Diversity, Inclusion, and Innovation: The Power of Different Perspectives - Dr. Frank Douglas

In this thought-provoking episode of the Purple Political Breakdown podcast, Dr. Frank Douglas dives deep into the complexities of equity and inclusion in the workplace. But just as the conversation reaches its climax, a shocking revelation leaves everyone questioning what comes next. Tune in to discover the untold secrets of creating a fair and inclusive society, and brace yourself for a twist you won't see coming.

Part of equity is also giving everyone the opportunity to fail.

My special guest is Dr. Frank Douglas

We introduce to you Dr. Frank Douglas, a luminous beacon in the pharmaceutical field who has broken barriers and crumbled ceilings. When he was appointed as the first black board member of a top five global pharmaceutical company, he revolutionized the landscape. Post retirement, Dr. Douglas harnessed his passion to confront systemic discrimination head-on. This led to his memoir where he articulated his unique 'reframing' concept, an innovative approach to combating discrimination. Having honed his skills at places like MIT and the University of Akron, his wisdom regarding discrimination in the workplace is unparalleled.

This is Dr. Frank Douglas's story:

When Frank Douglas set foot on American soil a little over a week before Dr. Martin Luther King's historic march, he found himself thrust into an intense era of racial discrimination. The stark contrast to his life in Guyana was a shock to his system. He watched in disbelief as racism seeped into every corner of American society. As he navigated through his career in the pharmaceutical industry, he witnessed first-hand how discrimination permeated the corporate world. Yet, he chose to rise above the barriers and became the first black board member of a top five global pharmaceutical company. But his personal achievements didn't distract him from the systemic bias that existed around him. Instead, it stirred a powerful desire within him to rectify this pervasive issue. His determination has culminated into a mission to address systemic discrimination, a fight he hasn't given up on till today.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Mitigate the effects of systemic discrimination in the professional realm, driving a more diverse and respectful workplace.

• Forge respectful political exchanges, reducing the adversarial nature of such discussions.

• Expose the veneer of the Ukraine conflict, unmasking the grimness of the situation at hand.

• Implement measures to counteract systemic racism, stepping towards a more harmonious work environment.

• Understand the need for a balanced representation and inclusion in organizations, realizing their influence on workplace serenity.

• Deep-dive into the importance of employee engagement, recognizing its link to organizational performance and team spirit.

Understanding and Defining Equity
Ah, equity, that’s a term you hear getting tossed around quite a bit these days, isn’t it? Rather than just doling out the same resources to everyone, the focus is more on making sure everyone gets access to the opportunities they need to succeed. It's all about being fair and impartial, aiming for equality of outcomes rather than just opportunities. The beautiful thing about equity is it takes into consideration that we’ve all been handed different sets of circumstances, challenges we need to overcome and the kind of support we need can vary greatly. Like a sage who’s walked this path, Dr. Frank Douglas guides us through what equity truly means in action. He paints a vivid picture with a story about three kids, all of different heights, trying to watch a game through a fence. Simply giving them all the same box to stand on wouldn't level the playing field, because, well, they're all different heights! Instead, he proposes a more equitable idea – switching out the solid fence for one with holes that all kids, regardless of height, can see through. Now that’s some clear-cut wisdom on translating the concept of equity to real world situations.

The Importance and Measurement of Diversity
Diversity, that's another word that's swiftly become a staple in the workplace vocabulary. And rightly so because let’s face it, a tapestry is way more beautiful with different threads woven together, isn’t it? It's not just about gathering people from different backgrounds, it's about fostering an environment where everyone feels included and their ideas valued. That's when the magic happens! When you have a chorus of different voices singing in harmony, that’s when the song of success gets written. But there's a roadblock, and Dr. Douglas hits the nail on the head with this one! Sure, it's easy to count how many individuals from different demographics you have at the table, but how do you measure if those people feel included in decision-making processes, or if their views have influenced company policy? Diversity, as our wonderful guest explains, is not just about numbers but about the impact and influence that these diverse individuals have on driving the company's culture and innovation.

