Joining “Smart Rooms” to Understand Inclusive Workplace Signals for DEI

When I begin teaching a new marketing course, I tell my students,” The smartest person in the room IS THE ROOM.” Why do I say this? I want students to become a problem-solving community. We each bring something to the table. I want them to know it’s a shared responsibility to help — not just themselves — but others become better versions of themselves as we learn together in the course. This instructional touchstone statement, “The smartest person in the room is the room,” fits into the discussion of a tough topic for many classrooms, Diversity Equity and Inclusion in today’s business workplace. 

Today, we prepare the next generation of marketers who must expand their understanding of the concept, practices, and tools for DEI in the workplace. They cannot wait for on-the-job training. As an instructor of the most diverse generation ever, Gen Z, I have a responsibility to know as much as I can about the workplace of today and the discussions featuring DEI in the real world as well as academic tools and strategies. Along with theory, it matters today that our students understand how DEI is practiced in the workplace. How best to do this?

Take the risk and educate yourself through a DEI community

To educate myself, I had to find a smart room focused on DEI. Losing my feelings of uncertainty around this important topic, I faced the discomfort of talking about it. But where to go for a trusted perspective? I needed to get smart quickly and sought communities of authentic professionals. I’m pleased to share that I’ve succeeded in that search. I’ve found two virtual communities. After reading this article, you can join me there! These communities are high-quality rooms. They are places for instructors to experience understanding and empathy while engaging with those who have secured leadership positions as managers of inclusion. By joining these rooms, following the conversations, and connecting with others, we can be better prepared to help our students move into an inclusive workplace. In virtual rooms, professionals from both small and large businesses have helped me become a better version of myself as an instructor as I grow my understanding of the robust world of DEI. 

Two great rooms to join for DEI Conversations

I’m a work in progress, and I’ve miss-stepped along the way. Recently, a student helped me understand where I might have been more aware of how I engaged with her in one of my classes. This proves that the smartest person in the room is the room. It also shows that learning never ends. DEI means evolution. Each time I sign into a room, I benefit. Hearing powerful guests. Watching and engaging in the chat. I learn new resources just by jumping into “smart DEI zoom rooms”. 

One room I can recommend is led by author, speaker, and consultant in DEI, Jennifer Brown. Her meeting occurs every Thursday at noon EST from NYC. The second room I recommend is a room hosted by the New York City-based Cultural Communications Agency, Sparks & Honey. The conversations attract a global audience and are held Tuesday through Thursday at noon EST. The sessions feature topics from across cultures and can be accessed on LinkedIn, in real-time or archived, and on Spotify. 

Why join Jennifer Brown Consulting’s DEI smart room? 

For 14 years, Jennifer Brown has built her reputation as an authentic leader in the Diversity Equity & Inclusion space. She is a world-renowned speaker, author, and consultant. Her weekly meeting often engages 200 or more participants around current topics. Reading the descriptions in the chat of who is in the room each week is thrilling! Her recent guests included the heads DEI strategy for Unilever and Groupon. Talk about a smart room. The community calls are free and open to anyone once you join. At this link, participants can register to receive information regarding speakers scheduled on this community call. You can also check out their Advocacy in Action series, which is a free monthly training series with the Vice President and Principal Consultant Adrienne Lawrence on a variety of topics. You can always access the replays on the website as well. According to Jennifer, “The demand for equity and transparency is growing louder by the day. We’re at a point in history in which people are finding their voices and using them to apply pressure on those organizations and leaders who are lagging behind social and demographic changes. There really is no room for complacency.” 

Why join Sparks & Honey’s DEI smart room?

Respected advertising industry leader Terry Young founded the ten-year-old agency that features a weekly virtual power room where you can observe discussions of how SIGNALS of Time: What’s happening now” and SIGNALS of Space: What’s happening on a larger scale in the future impact decisions. On a call, you will meet S&H’s Senior Culture & Innovation Researcher, Alice Li, who welcomes you to join. “It is critical for educators to arm students with diverse cultural resources and the skills necessary to identify signals. This enables the next generation to future-proof their choices and becomes responsible and reflective members of society as they start making meaningful contributions to the world.” This agency has an expansive client list that benefits from S&H’s broad reach across topics that matter to brands and companies. S&H boasts a board of the most highly regarded industry leaders in business who discuss various topics that influence a broad band of conversations, including DEI. Track and register for briefings by following “Culture Briefing” as you visit the website www.sparksandhoney.com. After registering for a meeting, explore this site, where you will have access to free “Intelligence Reports” to inform your teaching. This unique agency uses humans and a powerful AI force called “Q“ to give up-to-the-minute signals, as well as a look into future conversations around inclusive topics. Attending any of their Culture Briefings during the week will get you into one of the smartest rooms in New York City without leaving your office.

From Theory to Practice 

I prepare my students for cross-cultural marketing strategies and share respected work like Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions. However, I add the perspective of workplace culture in the now and in the future to give students the heart for the hard work of participating in—and one day leading—an inclusive community. Then I stand back and let my diverse students raise their level of understanding in my own classroom. My “smart room theory” keeps me current with the evolving landscape of DEI, a world that matters so much today for business educators and their students. Understanding DEI is now much easier and more meaningful than a textbook for my diverse students. Add either of these virtual rooms to your DEI research and raise your awareness of today’s signals. You won’t be disappointed. 

Author Bio: Trish Rubin is an instructor, consultant, education writer, and speaker. She teaches marketing at Baruch College in New York and at IESEG School of Management, Sup de Pub, EDC School of Management, and Groupe IAM Dakar in Paris. Rubin has co-authored several books, including BrandED: Tell Your Story, Build Relationships Empower Learning, and ConnectED Leaders. She is a consultant for businesses, government agencies, not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions around communication needs and training for internal and external communication, and she hosts the podcast "Blur & Blend Marketing.”

This article originally appeared in the September 2022 issue of Perspectives (Page 29).