Jennifer McClure`

Helping Leaders Leverage Influence & Create Maximum Impact.

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Written by Jennifer McClure

The Best Articles & Resources for Leaders Transforming the Future of Work: August 2023

Each week, I send a brief email newsletter to leaders seeking to disrupt and transform the future of work.

In this weekly letter, I share my learnings and experiences from over 3 decades of work as a human resources leader, executive coach, and entrepreneur, along with tools, tips and resources that are personally curated to help leaders establish credibility, communicate confidently, and lead with impact.

If you’d like to receive the weekly Impact Makers email newsletter, you can subscribe HERE.

Following are a few of the best resources that I created, read, reviewed, and shared in the month of August 2023.

HIGH-IMPACT LEADERSHIP:

Great leaders promote a culture of curiosity – they lead with questions, not answers.

✏️ The 50 Most Powerful Questions Smart Leaders Can Ask by Gustavo Razzetti

PERSONAL BRANDING / THOUGHT LEADERSHIP:

Can you answer the question “What do you do?” in one sentence that makes someone want to know more?

✏️ How to Simplify the Way You Talk About Your Work (No Jargon Allowed) by Lee Price

I enjoyed this discussion on how to use writing to connect with your audience and communicate who you are as a thought leader.

🎧 Steal the Show podcast — How to Use Writing as a Thought Leader with Michael Port and Queena B.

PRESENTATIONS & PUBLIC SPEAKING:

To succeed as a professional speaker, you need a plan.

On this podcast, Dan Irvin shares his 4-step prospecting and contact strategy, and the systems he’s developed that have turned his speaking business into a well-oiled machine generating over 6-figures a year.

🎧 The Speaker Lab Podcast: The 6 Step System to Book More Paid Speaking Gigs with Dan Irvin, M.A.Ed/Adult Education and Training

In this podcast, popular keynote speaker and New York Times best-selling author Jon Acuff shares his 15-year speaking journey, and the lessons he wishes he had known when he first started.

🎧 Speak Like a Pro: A Crash Course in Public Speaking

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING:

On August 1, 2023, Living Corporate, a media network focused on centering and amplifying Black and brown voices at work launched the Living Corporate Collective, an invite-only virtual space that will empower, educate, and elevate all of its members by facilitating monthly private webinars and sharing resources on the landscape of DEI and HR.

🎟 I’m in! Join me.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (one of the largest philanthropic Foundations in the US) created this toolkit to share their experiences, lessons and recommended tools and resources for implementing racial equity strategies as part of an HR function.

🗄 HR Toolkit for Racial Equity

HUMAN RESOURCES / PEOPLE & CULTURE:

Jennifer Kim’s focus is on teaching startups how to hire + grow, and in this post, she shares 3 lines of questioning to help founders or c-suite leaders filter out mediocre and incompetent people leaders from the applicant pool for Head of People jobs.

✏️ 3 interview questions to sniff out Heads of People who can’t deliver by Jennifer Kim

Employee engagement levels reached a record high in 2022, but it’s also the second year in a row where worker stress reached record levels as well.

🗄 Globally, Employees Are More Engaged — and More Stressed via Gallup

Lots of interesting insights in this report, including the significance of pay and compensation to today’s workforce, the importance and impact of flexibility, an increased desire for caring workplace cultures, and the effects of uncertainty about the future.

🗄 People at Work 2023: A Global Workforce View via ADP Research

New research highlights three key times when bringing employees and teams together in person creates lasting connection.

✏️ In the Changing Role of the Office, It’s All about Moments That Matter via Microsoft WorkLab

The big brains and researchers at The RBL Group believe that HR functional effectiveness is about creating value for all stakeholders. Through extensive research and practice, they’ve identified 10 dimensions to create value-based HR, ensuring that HR is not about HR, but about creating value.

✏️ What Makes an Effective HR Function? via The RBL Group

RECRUITING & TALENT ACQUISITION:

Fifty-seven percent of job seekers are already using social media as part of their job search.

I was interviewed to share some tips – as well as key mistakes to avoid – in this article on Dice.com.