Equality of Outcome vs. Equality of Opportunity
While the terms "equality of opportunity" and "equality of outcome" might sound alike, they actually refer to two uniquely distinct things. It's a bit like two siblings who might share the same last name, but with different personalities. The former is all about everyone getting the same advancing stepping stone, irrespective of their needs. The latter, however, is about making sure that we all arrive at the finishing line together, albeit with some needing more support than others. Yes, it’s kind and gracious to provide everyone with the same opportunities, but it's just more practical and realistic to aim for an equal outcome because we all have different needs. Let’s take it from Dr. Douglas’s perspective. He doesn’t skirt around the issue. Nope, he addresses it head-on, diving deep into the inequitable structures that sometimes, just sometimes, make it unfairly tough for some folks to succeed, even with equal opportunities. He challenges us to look beyond just providing the same opportunities for everyone, and to bravely champion for equal outcomes instead. It might be harder, it might take more work, but hey, isn’t the view always better after the hard climb?

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Join Pod Match: Use the affiliate link in the description to sign up for Pod Match and get matched with podcast hosts and guests. Cost: $6/month.

• Get a customizable podcast website with Pod Page: Sign up using the affiliate link in the description to create your own easy-to-customize podcast website with Pod Page. You can get a discount by using the link.

• Check out Dr. Frank Douglas's book: Find his book, Addressing Systemic Discrimination by Reframing the Problem, on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

• Stay informed about current events: Stay updated on the latest news, including the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the use of cluster munitions, and the destruction of chemical weapons by the US.

• Educate yourself on systemic discrimination: Learn about systemic discrimination and its impact on the workplace and society.

• Advocate for equity and inclusion: Encourage leaders and organizations to implement equity and inclusion policies and practices in the workplace.

• Challenge unconscious biases: Reflect on your own biases and work towards overcoming them to create a more inclusive workplace.

• Support diversity in the workplace: Embrace diversity of thought and experiences and recognize the value it brings to organizations.

Timestamped summary of this episode:
00:00:00 - Introduction,
The host introduces the podcast episode and expresses the importance of focusing on solutions rather than political biases. He also mentions the guest, Dr. Frank Douglas, and the topic of racism in the workplace.

00:02:05 - Podcast Website Recommendation,
The host recommends Pod Page, a platform for creating customizable podcast websites, and encourages listeners to join using his affiliate link for a discount.

00:03:20 - Introducing Dr. Frank Douglas,
Dr. Frank Douglas, a former global head of research and development in the pharmaceutical industry, shares his background and mission to address systemic discrimination through reframing.

00:05:18 - Dr. Douglas' Book,
The host asks about Dr. Douglas' book on addressing systemic discrimination, and Dr. Douglas mentions that it can be found on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

00:08:17 - Toxic Nature of Political Discussions,
Dr. Douglas and the host discuss the toxic nature of political discussions in today's society and express their concerns about the regression of progress. They emphasize the need for solutions rather than adversarial debates.

00:19:01 - Workplace Equity and Inclusion,
Dr. Frank Douglas discusses the importance of both equitable policies and inclusive cultures in the workplace. He distinguishes between organizations with low equity and inclusion, which create toxic cultures with low retention rates, and those with high equity and inclusion, where individuals are engaged and motivated.

00:20:36 - Defining Equity,
Dr. Douglas provides an example to explain his understanding of equity, which is giving everyone what they need to complete a task. He uses the analogy of two workers moving a sack of potatoes and highlights the importance of providing the necessary tools or resources for individuals based on their capabilities.

00:26:02 - Equality of Outcome vs. Equality of Opportunity,
The conversation delves into the distinction between equality of outcome and equality of opportunity. Dr. Douglas and the hosts discuss the importance of giving everyone the opportunity to succeed, rather than ensuring that everyone ends up in the same situation. They appreciate Dr. Douglas' perspective on equity.

