Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Let’s Talk About it!! with Toi. B James

Toi B. James shares her profound insights into diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging (DEIA-B). As the founder of RedInk Enterprises, Toi provides an enlightening perspective on how to foster an environment where every individual feels valued and supported. Drawing from her extensive career and advisory roles, she discusses the impact of effective communication and the creation of inclusive cultures. Toi also touches on the entrepreneurial challenges she faced while starting her business, the importance of clear service objectives, and the vital role of establishing boundaries for sustainable business growth. Additionally, we discuss her book, "Talk About It," which explores these topics in greater depth. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that navigates the complexities of integrating meaningful inclusivity into everyday business and societal structures.

📺 You can watch this episode on Moses The Mentor's YouTube page and don't forget to subscribe: https://youtu.be/IWyUZyVZ9lo

🎯Connect with Toi B. James @redinkenterprisesllc on Instagram and visit her website redinkenterprises.com

🎯Connect with Moses The Mentor: https://mtr.bio/moses-the-mentor

☕If you value my content consider buying me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mosesthementor

📢Support Money Focused Podcast for as low as $3 a month: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2261865/support

🔔Subscribe to my channel for Real Estate & Personal Finance tips https://www.youtube.com/@mosesthementor?sub_confirmation=1

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:24

Welcome back to the Money Focus Podcast. I'm your host, moses Dementor, and in this episode, I'm honored to have Toy B James, the visionary behind Ready Enterprises, join the show. Toy is not just an author and founder, but she's a catalyst for inclusive engagement and communication. Her firm specializes in empowering individuals and organizations to create environments where everyone feels valued. So let's uncover the journey and insights of this transformative leader. Thank you for joining the Money Focus podcast. Really appreciate you, and the first thing I'm going to ask you to do is to walk us through your career journey and, ultimately, how you started your business. So the floor is yours.

Speaker 2: 1:09

Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. It's a pleasure to be here. My career journey I have been so many places, so let's just I'm just going to give you like some titles. Right, I'm not going to mention the company name, but last first job out of college was a bank, then a senior communications coordinator for the local government, and then I went to a pipeline company and there I was in communications that I kind of bit you into public affairs and strategy. I was a, I was a contractor, so left there and I started in like public affairs, corporate responsibility, which was still one of my favorite jobs because I love supporting organizations and people that they support. I did that for like 10 years. The company was amazing and then I started just doing something on my own when the economy took a downturn and the office closed their regional office. So in communications that's when I started writing to make a living I was like, oh, you could get paid, like by yourself, to do this Wasn't quite as lucrative as it needed to be, but I have, you know, dealing with family issues and making sure my dad was taken care of, so it gave me the opportunity to really spend that quality time with him before he transitioned.

Speaker 2: 2:17

I will never, ever forget that time when I jumped back into the world of work. I got back into communication, but more leadership and development. And so there I was like, ok, I kind of like this, you know, but it was still a lot of communications, newsletters and trainings and just in that little realm, right. So you're building courses, you're training people, you're facilitating meetings, all of that. And in that I found like I really like the idea of engaging people in this way, but how can I make it more meaningful? The introvert in me is just like I can do small talk for like five or 10 minutes and I'm like it's a wrap, right. So I was like, how can I make this more meaningful?

Speaker 2: 3:01

And so when, after the death of George Floyd, we all know what happened and DIA became like this norm, and so I was like I don't know how to have these tough conversations, I want to, because I was paralyzed in what was happening in the world. And so I said, ok, the best way to overcome a fear is to do it. To overcome a fear is to do it. So I became trained under the tutelage of the amazing Dr Tawana Burroughs at Coach Diversity Institute as a coach, and of course that's through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion. And I also became trained as a facilitator diversity to belonging through the amazing Chris Armstrong at Veritas Culture, and there I was like I can do this.