✏️ How to Use Social Media to Land a Job in Tech

BOOK OF THE MONTH:

One of the books I recommend to anyone interested in pursuing professional speaking is The Wealthy Speaker. The book covers in detail how to set yourself up for success as a professional speaker, including mindset, positioning, marketing, fees, creating an epic speech, and more.

A third and updated edition was released earlier this year. I’ve read all three, and always appreciate the refresher, as well as the new topics addressed, because the world (and the business of speaking) is ever-changing.

📕 The Wealthy Speaker 3.0: Your Recipe for Building the Speaking Business of Your Dreams by Jane Atkinson

FROM MY POINT OF VIEW:

Recently, I joined Bill Banham on the HRchat podcast to discuss all things DisruptHR LLC.

We spoke about the unanticipated wild ride that DisruptHR has been on over the last 10 years, and how it continues to grow expand around the world. I also highlight some standout events, some of my favorite DisruptHR Talks, and who my dream speaker would be. (You’ll never guess.😉)

🎧 A Decade of Disrupting HR: HRchat Episode 614 with Jennifer McClure

What the heck is a “balcony person”? And why would you want to be one?

As a leader, one of the most meaningful ways that you can make an impact in the lives of those that you lead and serve is to be a balcony person for them.

✏️ How to Lead with Impact: 4 Key Traits of Mentors Who Make a Difference

Are you a lifelong learner? If you want to be a successful leader, the answer has to be yes.

How do you create a customized leadership development plan that will help you become the best leader you can be?

✏️ 6 Resources to Create a Leadership Development Plan to Fuel Continuous Personal Growth and Career Success

In the ever-evolving future of work, it’s more important than ever to hire exceptional talent.

But beyond qualifications and experience, how can you discern if a candidate is truly exceptional?

✏️ Hiring for Success: An Interviewer’s Guide to Identifying Job Fit and Future Potential

When I’m given the opportunity to speak to an audience – whether from a stage, in front of a camera in my home office, or in a corporate conference room, it’s important to remember that being a “good” or “great” speaker isn’t about just sharing; it’s about resonating. And while every performance may not be a home run, there are certain missteps that I (and you) should avoid.

✏️ How to Deliver a Killer Presentation: Avoid These 5 Common Mistakes

You don’t have to be a famous celebrity or invent something that changes how millions of people engage with the world in order to make a difference. Every act of kindness, every word of encouragement, and every moment of connection has a ripple effect that impacts the people you come across every day.

✏️ You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Lead With Impact: 5 Ways to Make a Difference

THE IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST:

Want to discover innovative strategies to attract top talent, enhance HR processes, and redefine employee engagement in the future of work? I’ve got ideas you…

🎧 Transformative HR Leadership: Embracing Disruption and Shaping the Future of Work with Jennifer McClure and Shari Simpson, SHRM-SCP, MBA, MHRM

Khalilah “KO” Olokunola shares her personal story from the streets, to prison, to a job as the Chief People Officer of a for profit organization with the social mission to unite gang rivals and decrease violence, and now to boardrooms and training rooms around the world equipping leaders to create more impact.

🎧 From the Block to the Boardroom: Impact Architect Khalilah Olokunola Breaks Boundaries in HR

Zachary Nunn – CEO of Living Corporate – shares how he transformed his frustration with performative corporate DE&I efforts into a multimedia diversity, equity, and inclusion network that centers and amplifies Black and brown professionals in the workplace through narrative storytelling.

🎧 Amplifying Black and Brown Voices in the Workplace With Zachary Nunn, Founder of Living Corporate

Noah Warder – Head of People at Guusto shares about building people-centric cultures that provide purpose, well-being, and opportunities for all.

We also discuss the value of simplifying HR, quantifying ROI for people strategies, the importance of trust and transparency in fostering a strong company culture, and leveraging conflict for optimal results.

🎧 Creating People-First Cultures Through Transparency, Trust, and Transformative HR With Noah Warder

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion practitioner, speaker, and podcast host Shahzia Noorally, M.Ed (she/her) discusses challenges and biases that persist in traditional leadership models. We also explore the concept of sponsorship versus mentorship, which can create a space for authentic expression, and amplify not just talent, but also the voices that often go unheard.