00:29:54 - Workplace Discrimination in Industries,
Dr. Douglas shares his observations on workplace discrimination in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. He mentions that gender discrimination was prevalent in the pharmaceutical industry, while the healthcare industry has seen significant changes with more women entering medical schools. He also highlights discrimination cases in the IT industry, such as Google's class action suit.

00:34:37 - DEI Initiatives and Diversity,
Dr. Douglas discusses the significance of diversity for fostering innovation and the ease of counting demographic characteristics.

00:40:17 - The Importance of Diversity and Measuring its Impact
The conversation begins with a discussion about the value of diversity in the workplace and whether simply meeting diversity thresholds is enough. The guests express the need for diversity of thought and opinion, not just ethnicity, to truly drive innovation and problem-solving.

00:41:31 - Lack of Diversity of Thought
The guests agree that diversity of thought is lacking in many workplaces, with a tendency for people to be ideologically captured and think alike. They highlight the importance of valuing different opinions and the need for companies to go beyond just diversity quotas.

00:43:56 - Opinions and Creativity
The guests discuss the role of opinions in creativity and problem-solving. They emphasize that diversity of opinion is crucial for innovation, and that different experiences and cultures can enable individuals to make unique connections and see things others may not. They lament the current trend of society becoming more opinionated and less willing to listen to diverse viewpoints.

00:48:52 - Equity, Inclusion, and Employee Engagement
The conversation shifts to the importance of equity, inclusion, and employee engagement. The guest emphasizes the positive impact of employee engagement on productivity and profitability. He introduces the concept of reframing problems and shares a personal experience where reframing helped him navigate discrimination. He discusses the need for companies to focus on individual empowerment and dialogue to address equity and inclusion issues.

00:55:54 - The Reframing Process for Empowerment
The guest explains the refr

00:59:19 - Join the Community on PurplePoliticalBreakdown.com,
Dr. Frank invites the audience to join the Purple Political Breakdown community by signing up on the website and joining the discord server for discussions and debates on live streams.

01:00:27 - The Infinite Game and Employee Engagement,
Dr. Frank discusses the concept of the infinite game as explained by Simon Sinek and how businesses should focus on employee engagement to perpetuate the game. Engaged employees are 24% more productive and feel heard.

01:02:21 - Individual Responsibility for Change,
Dr. Frank emphasizes the importance of individuals taking responsibility for challenging implicit biases and changing their mindset. Abstract policies alone cannot bring about real change, but productive dialogue and challenging perspectives can.

01:03:44 - Everyone's Role in Creating Change,
Dr. Frank highlights the need for everyone to participate in creating change rather than expecting someone else to fix the situation. Change requires active engagement and productive conversations to make corporations and institutions listen.

01:09:45 - Reframing Ideas and Political Advocacy,
Jonathan and Paul agree that reframing ideas and considering different perspectives is crucial for productive discussions and political engagement. It can help overcome polarization and create a more inclusive sphere of conversation.

01:17:20 - Different Views of Equity,
Dr. Frank Douglas describes two different images of equity - one with three children of varying heights and another with a solid wooden fence being replaced with a chain fence. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the outcome and removing obstacles to achieve equity.

01:23:55 - Dealing with Resistance,
When faced with resistance from a manager or supervisor who denies the need for equity, Dr. Douglas suggests reframing the problem as something that would benefit not only the aggrieved person but also their workmates and the unit as a whole. Engaging allies and considering alternative actions like calling out publicly or protesting are also mentioned.

01:25:19 - The Benefits of Inclusion,
The conversation highlights that companies that embrace diversity and inclusion tend to perform better. This can lead to increased investment and success, while organizations that refuse to acknowledge the need for inclusion may not be a healthy or productive environment.

01:27:53 - Recruiting Allies,
By discussing issues of inequity with colleagues, individuals can recruit allies who also see the benefits of change. This collective action can create a more supportive environment and increase the likelihood of addressing and resolving problems.

01:29:19 - Conclusion and Call to Action,
The podcast host encourages listeners to check out Dr. Douglas' book on addressing systemic discrimination and emphasizes the importance of individual action and dialogue in creating real change in society.

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