Speaker 2: 3:47

This is what I want to do. I want to specialize in inclusive communications and engagement. How do we make DEIA come alive? So it's not just DEIA on the side, because DEIA is so many things and we can talk about that as we talk a little bit more. But that's when I was like I could do this and I want to do this in a way that I envision, and that was Reading Enterprises LLC. So that's coaching, consulting, engagement, communications all of the things that the world kind of introduced me to through the world of work that I fell in love with. So I took the pieces that I love the most and built the business Nice.

Speaker 1: 4:24

And you know, I think for me, educate me. So DEI, I think that's most people understand diversity, equity, inclusion. So you noted the A and I've heard B, so kind of let us know what the A stands for and also, do you also add B in there at times as well?

Speaker 2: 4:45

Yes. So A is DEIA. When you hear that for sure, government generally frames it around that. So it's diversity, equity and inclusion and accessibility. So how do you ensure that those who have certain needs are met to work in your workplace? How do you make sure that it's inclusive for everyone? And the B is belonging. So really it's like, once you have people who are included in something, how do you make sure they're belong? Just because I invite you to the table and you're sitting next to me does not mean I invite you into the conversation, the goals, the outcome, but I literally just invite you to the table to sit here and look. But how do I ensure that you belong, you feel heard, seen and respected? That is belonging, sure that you belong you feel heard, seen and respected.

Speaker 1: 5:27

That is belonging Makes sense. So how is your status in you know? Diversity, equity, inclusion A and B shape your approach and how you actually provide coaching and consulting to the companies that you support.

Speaker 2: 5:43

The best way for me to answer that question related to how I incorporate D-E-I-A-N-B into my life, is just this into my life. So it's not just how I incorporate it into business and working with clients, with anyone, it's really how I approach the whole person in front of me, who I'm talking to. How do I hold space for all of who they are in any given moment? That is my goal. Space for all of who they are in any given moment. That is my goal. I want to make sure, at any time, people know that they are enough and that they can thrive whatever it is they want to do. Now, if you're a singer and you can't sing, I'm not going to tell you you can't sing because I know a lot of people who are successful, who can't really sing.

Speaker 2: 6:19

But what I do want them to know is, like, once you decide whatever that thing is who you want to be, at the core of who you are, you can do that. But you have to set the goals and have to decide what it's going to take, and then you have to just do it. But first you have to believe you can, and I can't believe for you. So my goal is to ensure that people feel heard, seen and respected, no matter what area or where we are, who I'm talking to, so they can understand that like, yeah, I'm special just the way I am. I'm enough because they are.

Speaker 1: 6:55

So it's not only you know it's a business, but it's also a reflection of just what you bring to your day to day life. So that's pretty, yes, what she brings to your day-to-day life, so that's pretty.

Speaker 2: 7:04

Yes, but ultimately, no matter what I'm doing, that is integrated in every fabric of every being of my life. Honestly, it's whom I meet, how I engage them, and that's what I love, though I want people to know that I see you, I see you. Everyone doesn't feel seen, and if everyone allowed themselves to be very present for someone else, it's just a beautiful thing to receive and to give.

Speaker 1: 7:32

Yeah, 100% agree. When you started your company, you know, just like many other Orchard Condolors, what were some of the challenges that you faced.

Speaker 2: 7:42

Challenges that I faced established Red Ink really were minimal. Starting the company was not very hard. It's really being hyper-focused on what it is you want to do, how you want to serve and what that looks like, who are your partners and who are your clients, and then getting and maintaining those relationships whether it's partnerships or clients right. And I believe that in any business you don't do it on your own. I have my board of directors, I have my supporters, I have people who would send science my way. I have people who would say just ask me, how is your day going, how can I help you? It's amazing.

Speaker 2: 8:20

So developing the business on its own super simple. You can just follow a blueprint. But determining what it is you want your business to be, how you want to set it up like, what are the certifications? What are the trainings that I need? How do I make, how do I stand out above the rest? But, at the same time, how can I be of service to those who do the same thing? None of us work in a vacuum thing. None of us work in a vacuum. But because I specialize in inclusive communications and engagement, someone else might need those skills to build a curriculum for something very specific to DEIA, right? So they might be well, I am racial equity. Okay, how can we partner, because you got to talk about those issues? That's where I come in.

