Today’s episode was recorded on January 16 th , 2023, on Martin Luther
King, Jr Day. It’s a powerful conversation I had with author and diversity
and inclusion expert, Annemarie Shrouder.

Here in the USA, we just held the inauguration for the incoming President,
a convicted felon, and his sycophants who have crafted Project 2025, on
January 20 th , ironically falling on MLK, Jr Day.

Since day One, DEI has been under attack.

Federal agencies have begun removing resources from their webpages
following 47’s executive order cracking down on diversity, equity and
inclusion initiatives.

Agencies also have been cancelling staff trainings and shuttering diversity
offices to comply with the order, who has called for all DEI staff to be put on
paid leave and eventually be laid off. Companies have begun to follow suit.

It felt more important than ever to replay this extraordinary conversation,
almost like an act of resistance.

Annemarie, dubbed the DEI whisperer, and I talk about …

Color blindness and the lengths we will go NOT to see difference
The power of diversity and inclusion – “Inclusion leads to diversity, but diversity doesn’t always lead to inclusion”.
How to create safe spaces and the dance of sharing who you are.
The construct of race vs racism.
And most importantly, we talk about her book.
Being bi-racial – and not fitting in to either group.
How writing poetry helped her to find her voice
Weaving poetry, personal stories for context, and DEI leadership teachings.

Annemarie is the author of the bestselling book, Being Brown in a Black
and White World: Conversations for Leaders about Race, Racism and
Belonging in which she expertly and courageously explores in all the
stories she shares in her informative and powerful book, how can we move
from the structures of Either/OR, choosing sides, staying polarized - to the
inclusive mindset of BOTH/And, that embraces complexities found within
each of us and in our world at large?
A Diversity & Inclusion expert with a Masters in Bias Awareness,
Annemarie has spent more than 20 years in the field of Diversity and
Inclusion as a facilitator, consultant, and international speaker.

Watch on YouTube: https://app.maximizeu.life/podcast/edgeofeveryday

Find Annemarie:
www.annemarieshrouder.com

Connect with your host Sandra Bargman: