179. The Evolving Landscape of DEI with Elena Joy Thurston

As we officially welcome spring, many rites of passage including graduation season are almost upon us.  If you are a member of the Class of 2025 or know someone who is graduating or has recently graduated, this episode includes an insightful discussion on real life skills that aren’t always taught in the classroom, but can prove extremely beneficial.  Our guest, Raffi Grinberg is an educator, business leader, and author of the new book (released March 25th!), “How to Be a Grown Up: The 14 Essential Skills You Didn’t Know You Needed (Until Just Now).”  

Have you ever winced at the thought that someone else might label you as weird, selfish, or wreckless?  Today’s guest Jenny Wood, a former Google Executive, career coach, and author of the new book (released today!), “Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It,” wants you to be courageous and run towards these labels rather than away from them.  We discuss details of her new book including the 9 traits, three mentioned above, which can act as a deterrent to going after what we want as well as some useful tips on how we can flip the script and make them a positive instead of a negative. Guest’s Website: Jenny Wood | Home Purchase Jenny’s new book via our affiliate link: Amazon.com: Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It: 9780593717646: Wood, Jenny: Books TALK BIG QUESTIONS Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life. Have you ever felt weird?  Did it stop you from taking action? Which of the words discussed most resonates with making you feel uncomfortable?  Following the episode do you look at that particular connotation differently? What is something you really want, but haven’t had the wild courage to go after yet?   Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.    Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy’s website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.  

In the latest installment of Coaches Corner, guest coach Suzanne Campi, a life transition coach and community builder, sits down with Danielle for a discussion on the topic of Retirement. Guest’s Website: Suzanne Campi Coaching Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.     

If you are a woman or have a woman you love or care for in your life, then this episode is for you.  Whether that person has or will someday experience the three stages of menopause while navigating personal and professional life, today’s guest assures that they are not alone.  Dr. Susan Miele, who holds a PhD in Human and Organizational Systems and is a transformational leader and workplace well-being advocate dedicated to redefining the narrative around menopause, shares her personal story as well as incredibly insightful and thought provoking information on this important topic that often goes undiscussed at home and in the workplace. Guest’s Website: Susan Miele Guest Mentions/Resources:   Estrogen Matters Menopause Manifesto – Dr. Jen Gunter Let's Talk Menopause | Symptoms | Education | Advocacy TALK BIG QUESTIONS Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life. Were you aware there were 34 potential symptoms in perimenopause?   Following this episode what are some takeaways you now know about the topic of menopause that you didn’t know before?  Are you more likely now to discuss menopause more openly personally or professionally? Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy’s website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.  

The next time you’re shopping the aisles of your local pharmacy or supermarket you might just notice the price difference between products marketed towards women vs. men, if so, you are seeing the “pink tax” in action.  Today’s guest, Janine Rogan, a keynote and TEDx speaker, author, entrepreneur, and founder of The Wealth Building Academy Inc. is on a mission to close the wage gap.  In our conversation with Janine, we discuss the “Pink Tax” as well as the overall wage gap in society today; some ways to start the important step of wealth building; and how employers and administrators can work towards closing this gap.  Guest’s Website: The Wealth Building Academy, Inc. | Financial Equality Educator Guest Mentions:  Wealth Building Checklist  TALK BIG QUESTIONS Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life. Had you heard of the “pink tax” and its concept prior to this episode? Did this episode upset you, motivate you, or a bit of both?        What are some ways you or a loved one have in the past experienced the “pink tax” effect?  Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy’s website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.  

In 2025, the landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work is rapidly evolving and facing well documented challenges, but these challenges also offer new opportunities and growth. Today’s guest, Elena Joy Thurston, an HR consultant, discusses the evolution and challenges facing DEI; shares her personal journey of deconstructing internalized biases and how that informs her approach; and she closes out this insightful conversation by highlighting the important work that needs to be done moving forward. Throughout the conversation, Elena emphasizes the need to move away from an "us vs. them" mentality and instead focus on universal themes that bring people together. Guest’s Website: latitude Guest Mentions:  Joyful Office Hours - Zoom Burnout Prevention Starter Kit — latitude Dr. Russell A. Barkley - Dedicated to Education and Research on ADHD Taking Charge of Adult ADHD a book by Russell A Barkley PhD Abpp Abcn and Christine M Benton - Bookshop.org US Attention-Deficit Neuropsychology (ADHD) Part 1 with Dr. Russell Barkley — alie ward TALK BIG QUESTIONS Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life. What was your definition or understanding of DEI prior to this episode?  Has it changed? Have you felt burnout personally or professionally?      Prior to this episode were you aware of the nuances of the Gen Z professional? Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy’s website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.

A chance invitation to present at a Women in Leadership Conference on the topic of “Career’ Pivots” led today’s guest to found a network dedicated to empowering tomorrow’s leaders to take control of their own professional growth and success. Gemma Toner, a media and telecommunications leader and the founder and CEO of Tone Network speaks to us on the topic of Rethinking Professional Development and how employees and employers can benefit from a focus on professional development. Guest’s Website:  Tone Networks Guest Mentions:   Daring Greatly - Brené Brown TALK BIG QUESTIONS Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life. Has your employer offered you professional development opportunities? Does the type of professional development described in this episode sound like something you would participate in?    What are some specific skills you’d be interested in strengthening in your own professional development? Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy’s website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.  

In the latest installment of Coaches Corner, guest coach Shabnam Golmohammadi, a Silicon Valley career and leadership coach, workshop facilitator, and speaker, sits down with Danielle for a discussion on the topic of how women view the workplace. Guest’s Website: Shabnam Golmohammadi Website   Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.

As human beings most of us tend to be adverse to risk – as a matter of self preservation.  However, today’s guest argues that having the audacity or trying something new, to take bold risks, when it comes to goals, can be more than worth the risk.  Anne Marie Anderson, three-time Emmy Award winning broadcaster, keynote speaker and author of the new book, Cultivating Audacity: Dismantle Doubt and Let Yourself Win, sits down with us for a conversation, which includes the four common barriers that keep people from taking a risk, how it’s important to have people who encourage you to act boldly in your network, and the importance of having a support mindset. Guest’s Website & Book:  Home - Anne Marie Anderson Book - Anne Marie Anderson   TALK BIG QUESTIONS Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life. Who’s in your front row?  Whose front row are you in?   Have you faced any of the four barriers (fear, time, money, and your inner critic), to taking a risk, in your life? How would you have defined the word audacity prior to this episode?  Has your definition of the word changed, why or why not? Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy’s website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.    

The majority of speaking that you do at work is not in scripted presentations, it’s in conversation-style speaking during meetings. Even when you are giving a presentation, it’s not an uninterrupted monologue, it's a conversation.  This means you need to be good at extemporaneous speaking. That's where frameworks can help. A framework is an outline of process for what to say that you can apply in multiple situation. In this episode, Kristy covers her top 3 frameworks to make work conversations easier.      ************* Kristy helps mid-level corporate professionals to improve communication skills to make work easier, more effective and more fun. Work with Kristy   Follow Kristy on Instagram @ko.communication