Since 2022, employers have been working against a global talent shortage, particularly amongst knowledge workers. This has put immense pressure on teams, increasing the risk of burnout, and prompting some leaders to consider leaving their positions.

Doubling down on DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) to increase the presence of underrepresented or excluded groups — whether from non-traditional backgrounds, cultures, or life trajectories — is not just a nice-to-have. It’s critical to help you widen, deepen, and strengthen your talent pool with ideas and perspectives.

At the same time, it’s important to remember that many of the traditionally excluded groups you’re targeting with your DEI initiatives are greatly in favor of distributed work.

Barriers to increasing diversity can be overcome if your organization embraces a true distributed work model.

At Inclusion in Progress, we have utilized our three-step Inclusive Distributed Work™ framework to support companies with aligning their people-focused initiates with business critical objectives, to deepen their capacity to understand and address specific issues facing their globally distributed teams.

If you’d like to collaborate with us this year to implement our framework in your organization, email us at info@inclusioninprogress.com to book your free consultation call.

#dei #leadership #inclusivedistributedwork #futureofwork

TIMESTAMPS:

[03:34] What can you do to encourage employee interaction, engagement, and productivity in a distributed work setting?

[06:17] How do we define DEI? How does this definition differ when in the context of distributed work?

[09:23] What are the challenges you first have to address before activating your DEI initiatives

[14:11] What guidelines can Inclusion in Progress offer to help HR and People leaders on your DEI journey?

LINKS:

info@inclusioninprogress.com

www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast

www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress

Download our 2024 Whitepaper: "How Cybersecurity Companies Can Retain, Promote & Advance Women to Minimize the Gender Gap"

Read the full report of Work From Home Research’s Global Survey of Working Arrangements.

Learn more about Contending With Stereotype Threat at Work: A Model of Long-Term Responses

Listen to episode IIP125 where we explore What is Inclusive Distributed Work™? An Introduction to Our Framework.

Get started on mitigating bias at work with the help of episode IIP096: The 3 Hidden Biases of Hybrid Work & How to Avoid Them.

Want us to partner with you on building more inclusive distributed work? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.

Read our Forbes features on Ways to Support Employee Mental Wellbeing, What Self Care Looks Like For Us, and How to Create Effective Online Diversity Training.

Learn how to leave a review for the podcast.

Hybrid work has been most commonly defined as a blend of in-office and remote work. This form seemed like the perfect solution as we transitioned post-pandemic because it promised flexibility and a balanced approach to the workplace.

However, many organizations have found themselves stuck in the middle ground where the emphasis is still on showing up at the office rather than focusing on productivity. And we have seen that this current iteration of hybrid has significant limitations and consequences for those organizations that are unwilling to adapt.

In this episode of the Inclusion in Progress podcast, discuss the following:

• Why you have only heard of one model of “hybrid work” and how other models have performed against it;

• How employers monitoring the productivity of their employees in-office may actually be the bottleneck to productivity and profitability that they are trying to avoid;

• Why it is important to make decisions surrounding the workplace based on intentionally collected data.

At Inclusion in Progress, we have utilized our three-step Inclusive Distributed Work™ framework to support companies with aligning their people-focused initiates with business critical objectives, to deepen their capacity to understand and address specific issues facing their globally distributed teams.

If you’d like to collaborate with us this year to implement our framework in your organization, email us at info@inclusioninprogress.com to book your free consultation call.

#hybridwork #leadership #inclusivedistributedwork #futureofwork

TIMESTAMPS:

[4:21] What are the five models of “hybrid work”? And how have companies made use of these models so far?

[7:08] What are the arguments made by employers to justify going back to the pre-pandemic five-day-a-week in-office mandate? What should your company be focusing on instead?

[13:22] How can you embrace Inclusive Distributed Work™ at your workplace? What is the best approach to use to achieve this?

[16:35] What are the questions you can ask that can help you identify the ideal distributed work model for your organization?

LINKS:

info@inclusioninprogress.com

www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast

www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress

Download our 2024 Whitepaper: "How Cybersecurity Companies Can Retain, Promote & Advance Women to Minimize the Gender Gap"

Read the full report of Work From Home Research’s Global Survey of Working Arrangements.