Speaker 1: 9:01

So the establishment of your company wasn't that difficult, but you noted that you're, you know, an introvert. So going out there and making those connections, I mean, how did you overcome that? I mean that's huge.

Speaker 2: 9:16

Well, one, it was huge during a pandemic. That's what made it really hard. But, like throughout all my trainings, I established relationships there when I joined organizations like the Chamber of Commerce or any other business, right? So you just establish relationships, you go out and you meet people and just be very genuine. You might not even be in the same field, but you don't know who they know, they don't know who you know. And it has to be reciprocal, right? Because I can't just be like, hey, can I get five minutes of your time for you to tell me all your business. No, may I have five minutes of your time so I can understand how I can be of service.

Speaker 2: 9:54

Right, that is the mindset that you have to have in business, because if you start off as a vulture, you'll have that reputation and people will no longer want to work with you because they see it Like oh, here they come again, they're about to ask me for something. No one wants that and no one wants to feel that way either, if that's not their intent for sure. So my relationship building is slow and steady. Wins the race. I don't rush anything. Everything is just as authentic as if it would be if I would just make it a new friend, but I always go in believing. How can I be of service to this person?

Speaker 1: 10:28

Let's talk about how we could support each other, not what you could do for me when you approach it to where, like you're trying to get something from someone and you're not going about it like a business person, you know you pretty much should say, hey, just pour into me, and there might be a time when you're seeking a mentor and that might be OK. But if you're coming across to say, hey, I want to be a partner, I want to connect with you, I want to grow with you, you have to bring something to the table that's valuable for that person as well.

Speaker 2: 10:59

Exactly, and that's the same thing at mentorship. Mentors aren't there just to serve you? Exactly, and that's the same thing at mentorship. Mentors aren't there just to serve you. Mentors also, if you put yourself in a particular position, you could serve them, because you might have a perspective they never considered that might actually help their business or their own professional or personal world.

Speaker 1: 11:19

Right. So it really is all about the relationship. It's work for them. You know what I'm saying, Because I put the onus on them a lot to say, hey, don't even schedule a follow-up unless you've done one, two, three, Because again.

Speaker 2: 11:34

It's not about.

Speaker 1: 11:36

It's not just a vending session, you know. You know, every time we meet we have to show growth, because then otherwise you're not taking advantage of the time.

Speaker 2: 11:47

Exactly. No one wants that, right and so. But sometimes we have to tell people what that is Like. This is like if someone, when they approach me, like I would love to talk to you, I really need some support. You've done this, you've been through this. Can we have a conversation? We can have a conversation, but if you need support after that, this is what it's going to have to look like, right? So I'd set those parameters and those boundaries. If you're ready or if you're not ready now, that's fine, but when you're ready, just be ready and so define what mentorship is in that relationship.

Speaker 2: 12:18

Just like people confuse mentorship and sponsorship Very different things. Like sponsors is like what do people say about you when you're not in the room? Who are those people? Yeah, who could talk about your business when you're not there? And it matters, right, that could be anybody, right, because you don't know who people know and who they went into. People have made referrals to my business and I'm like you did. To whom? What People I never considered as a business partner. So just be clear about what that is and be honest about who you are and what you're willing to do.

Speaker 1: 12:54

That's huge, great advice. So we've been talking a lot and you have a book, yes, and the title of your and you have a book, yes, the title of your book is Talk About it, yes. So talk to us about your book, talk About it and what it's about, and also how it aligns to your mission at Reading.