🎧 Challenging Traditional HR Paradigms to Create More Inclusive and Equitable Workplaces With Shahzia Noorally

FIND ME AT UPCOMING SPEAKING EVENTS & CONFERENCES:

Fall conference season is gearing up, and I’ll be speaking at the following events. I would love to connect IRL if you’ll be there too!

9/20/2023 – Edmonton, AB: Jobber Choose Your Impact Day

Superhero Leadership: Accept the Challenge, Push Past Uncertainty & Embrace the New World of Work

9/27/2023 – Dallas, TX: Federal Reserve Bank Minorities in Banking Forum

Defining and Communicating Your Personal Brand to Help Your Career and Your Organization Grow

10/3/2023 – New York, NY: LinkedIn Talent Connect

Transforming Your HR Team to Deliver Maximum Impact in Today’s Competitive Environment

10/26/23 – Broadview Heights, OH: Northeast Ohio SHRM

I’ll be discussing The Future of HR, along with John Bernatovicz, Tim Sackett, SPHR, SCP, George Sample, MBA, SPHR, and Lauren Rudman, SHRM-SCP, SPHR

 

Categories: Blog, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Future of Work, Human Resources, Leadership, Personal Branding, Recruiting
Posted on September 12, 2023

Written by Jennifer McClure

Challenging Traditional HR Paradigms to Create More Inclusive and Equitable Workplaces With Shahzia Noorally

On episode 89 of the Impact Makers podcast, I chat with Shahzia Noorally, a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion practitioner, Speaker, and podcast host.

With her dynamic voice, Shahzia is changing the narrative around workplace authority and equity. In our enlightening conversation, she shares her inspiring journey from a place of isolation in her first leadership role, to becoming a passionate advocate for equity within the utilities industry and beyond. Her unique insights are shaped by her experiences as a woman of color, a child of immigrants, and an HR practitioner.

Our conversation takes us through the challenges and biases that persist in traditional leadership and mentorship models, and we also explore the concept of sponsorship, which can create a space for authentic expression, amplifying not just talent but also the voices that often go unheard.

I first met Shahzia when we were both speaking at a DisruptHR Calgary event back in 2019 and have been following her and her work since that time. I find her to be insightful and purposeful, and I really appreciate how she approaches equitable work and workplaces through a lens of possibilities rather than challenges, and a purpose that is rooted in influencing a more just-world.

Outside of her work, Shahzia hosts The Equity Gap podcast, and she leans into community, anchoring her energy towards amplifying Black, Indigenous and women of color to show up in the world, and take up all the space that they desire and deserve.

I think you’ll enjoy learning from Shahzia in our conversation, and I encourage you to share this podcast with others in your network who may benefit from rethinking some of our traditional approaches to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace.

Topics Discussed In Today’s Episode:

  • The challenges of relying solely on the concept of “diversity of thought” and why demographic representation is vital.
  • Why current leadership models need rethinking to encourage individual authenticity instead of molding individuals to fit pre-existing molds.
  • How sponsorship stands apart from traditional mentorship and can be more helpful in addressing systemic barriers faced especially by BIPOC.
  • Why modern workplaces must adapt to become inclusive, ensuring everyone has equal access to influence, and challenging traditional white male-centric leadership models.
  • The broader implications related to equity that extend well beyond equal pay.
  • The importance of optimism in addressing diversity and inclusion challenges with an open mind and proactive attitude.
  • Why a paradigm shift from a one-size-fits-all approach in HR practices to one that centers the experiences of the most marginalized employees is necessary, and how that can lead to broader benefits for all.

LISTEN TO IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 89

Listen on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts or Spotify

People & Resources Mentioned In This episode:

Shahzia Noorally – LinkedIn, Website, Instagram

The Equity Gap podcast – On Apple Podcasts, LinkedIn, Instagram

HR, We Have A Problem | Susy Ko & Shahzia Noorally | DisruptHR Talks

Do You Know the Reference Man? | Shahzia Noorally | DisruptHR Talks

Rethinking podcast with Adam Grant: Finding–and becoming–great mentors and sponsors with Carla Harris

The Equity Gap podcast: From saviorism to solidarity in the workplace – a conversation with Dr. Golnaz Golnaraghi – Changemaker, Speaker, Author & Founder of Accelerate her Future

Accelerate Her Future

Categories: Blog, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Podcast
Posted on August 29, 2023

Written by Jennifer McClure

Creating People-First Cultures Through Transparency, Trust, and Transformative HR With Noah Warder

Get ready to reshape your HR practices with my guest on episode 88 of the Impact Makers podcast – Noah Warder!

