Diverse Hires ≠ Diverse Goals: MLK Special with Sonia Thompson
Data shows that building with diversity in mind just makes business sense.
Yet, we’ve not moved the dial nearly enough: bringing it to our investment world, as of Sep 2021 according to Knight Research only 1.4% of US AUM are managed by diverse firms, and at a startup level, we all know the abysmal numbers: women get less than 3% of funding, and Black founders hovering at about 1.2 - 1.3%. What can we do, and how do we tactically address this issue?
Today, I take this opportunity to not just celebrate with you the power of diversity; which many of you know my work centers around BUT HOW we can tactically make #BillionDollarMoves by building inclusion and diversity as our lever of growth.
To do so I’m calling in an expert, my friend Sonia Thompson, who has worked with brands from Johnson&Johnson to GSK who weighs in on what it takes to actually build a productive diverse team, how messaging to a broader stakeholder base helps you win and grow and why you shouldn’t be tasking that one diverse team member with your diversity goals.
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About Sonia Thompson
Sonia Thompson (she/her) is an inclusive marketing strategist and consultant, as well as the CEO of Thompson Media Group, where she helps companies deliver inclusive and remarkable customer experiences that win over consumers. She writes weekly columns for Forbes and Inc. magazine where she covers how belonging, inclusive marketing, and remarkable customer experiences fuel growth and customer loyalty.
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The Inclusion Marketing Podcast
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𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬
The Top Global VC Podcast for Founders & Funders | Backed by HubSpot Podcast Network
In venture, every move can make—or break—a billion-dollar outcome. Hosted by Sarah Chen-Spellings, award-winning entrepreneur, investor, and venture insider, Billion Dollar Moves pulls back the curtain on the strategies, stumbles, and breakout moments that define the world’s most iconic companies.
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