Speaker 2: 13:17

Sure, well, the book is called Talk About it and it's so funny that an introvert would have a book called Talk About it. But again, during the time of George Floyd's death, and all of what was happening in the world was for me, because I'm very sensitive about race and race relations and people, because I really absolutely care, it almost paralyzed me, absolutely care, it almost paralyzed me. But again, to address a fear, you address it, you do something about it. So I got my training as a certified coach, I became a certified facilitator and I said you know what? These conversations are not as hard as I thought they were. If you have the right methodology, you can have really amazing, although seemingly difficult, conversations, and some could be transformational. So it's 12 steps to transformational conversations. So, talk about it, 12 steps to transformational conversations. And it really is using ICF coaching methodology around having conversations that are difficult, whether it's personal or if it's in the workplace, and we all, so many people, shy away from it Because when I would have conversations with people to talk about, you know just whatever's going on in the world, like I don't know what to say was the first thing they would say I don't want to talk about that because I don't know what to say. I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings.

Speaker 2: 14:37

People are so sensitive and I was like, well, if you don't know what to say, lead with that, if that's your truth. And I don't know what to say, but because I care about you, I just want to say how are you, how authentic is that? And from there, as you listen, you can find out what you need to ask. So it's really a practical, small, it's not even a very big book. It's very practical. It's 12 steps. How do you do this in any given situation? And I actually learned from a friend of mine and he actually the book is led with the experience that I had watching him talk about race after an art performance that he had His name is Masoud Olufani and I literally just ear hustled the entire time and his patience was phenomenal and I was like one day I want to do that.

Speaker 1: 15:25

So you're so in the book. One of the steps is to truly just leave in with the thing that's going to make people uncomfortable. That's that's one of the steps.

Speaker 2: 15:36

Yeah, absolutely so. It depends on the type of conversation. If you want to prepare to have the conversation, one prepare for the conversation. And I'm not saying prepare to argue. What I'm saying is identify your own triggers yourself. How much have you educated yourself, on a way, about what you think and why you think the way that you do, about whatever this topic is? Because what you don't want to do is just argue. You want to just truly understand your own thoughts.

Speaker 2: 16:08

So when you go into the conversation, after you tell the person if it's a difficult conversation like hey, I would like to talk to you about so-and-so because I care One you have to make sure that people understand that you care, because if they don't think that it's going to be harder, can we meet at this time? Because it gives them the opportunity to prepare for the conversation as well. And then you go in and you just make space and you ask questions. You go in, you suspend judgment. Your job is not to change their mind. You go in just trying to understand and to show someone you care. If those are your two goals, you will go a long way and you may not change your mind, you may not change theirs, but hopefully you both will walk away with the perspective you've never considered.

Speaker 1: 17:21

And you know, with the clients that you work with, or maybe companies you work for. Is there a risk that you uncover, yes or no? Is there a risk of focusing on too many like B&E initiatives and could that actually detract a company from actually meeting their performance goals?

Speaker 2: 17:46

I don't. Again, it depends on how you set it up. Because what is DEIA short of change management, employee experience, employee engagement that's what it is and leadership and development. So when you put it into the buckets in a way that we have defined what is necessary and of course you could talk about performance reviews, you could talk about salary assessments that all falls under HR. But if you develop a program where all of that's included, you're not doing a whole bunch of things. You're doing one thing with a lot of different elements that support the overall culture. So it really is. Again, how are you developing what you're implementing If it feels like it's one-off?

Speaker 2: 18:27

We're going to try this over here once and then we're going to leave it alone for two years, but we're going to come back because now people are complaining again. They're never going to be successful. But if you put in certain mechanisms, projects changes in the way your structure is designed. That's what works Right. So when I say you know we need to be more transparent and showing and showing salaries, and you're scared like I don't know if we should be, what's giving you pause? Do you know that you're not necessarily doing the right thing right now, because if you can explain why me and Sarah have the same job, a different salary, the truth is not the problem, unless it's a problem If I have more education, if I come from a different background and I came in ready to rock and roll, where she has education, maybe not as much, she has experience, not as much, but she is teachable. That's the truth that Sarah could understand. Transparency is OK. It should be. The truth is never a bad thing, in my opinion.