Listen to our previous episode about how other companies are Building a Healthy, Connected Work Culture for Distributed Teams

Read more on the success of Atlassian’s Team Anywhere in their 1,000 Days of Distributed Work Report.

Want us to partner with you on building more inclusive distributed work? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.

Read our Forbes features on Ways to Support Employee Mental Wellbeing, What Self Care Looks Like For Us, and How to Create Effective Online Diversity Training.

Learn how to leave a review for the podcast.

In this episode of the Inclusion in Progress podcast, we share more about our signature Inclusive Distributed Work™ — which we’ve used with tech companies worldwide to support their distributed teams.

At Inclusion in Progress, we define distributed work as physical distribution (remote, hybrid and in-office) and geographical distribution (global and multicultural). Which means that even before March 2020, our teams were already distributed.

Today, the success of your distributed teams depends on enabling collaboration across difference, geography, culture and time zone — so you can avoid costly attrition due to misunderstandings and inefficiencies; attract and retain top talent; improve communication and collaboration; and increase your global reach and market share.

Utilizing our three-step framework, we’ve supported companies with aligning their people-focused initiatives with business critical objectives, and deepening their capacity to understand and address specific issues facing their globally distributed teams.

If you’d like to collaborate with us this year to implement our framework in your organization, email us at info@inclusioninprogress.com to book your free consultation call.

#psychologicalsafety #leadership #inclusivedistributedwork #futureofwork

TIMESTAMPS:

[5:55] Empowering distributed teams with a shared culture beyond office walls.

[8:10] Distributed work is a natural evolution of work, enabling collaboration across differences for success.

[13:02] The benefits of enabling inclusive behaviors, mitigating bias, and strengthening communication protocols.

[16:11] Strategies for fostering psychological safety in distributed teams.

LINKS:

info@inclusioninprogress.com

www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast

www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress

Download our 2024 Whitepaper: "How Cybersecurity Companies Can Retain, Promote & Advance Women to Minimize the Gender Gap"

Listen to our previous episode where we discuss how Inclusion in Progress got started and 3 Ways Sponsorship Can Address the Gender Gap in Leadership

Want us to partner with you on building more inclusive distributed work? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.

Read our Forbes features on Ways to Support Employee Mental Wellbeing, What Self Care Looks Like For Us, and How to Create Effective Online Diversity Training.

Learn how to leave a review for the podcast.

In our post-pandemic world, many more companies have distributed workforces.

Which means many of the HR, Talent and People leaders that we engage with are having to rethink and redefine how to close the gender gap in leadership — when many no longer share the same physical office space or cultural context.

With that said, research shows that sponsorship remains one of the most effective ways to close the gender gap in leadership.

So how do you know when a sponsorship program is right for you? And how do you apply and launch a sponsorship program for a distributed work environment?

On this episode of the Inclusion in Progress podcast, we look at three ways sponsorship can address the gender gap in leadership — and how you can apply our findings to your own distributed workforce.

At Inclusion in Progress, LLC, we’re passionate about Inclusive Distributed Work™ because we have been afforded the opportunities to advance and advise others in 35+ countries, across generational and cultural differences, while supporting our teams’ experiences with autism, depression, anxiety and ADHD.

We know that Inclusive Distributed Work™ works. So if you’d like to work with us this year to implement our signature framework in your organization, email us at info@inclusioninprogress.com to book your free consultation call with us.

#sponsorship #leadership #genderequity #inclusivedistributedwork #futureofwork

TIMESTAMPS:

[2:59] Sponsorship can address gender gap in leadership through structured opportunities.

[7:23] How sponsorship increases visibility and accessibility for women to enhance their careers and promote them into positions of leadership.

[9:45] Sponsorship benefits both sponsors and protegees, creating a structured allyship opportunity.

[12:27] Kay shares how remote work helped her find creative solutions to mental health and professional obstacles.

LINKS:

info@inclusioninprogress.com

www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast

www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress

Download our 2024 Whitepaper: "How Cybersecurity Companies Can Retain, Promote & Advance Women to Minimize the Gender Gap"

Listen to our previous episode where we discuss Do Your Teams Need Mentorship or Sponsorship? How to Understand the Difference.

