In the middle of COVID and post-COVID, we have to have a lens of racial and social equity. We have to recognize the gaps and imbalances that exist in our community, the misdistribution of resources, and how that has disproportionately impacted the places and spaces where Black and Brown communities live and struggle to thrive.
What we’ve seen certainly in 2020 is that there has been a need for us to really open the door to these courageous conversations and talk about some of the challenges that we’re all facing, and for managers and leaders to be more vulnerable and to listen more.
We’re really excited that we have been able to create an ecosystem of women working in sustainable fashion and becoming leaders in their community and in developing a sisterhood that they direct.
We need to be more explicit about understanding the systemic roots of these challenges and not just helping individual students beat the odds. Our work really needs to be about how do we contribute to changing the odds so that more students live in a city where their opportunities match their ambitions.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the response to it has shown people all over the world that dramatic change is possible – and it’s possible quickly.
In another five, ten years, the companies that survive and thrive and emerge from this crisis in a stronger position are ones that have purpose truly integrated within what they are doing.
You don’t have to have the leading voice on a social issue. Just being at the table and having your brand be present goes a long way.
Leaning heavily into the unique skill sets and interests of your employees, thinking about where that can be deployed and applied to have the greatest impact, and staying true to your core competencies and mission as a company is really important.
People still want to help. They want to be involved. The love for humanity shines through in this instance where people who are used to volunteering and those who are not want to be involved.
Companies have to be seeking out ways to give back or else they’re not going to be able to keep their talent.
