Practical ways to be more inclusive
What can companies do to become more inclusive, equitable and diverse? We are joined by Audrey Roofeh, Founder & CEO at Mariana Strategies
Listen now on Apple and Spotify.
Do you get the Sunday scaries?
Does your team?
That feeling when Monday morning looms and you're either energized about the week ahead or already dreading it. According to Audrey Roofeh, former attorney and CEO of Mariana Strategies, this simple litmus test reveals more about workplace inclusion than any survey ever could.
Leadership buy-in isn't enough on its own and middle managers can become the real heroes (or villains) of DEI efforts. In the episode, we dig into the practical reality of creating truly inclusive workplaces.
Audrey Roofeh is the CEO of Mariana Strategies, a workplace culture consulting firm focused on creating safe and inclusive workplaces.
In 2017 when #MeToo hit, Audrey quit her job managing a team of lawyers at a non-profit to start Mariana Strategies. From the beginning, her goal was to help organizations build and sustain workplaces where people feel valued, trusted, and able to be their authentic selves - without harassment, discrimination, or other all too prevalent workplace challenges.
Since then, Audrey and her team has worked with government agencies, non-profit clients, and private sector businesses in the US and beyond.
In this episode, we cover:
Why that Sunday night feeling is the best indicator of workplace inclusion
How to move beyond policies and training to create actual change
The 3 key activators that make DEI initiatives stick
How to handle the golf-and-football culture dilemma without making anyone feel excluded
Why diverse talent keeps disappearing at the same career stage
How to practice empathy in the workplace
Key takeaways:
Leadership buy-in alone isn't enough.
You need full leadership commitment, trained middle managers, and accountability at every level.
Unconscious bias training is ineffective and harmful.
Identifying biases without acting to subvert them changes nothing.
Inclusion isn't zero-sum. When done right, everyone feels they belong—it's not about some people winning at others' expense.
Are you creating genuine inclusion or just checking boxes?
Learn how to build workplaces where everyone wants to show up →
Where to find Audrey:
Additional Resources:
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
Brené Brown's "Dare to Lead" podcast
Want a framework to level up your approach to team dynamics?
Jumpstarting Your Workplace Culture with Eric Stone is your next stop.
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Best,
Beth and Brandon