Want us to partner with you on building more inclusive distributed work? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.

Read our Forbes features on Ways to Support Employee Mental Wellbeing, What Self Care Looks Like For Us, and How to Create Effective Online Diversity Training.

Learn how to leave a review for the podcast.

We often hear about mentorship or sponsorship programs for companies looking to increase representation as a part of their DEI — or diversity, equity and inclusion — initiatives.

But how do you know which program is the best fit for your organization?

Inspired by our conversations with hundreds of HR, DEI and People leaders of distributed teams, we discuss how to close the gender gap in leadership through a structured, scaleable mentorship or sponsorship program.

For this episode of the Inclusion in Progress podcast, we’ll go over:

• Why mentorship and sponsorship are different and why choosing the right one matters for increasing representation on your teams

• How mentorship or sponsorship programs are being optimized by some of our client partners and organizations we’ve collaborated with

• Our best practices for how to develop a mentorship or sponsorship program in a distributed work environment

At Inclusion in Progress, LLC, we’re deeply committed to empowering others to walk the talk when it comes to inclusion. Which is why we’re pleased to continue sharing our 2024 whitepaper: “How Cybersecurity Companies Can Retain, Promote & Advance Women to Minimize the Gender Gap”.

The whitepaper is a result of our January 2024 roundtable discussions with cybersecurity leaders at Broadcom, Cisco, Fortinet, and Palo Alto Networks are doing to promote and advance women in their organizations, and enable more women’s advancement into leadership.

To download our latest whitepaper, head to https://inclusioninprogress.com/learn.

TIMESTAMPS:

[3:15] Defining mentorship and sponsorship, and highlighting their different functions.

[5:57] How sponsorship and mentorship programs can increase productivity and diversity in leadership pipelines.

[8:57] How distributed environments create opportunities for launching mentorship/sponsorship programs.

[14:38] Why sponsorship programs are necessary for emerging leaders with untapped potential.

LINKS:

info@inclusioninprogress.com

www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast

www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress

Download our 2024 Whitepaper: "How Cybersecurity Companies Can Retain, Promote & Advance Women to Minimize the Gender Gap"

Want us to partner with you on building more inclusive distributed work? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.

Read our Forbes features on Ways to Support Employee Mental Wellbeing, What Self Care Looks Like For Us, and How to Create Effective Online Diversity Training.

Learn how to leave a review for the podcast.

Organizations that claimed to support diversity and inclusion in the wake of the pandemic are continuing to mandate Return-to-Office policies today.

Leaders are clinging to the paradigm of in-office work as the gateway to productivity and performance — rather than using this moment as an opportunity to leverage the insight they've gained from their own flexible work experiences to innovate new ways of working.

But did you know that flexible work isn't just a nice-to-have but a non-negotiable for closing the gender gap in leadership?

Which is why on this episode of the podcast we discuss:

• How strengthening and reiterating your existing distributed work models is advantageous to both men and women;

• Why the role of managers is important in increasing women’s representation in leadership;

• How strategizing for an inclusive and equitable distributed workplace enables teams with the highest potential and boosts their performance.

At Inclusion in Progress, LLC, we understand the profound impact that gender inclusion has on workplace culture and a company's ability to meet business objectives. Which is why we’re pleased to share the release of our 2024 whitepaper: “How Cybersecurity Companies Can Retain, Promote & Advance Women to Minimize the Gender Gap”.

The whitepaper is a result of our January 2024 roundtable discussions with cybersecurity leaders at Broadcom, Cisco, Fortinet, and Palo Alto Networks are doing to promote and advance women in their organizations, and enable more women’s advancement into leadership.

To download our latest whitepaper, head to https://inclusioninprogress.com/learn.

TIMESTAMPS:

[0:01] Return to office policies and their impact on diversity and inclusion

[2:24] Increasing women's representation in leadership through flexible work

[6:22] Gender inequality in the workplace and the importance of distributed work models

[9:40] Managers' role in promoting women's leadership in distributed workplaces

[12:41] The benefits of gender inclusion in the workplace

LINKS:

info@inclusioninprogress.com

www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast

www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress

Learn more about the three hidden biases of hybrid work and how to avoid them.

Listen to our discussion of how women of color face double barriers to promotion at work.

