Q & awiThadeiParTner : dawnSiler-nixon
Diversity , Equity & Inclusion Committee Chairs : AlexisDionDeveaux — Gunster & AntinaMobley – PublicDefender ’ sOffice , 13thCircuit
Commitmenttodiversity , equityandinclusionismore thanjustdevelopinga policy , creatingacommittee , orhiringadeiprofessional .
Diversity . Equity . Inclusion . Have you ever thought about what these words mean at your firm or office ? Are they part of your firm ’ s core values ? If so , how does that manifest in day-to-day life ? Some offices have a designated position relating to diversity , equity and inclusion ( DEI ). I recently had the opportunity to speak with Dawn Siler-Nixon , DEI Partner at FordHarrison , LLP . Dawn has over two decades of employment law experience , and in her career , she has counseled employers on a variety of hotbutton issues and new laws . She is also a Certified Diversity Executive , and as the Firm ’ s DEI Partner , she is responsible for the oversight and implementation of the Firm ’ s Diversity Strategic Plan . She shared valuable insight into her role , and DEI initiatives in general .
Alex Srsic ( HCBA Standing DEI Committee ): Thank you so much for speaking with me . I am eager to hear your thoughts on the subject of DEI in the workplace . For starters , what does it mean for a firm or office to have a commitment to diversity ? How does an office demonstrate that commitment ?
Dawn Siler-Nixon ( FordHarrison , LLP DEI Partner ): A commitment to Diversity , Equity and Inclusion is more than just developing a policy , creating a committee , or hiring a DEI professional . To show a genuine commitment to DEI , a firm or office must acknowledge that we are all different and that we have biases that impact our decisions and how we interact and respond to others and to situations . We must also be open to considering and validating different viewpoints and learning from one another . Finally , we must being willing to have difficult conversations and admit that our way might not be the only way and our path may not work for others . We really need to be open to change , sharing our feelings and attitudes and exploring ourselves , our history , and the path that brought us to where we are today .
Alex : How do you see yourself fitting in to that commitment in your current role as Diversity , Equity & Inclusion Partner ?
Dawn : I see myself as a catalyst for change . I try to ensure that I am assisting others to understand what I view as the key to a diverse workforce — Inclusion . I look at
Diversity as the “ What ?,” Equity as the “ Why ?,” and Inclusion as the “ How ?”. Our goal is to achieve diversity to enable us to have an equitable workplace . The way that we get there is to create an inclusive culture where everyone feels that they belong , that they are a valuable part of the organization , and that their input , output , and work product matter . When we create that type of environment ( through implementation of policies , employee resource groups , minority initiatives , targeted recruitment efforts , etc .), it will create loyalty , heighten productivity / profitability , and generate better results for our clients . It will also reduce absences and attrition .
Alex : How do you advocate for DEI with colleagues who do not understand its importance ?
Dawn : I try to meet people where they are and identify parts of their culture that make them diverse . We are all diverse in some manner , but when most people think of diversity , they think of physical characteristics that we can visually observe ( race , gender , age , etc .). Diversity is much more than
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Join the Diversity , Equity & Inclusion Committee at hillsbar . com .
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