I appreciate this wonderfully crafted thought piece Linda. The lack of awareness has always struck me as enabling especially in the corporate setting. As a minority employed for many years in this setting I get this sense of a singular view of diversity that is hierarchically unbalanced. It is that of a white male perspective that is defensive in its posturing more so than in the inherent value of equality. This sullies the diversity initiative.

Simply sprinkling a few people of color here and there, or placing women in traditionally male positions of power is not exactly diversity. It is only giving the appearance of diversity. Within storied organizations including the ones that I have been exposed to, the diversity chosen is seen an extension of the homogeny that has always been in place. Whenever I read about or hear about the ideas coming from the diverse few they seem to merely echo the status quo of that ill-conceived homogeneous bland. There is no authentic diversity of thought present anywhere in my opinion and simply presented my the empirical evidence you have eloquently provided.

This can be problematic because it inadvertently rationalizes the position itself as being filled only to give the appearance of inclusion. There is also the perception that this is a defense mechanism which tends to further defeat the purpose.

Furthermore, Scott Berkun, best selling author and popular speaker said it best about what a lack of authentic diversity portends.

“A bland homogeneous team of people has no real opinions, because it consists of people with same backgrounds, outlooks, and experiences who will only feel comfortable discussing the safe ideas that fit into those constraints.”

These constraints reifies the dominant narrative found in these so-called tips for success and ends up solidifying the imbalance we see in alll of our institutions.

And that is awareness.