Speaker 1: 19:42

It's just the truth. I actually saw something on your LinkedIn the other day. I wanted to ask you this, since it was like perfect timing, where there was a DEI, I guess within the government that wasn't funded with the new funding bill that Biden just signed. I wanted to get your input on that because I thought that was. I was surprised that that was even on the bargaining table, that a DEI initiative would even have to be taken out, but I wanted to get your take, being that this is your field, and do you feel like there's an attack on diversity, equity and inclusion and all the other initiatives that's out there to help protect and ensure transparency?

Speaker 2: 20:40

to include the dismantling of DEIA programs throughout the country. I mean, we see it in Florida, we now see it in Alabama, we see it in different companies, yeah, and it's very disheartening because a lot of these programs are led by marginalized people, right, leaders who look like me, people of color, although the majority of them, what people didn't realize is a lot of the leaders were white, so people didn't talk about that right. So, because it really, which is might be to some degree why the needle wasn't moving in a lot of places. But again, I don't understand dismantling it. Because if DIA and this is, of course, opinion if it is employee experience, employee engagement, if it's all those things right, if it's all the things that really support your employees, all of them to be treated fairly and equitably, why are you trying to dismantle that at the core of it? What about fairness and equity scares you and who do you think is getting the short end of the stick? Because that's what you're saying. You're saying, you know we don't want to be fair and equitable is what I hear when I see stuff like that. That's all I see.

Speaker 2: 22:01

So DEIA will continue. It just might be another name. It will just be embedded, as it should be, throughout programs and initiatives, throughout the entire organization, because it should not have been over here in the first place. It's a great office to have to kind of manage the measures, to tell the story, but it really is embedded throughout the organization and if you don't get it right, people will leave and you'll know that, your reputation will be damaged and you'll know that and you can sing all the songs of like we're a great place to work, but it's not going to be true and people who work there will know that and your culture will change, but not for the better. So how do you support everyone? That's fine. Change the name, but don't stop the work. The work does not end. So am I hopeful? I'm an optimist? Of course I am Because I do this, not because it is something I think is really cute to do, it's because I think it's necessary.

Speaker 1: 23:05

No, I appreciate it. It was. It was very timely. It's our, our episode, I think it's. It's really a shame that you know something like that, but it's really for politics and for show, you know, and the fact that you know for politics and for show, you know, and the fact that you know they want to, you know, put the notion out there that things were equitable before these programs were being funded is laughable. It is, you know. The data definitely shows.

Speaker 2: 23:35

I mean like the story is not made up. We have the stats, so and so when people are asked those questions, they can't back it up. They're like oh well, they're just not necessary because everything's equal. By whose lens? Whose experience in this equity that you speak of? Name names tell the story?

Speaker 1: 23:55

They're afraid of it. It's clear. So, yeah, yeah, it's horrible, but how do you plan to continue to evolve Red Ink, you know, for the next, let's say, five, 10 years? You know it's things like this change, but how does your business stay agile over these changes and how you actually serve your clients.

Speaker 2: 24:17

Question of 2024 for me, because AI is changing everything. Technology is changing at the speed of light, so how do you meet the needs of your customers and your clients? How do you meet the needs of people? How do you meet them where they are? And so I am actually investigating what that looks like. Like I'm not afraid of AI.

Speaker 2: 24:36

I'm not really happy about how it's progressing so quickly and who is leaving out, because it has its own issues right. But I do want to understand what it's going to look like in five or 10 years and how it's going to impact the workplace in five or 10 years. And how do we still manage to ensure that cultures are equitable and fair for everyone? That's the challenge, because with the digital divide, when you think about that, who's going to be left behind? It's the economically disadvantaged and marginalized individuals or underrepresented individuals. So we have to figure out how do we bring everyone along. But because it's moving so fast, it's hard to do that, and so that's a really great question. I wish I had an answer, but right now it's just staying informed and continuing to do the work at the same time, because the work does not stop. It just doesn't stop. But you've got to grow with it.

