Self-Awareness for Social Justice: Tools for Equity-Minded and Inclusive Leaders- WIE ILC 2021

Speaker: Meagan Pollock, PhD., Founder and Chief Inclusion Engineer, Engineer Inclusion

How can we stand for social justice if we don't know where we stand? Anchored by three components, social justice, inclusive leadership, and self-awareness, this interactive and thought-provoking workshop equips participants with tools and strategies for their personal and professional development into an equity-minded, inclusive, and action-driven leader. 

Part 1) Social justice, how fairness manifests in society, depends on four fundamental goals: human rights, access, participation, and equity. The lack of these items can be barriers in the workplace, limiting marginalized and minoritized individuals' potential. In this session, through a scaffolded mind-mapping exercise, we'll identify the ways that we can improve diversity, equity, and inclusion within our circle of influence.

Part 2) There are six traits or behaviors that distinguish inclusive leaders from others. In this session, we'll examine these behaviors, reflect on the type of leader we want to be, and identify areas for improvement.

Part 3) The journey of self-awareness unravels our biases, unpacks our privilege, unclasps our position, and un-occupies power. Self-awareness for social justice is an ongoing practice that requires an ever-developing lens fueled by empathy and understanding. In this session, we'll outline an action plan to support our journey to becoming a more inclusive leader.