A simple check in.

So… I think I started this MBA adventure with the right class - Leadership and Teams. I’m a lucky person, as I was really concerned about not feeling like I fit in, ideologically, and yet my first professor is also the Dean of Equity and Inclusion for the business school. So I’m lucky to have someone at the outset saying “here are real reasons why that thing you care about is actually important!” After years of being made to feel like diversity wasn’t as important as I think it is, these few weeks make me breathe a little bit easier knowing that I’m not crazy for being passionate about it!

We just had a module about groups that also addressed diversity - at this point, some starter discussion about how social/surface diversity (aka gender, race, the obvious things) create psychological effects on individuals within a group. It’s like a subconscious prime to be accepting of a wider variety of ideas and opinions. Diverse groups are more innovative. More productive. More satisfied with their work. It’s wild how something so basic can cause such huge effects.

In a small group conversation, the topic of power and information hoarding came up, and I called it a characteristic of white supremacy culture without anyone batting an eye. I really don’t have to struggle with this one so far - I’m coming out of every class feeling energized. Just wanted to keep writing so I don’t lose the practice. I think there’s one person reading! (Hi, LAH!)