Speaker 1: 25:38

Yeah, ai is the real deal. It's the real deal. I use AI in my business, but you're right, it's a digital divide for sure. And that digital divide may be magnified pretty soon because of another program that was taken out in the sending bill, which is ACP, which is the Affordable Connectivity Program, which was giving subsidies to low-income households to ensure that they had internet service. So now you know AI is going to become this huge cloud of information and people that have the ability to tap into it as well as be, you know, on the driver's seat. But now you're taking away the ability for people to afford for a bad Internet, so now they can't take advantage of it as well, and it's even deeper than that, right?

Speaker 2: 26:36

So we think about the book banning how they're treating education and taking inclusion out of that when they're kind of rewriting history. And so now they don't because of the internet, information is available to everyone. It was the great equalizer, right? You take that away, along with all our educational system being kind of shifted and changed and edited and stories reimagined. Who benefits? And those are the questions we have to start asking ourselves, like who benefits from all these changes? And it might seem like a one-off that that happens, like oh well, it's just fiscal responsibility, really, is it? Is it so?

Speaker 2: 27:21

As a country of citizens, we wanted and thank you for bringing up all the bills and politics, even though it's and I have an MPA site, I used to love politics. At this point it drove me crazy. I will say that we, we have to vote, we have to vote, we have to be informed and we have to ask the question out of all of the things that's happening, who benefits and how can I be involved to ensure that I, my family, the generations of my family to come are going to be okay? Because we have to stop thinking right now like this doesn't bother me. You know, right now, right now and just now.

Speaker 1: 28:06

Very fast.

Speaker 2: 28:07

Right now, just ended Right now, just ended Right. So we have to think more in the future about its impacts to us as we get older, our families, our families, families and really just stay involved. And I know that when you think about the ballots right now and what's on it, who's on it, and people become disheartened. But what's the alternative? Because when you don't vote, you vote for the person that does not need to be there, right? So all you can do is just say these are my issues, how do they stand on my issues? And then you do the best and you don't just vote for the president, you vote for the Congress people, you vote for local, you vote in local elections because it all filters up. Politics is local and people don't realize that, or they realize they don't know anything about it. But this is the groundwork, is where all of these things happen, because the presidential executive office only has so much power and we have to remember that too.

Speaker 1: 29:09

Sure, so you know, I appreciate you coming on the show and I want to give you the floor to. You know, finish and close us out with final thoughts or advice that you would like to give the audience. And then also, you know, let us know how we can reach you, your social media, your website. So floor is yours.

Speaker 2: 29:31

Well, thank you so much for having me. My introverted self always gets so nervous about these things, so I hope that what I shared was informative and helpful for those who listened to reach out to me.

Speaker 2: 29:43

Just Red Ink Enterprises, and that's Red Ink. Remember, when you're a teacher, this was like I'm dating myself, but you know, just Red Ink. Like they used to like grade your paper with the ink, it'll be red. So if you've got a lot of red ink on your pages, you know you did something wrong. So in my case, it really is because I want to take what you have and I want to help you make it better. That's all it means really. So, redinkenterprisescom. You can find me on LinkedIn, toybjames. You can find me on Instagram, redinkenterprisescom. So I'm available. So if you message me, I will respond Again.

Speaker 2: 30:21

The book Talk About About it is on Amazon. Just search my name if it's difficult. It's Toy T-O-Y B James, and he was the B because I like it and my advice would be just, whatever it is that you want to do, believe you have to believe you can do it. I'm not saying fake it till you make it. I'm saying believe it, make a plan and just take a step. That's it. Because you got this, you are more than enough and that is always the truth. I tell people so, but thank you so much for having me today.

Speaker 1: 30:57

You're welcome and that's great advice. I hope y'all listen closely and attentively to that, and that will great advice. I hope y'all listen closely and attentively to that. It'll be great. So thank you again, zoe. Thank you, thank you so much. So, toi, thank you again for joining the show. Really appreciate it, and your dedication to fostering inclusive and transformative conversations is truly inspiring To my listeners. I encourage you to check out Reading Enterprises and Toi's book for more empowering content and remember, make sure to visit my website, mosesdementorcom, and also subscribe to Moses the Mentor on YouTube. So until next time, keep engaging in conversations that make a difference, peace.