98. Advocating for DEI

What Rules!?: A career podcast for women of color

We’ve got a lot to say after LeanIn and McKinsey & Company's recent Women in the Workplace 2024: The 10th Anniversary Report.

HR executive Dr. Merary Simeon and career coach Courtney Copelin reflect on the ongoing challenges faced by multicultural women and argue the continued need for systemic change.

We get candid about the barriers to advocacy and provide a variety of ways multicultural women can take action because if we, as a community, do not advocate for ourselves, we can’t expect others to do so.

“If we don’t care, then who will?” says Dr. Merary.

Episode Highlights:

• Shocking news for gender diversity

• Why multicultural women need to advocate for DEI

• The power of multicultural women despite underrepresentation

• What’s holding us back

• Feedback as advocacy

• Small steps for big change

Mentioned in this Episode:

“LeanIn Says DEI Commitments to Women Just Declined for the First Time in 10 Years” by USA Today, 9/7/24

“Largest Report on Women in Corporate America Reveals Women’s Progress Is Fragile and Unsustainable” by LeanIn and McKinsey & Company, 9/17/24

Women in the Workplace 2024: The 10th Anniversary Report by LeanIn and McKinsey & Co,

Ep 72: How Managers Can Fix the Broken Rung

Ep 74: How Employees Can Fix the Broken Rung

Ep 76: How Organizations Can Fix the Broken Rung

Ep 84: How to Find Mentors & Sponsors

Ep 97: Harnessing Feedback for Growth

Merary’s Bio:

Dr. Merary Simeon, a seasoned Human Resources executive, brings 25 years of experience as a trusted advisor to C-suite executives in Fortune 50 corporations. Dr. Merary has a doctorate in Strategic Leadership. She is a best-selling author and co-host of the What Rules!? podcast. As co-CEO of Zera Consulting, she passionately advocates for the advancement of multicultural women in the workplace. Dr. Merary is from Puerto Rico and is fluent in Spanish.

Courtney’s Bio:

As an Accountability and Mindset Coach, Courtney is committed to helping her clients achieve their career goals to gain clarity, confidence, and alignment in their job search. With a passion for coaching and a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in today's competitive job market, Courtney works closely with clients to provide guidance, support, and actionable strategies that drive results to level up their career.

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More from Dr. Merary Simeon: Instagram and LinkedIn

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