Download our 2024 Executive Roundtable Findings: “DEI is Not Dead: How Cybersecurity Leaders are Closing the Gender Gap”

Want us to partner with you on building more inclusive distributed work? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.

Read our Forbes features on Ways to Support Employee Mental Wellbeing, What Self Care Looks Like For Us, and How to Create Effective Online Diversity Training.

Learn how to leave a review for the podcast.

In a 2023 Deloitte study, 92% of women believed their employers were NOT doing enough to honor their commitment to gender equity?

During the pandemic, women all over the world left the workforce and never came back.

Today, women leaders are now leaving their organizations at the highest rate ever.

Inclusion in Progress is committed to empowering organizations to prevent this backslide in gender parity — particularly during International Women’s Month.

Which is why on this episode of the podcast you will hear our take on:

• Why it is a business-critical issue that women leaders are leaving the workplace;

• What holds women back from becoming leaders in the first place;

• How employers can invest in women beyond International Women’s Day;

• What companies are doing today to successfully retain and advance women at work.

We are also very excited to announce the release of our 2024 whitepaper, where you will gain further insight on how we can accelerate progress and invest in women beyond IWD.

The whitepaper is a result of our January 2024 roundtable with cybersecurity leaders at Broadcom, Cisco, Fortinet, and Palo Alto Networks are doing to promote and advance women in their organizations, and enable more women’s advancement into leadership.

To download our latest whitepaper, head to https://inclusioninprogress.com/learn.

TIMESTAMPS:

[0:02] Accelerating women's retention and advancement in the workplace.

[4:27] Women's leadership exodus post-pandemic.

[8:26} Navigating gender bias, burnout, and lack of recognition in the workplace.

[15:57] Retaining women leaders in tech companies.

LINKS:

info@inclusioninprogress.com

www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast

www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress

Listen to Sonia’s recommended episode on if gender equity plans help all women.

Learn more about the headwinds and other barriers that women of color face to promotion at work.

Check out our episode discussing miscarriage, menopause and more experiences of women at work.

Download our 2024 Executive Roundtable Findings: “DEI is Not Dead: How Cybersecurity Leaders are Closing the Gender Gap”

Want us to partner with you on building more inclusive distributed work? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.

Read our Forbes features on Ways to Support Employee Mental Wellbeing, What Self Care Looks Like For Us, and How to Create Effective Online Diversity Training.

Learn how to leave a review for the podcast.

In a time where we need innovation to discover solutions for our fast-changing world, is your company paying attention to the lived experiences of women (particularly at the intersection of race and gender)? How can you make sure there are more seats at the table for women — particularly women of color — to contribute the ideas we need to meet tomorrow’s challenges?

For today’s episode of the Inclusion in Progress podcast, we discuss:

• How we can address gender inequality and why we can’t overlook the experience of women of color in the workplace

• How the intersection of gender and systemic racism can affect performance — and how employers can mitigate headwinds for women of color at work

• How centering women of color in your gender equity strategies at work will contribute to a more inclusive, innovative work culture that supports high performance for all of your team members

We also look into how promoting gender diversity with an intersectional lens can have a positive impact on your companies’ financial performance, employee engagement, retention and attraction of top talent.

If you want to learn more about how we’re partnering with tech and cybersecurity organizations to level the playing field for gender equity at work, email us at info@inclusioninprogress.com.

[2:42] What is the state of gender equity and intersectionality in the workplace?

[7:28] The barriers faced by women of color in the workplace.

[10:05] How to address barriers, headwinds and tailwinds for women of color in the workplace.

Links

info@inclusioninprogress.com

www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast

www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress

Learn more about Why Intersectionality Matters for Your DEI Strategy.

Download our 2023 Executive Roundtable Findings.

Want us to partner with you on building more inclusive distributed work? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.

Read our Forbes features on Ways to Support Employee Mental Wellbeing, What Self Care Looks Like For Us, and How to Create Effective Online Diversity Training.

Learn how to leave a review for the podcast.

Content Disclaimer

The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this article, video or audio are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this article, video or audio. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this article, video or audio. Inclusion in Progress disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this article, video or audio. Disclaimer: Some of these links are for products and services offered by the podcast creator.