication for the Modern Workplace

Episode: S2 Ep. 148
Release Date: November 5, 2024
Host: IBH Media

Introduction

In the 148th episode of Founder's Story, IBH Media welcomes Marilyn Nagel, the Co-Founder and Chief Advocacy Officer of Rise Equity. Marilyn is a distinguished advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, bringing a wealth of experience from her tenure as Chief Diversity Officer at Cisco Systems. This episode delves into Marilyn's journey, her profound insights on diversity, effective communication, and the evolving dynamics of modern workplaces.

The Genesis of Rise Equity

Host: [02:32]
Marilyn Nagel shares the foundational motivations behind Rise Equity. The organization was established several years ago with a core belief: a diverse workforce and leadership team lead to superior decision-making and overall company performance.

Marilyn:
"We believe and have been proven to find that the more diverse a company is and the more diverse leadership teams are, the better decisions are." [02:38]

She emphasizes that diversity extends beyond gender, race, and ethnicity. It encompasses varied thought processes, backgrounds, and experiences, fostering an environment where different perspectives drive innovation and resilience.

Defining Diversity Beyond the Surface

Marilyn elucidates that true diversity involves leveraging different ways of thinking. She states:

"Diversity is not just things like gender, race, and ethnicity. Diversity is different ways of thinking. It's everything we bring to the table." [02:50]

This holistic approach ensures that companies harness the full potential of their workforce, leading to richer collaboration and more effective problem-solving.

Rise Equity’s Clientele and Impact

Host: [04:17]
Marilyn discusses the diverse range of companies Rise Equity collaborates with, spanning various industries including consumer goods, fast food, technology, STEM, and healthcare. These organizations prioritize their employees, communities, and products, striving to create meaningful and engaging work environments.

Marilyn:
"The common element is these are companies who care about their employees, the communities in which they work, and the product." [04:37]

She highlights that such companies seek to provide enriching experiences that foster career growth and employee retention, especially crucial in an era where younger generations frequently switch jobs.

Leveraging Strengths Over Weaknesses

A significant portion of the conversation centers on the importance of recognizing and utilizing employees' strengths. Marilyn shares a personal anecdote from her time at Cisco Systems:

Marilyn:
"We emphasize people's strengths, not their weaknesses. Look for what people are good at, find a role that plays to their strengths and let them go." [06:25]

She illustrates the effectiveness of this approach by recounting how reassigning a struggling employee to a role better suited to their strengths transformed them into a top performer within the company.

Embracing the Four-Day Workweek

The discussion transitions to innovative workplace practices, particularly the four-day workweek. Marilyn advocates for this model, provided it is implemented alongside measures to eliminate non-productive activities.

Marilyn:
"The goal is to say what are we doing that isn't adding value? And let's eliminate those things." [08:43]

She underscores the necessity of reducing unnecessary meetings and streamlining communication to ensure that a shorter workweek results in increased productivity and reduced burnout, rather than mere compression of work hours.

Balancing Generational Expectations and Work Culture

Marilyn addresses the evolving expectations across different generations in the workforce. She emphasizes the need for organizations to adapt to these changes by fostering a culture that values work-life balance and discourages the expectation of constant availability.

Marilyn:
"Organizations have to be more efficient and more effective and look at what's needed, who is needed in the room... People are not working at their best when they're always on." [11:51]

This approach not only enhances employee well-being but also promotes sustained creativity and innovation within teams.

Effective Communication in Diverse and Polarized Environments

In the latter part of the episode, Marilyn discusses the critical role of communication in navigating diverse and often polarized workplace environments. She announces an upcoming webinar focused on civility in communication during turbulent times.

Marilyn:
"How do we work with people who have very different perspectives than we do as we become more polarized and as things have become a little more turbulent?" [16:18]

The webinar, scheduled for November 12th at noon Pacific Time, aims to equip attendees with strategies to handle difficult conversations and foster a respectful and collaborative work atmosphere.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Marilyn Nagel’s insights offer a comprehensive roadmap for modern organizations striving to enhance diversity, leverage employee strengths, and foster effective communication. Her advocacy for innovative workplace practices like the four-day workweek underscores the importance of adapting to contemporary workforce needs to sustain growth and innovation.

Host:
"As we become more and more diverse in the workplace, we need to learn how to communicate better and communicate with each other and that's how we get things done. The world is a better place if we learn how to communicate." [18:26]

Marilyn’s contributions to Rise Equity and the broader conversation on workplace diversity and communication underscore the pivotal role these elements play in building resilient and forward-thinking organizations.

Key Takeaways

• Holistic Diversity: Embracing diverse thought processes and backgrounds leads to better decision-making and innovation.

• Strength-Based Management: Focusing on employees' strengths rather than their weaknesses enhances performance and retention.

• Efficient Work Practices: Implementing a four-day workweek requires eliminating non-productive activities to maintain or boost productivity.

• Generational Adaptation: Modern workplaces must balance differing generational expectations to foster a sustainable and creative environment.

• Effective Communication: Developing robust communication strategies is essential for navigating diverse and polarized workplace dynamics.

Notable Quotes

• Marilyn Nagel:
  "We emphasize people's strengths, not their weaknesses. Look for what people are good at, find a role that plays to their strengths and let them go." [06:25]

• Marilyn Nagel:
  "The goal is to say what are we doing that isn't adding value? And let's eliminate those things." [08:43]

• Host:
  "The world is a better place if we learn how to communicate." [18:26]

Upcoming Events

Webinar: Communicating: Civility in the Workplace in Turbulent Times
Date: November 12th
Time: Noon Pacific Time
Hosts: Marilyn Nagel and Sherry Browning
Registration: Email Marilyn at marilyn@riseequity.com or visit the Rise Equity website to sign up.

Tune in to discover more inspiring stories and invaluable insights from industry leaders on Founder's Story by IBH Media.