Noah has been leading people teams across Canada and the US for over 10 years, and now leads the People Team at Guusto, a company that provides a recognition and rewards platform focused on both front-line and office employees. In this role, he gets to marry his passion for building a people-first culture that focuses on creating purpose, opportunity, and well-being for every member of Guusto team.

He’s also the Principal Consultant and Founder of PeopleOps Consulting, where he helps early-stage Founders to build people-first cultures in rapidly growing organizations, and he brings a fresh perspective to the role HR should play in advocating for a culture that stimulates open dialogue and forethought.

In our conversation on the podcast, Noah shares his thoughts on how to balance daily tasks and strategic initiatives while also debunking the misconception that effective people practices need to be intricate or costly. We also chat about the vital role of diverse leadership teams in recruiting a diverse workforce, and the significance of tying DE&I strategies to business objectives.

Finally, Noah share his views on trust-building within HR, and his strategies for providing constructive feedback, including the challenge of communicating with those skeptical of HR.  He firmly believes that transparency in leadership leads to more openness and clear communication that can empower employees and foster greater engagement.

I think that you’ll enjoy our conversation, and will leave it with some actionable takeaways to create, or further build a people-first approach in your own workplace.

Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:

  • Why HR leaders should get more comfortable with starting small, making mistakes, and avoiding perfectionism.
  • Strategies for prioritizing people initiatives when HR leaders have so much on their plates.
  • How to approach making a business case for important people strategies when the ROI is hard to quantify.
  • The importance of building influence and trust as a people leader, in order to get things done.
  • Why it’s important – and healthy – to embrace conflict in order to reach better outcomes.
  • Why transparency is so important for company culture and trust in organizations.
  • The importance of being intentional about adding diverse voices and perspectives to the people you listen to, follow and learn from.
  • Suggested communities and resources for people leaders to share ideas and best practices, and gain support from others facing similar challenges.

LISTEN TO IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 88

Listen on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts or Spotify

People & Resources Mentioned in This episode:

Noah Warder – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahwarder/

Noah Warder – Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoahWarder

PeopleOps Consulting – https://www.peopleopsconsulting.com/

Guusto – https://guusto.com/

Lars Schmidt – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsschmidt

Amplify Academy – https://amplifytalent.com/academy

ChartHop People Ops Community – https://www.charthop.com/the-people-ops-community/

The People People Group – https://thepeoplepeoplegroup.com/

Categories: Blog, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Human Resources, Leadership, Podcast
Posted on August 21, 2023

Written by Jennifer McClure

Amplifying Black and Brown Voices in the Workplace with Zachary Nunn, Founder of Living Corporate

Have you ever found yourself frustrated with corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives?

I know that I certainly have, and that’s why I invited Zachary Nunn to join me for a conversation on the Impact Makers podcast. Zach is the Founder and CEO of Living Corporate, – a diversity, equity, and inclusion digital media network that centers and amplifies black and brown professionals in the workplace through narrative storytelling. He’s has been on quite the journey – from starting his career as an HR Manager at Target to launching Living Corporate as a side project, and following the tremendous growth and reach of the media company that has blossomed from those efforts, to making that his full-time job.

I’ve long been a fan of the content that Zach and his team have created over the last five years, and as an entrepreneur, I’ve also been fascinated by how something that began as an idea became a single podcast – then a vibrant network of podcasts, web shows, blogs, and more – all while Zach was working full-time in leadership roles in HR, change management, DE&I, and strategy and growth for several large organizations.

I’d like to invite you to listen in as we explore the significance of authentic conversations and the impact that they can have in creating a more inclusive workplace. Zach will also reveal the exciting new plans for his future, which include making Living Corporate his ONE job – instead of a second job. He shares about developing a learning platform using AI technology, providing organizational assessments, and launching the Living Corporate Collective – an online space for those who are passionate about workplace fairness to collaborate for systemic change.

Get ready to be inspired, challenged, and motivated to take action. Whether you’re a people leader, a diversity advocate, or an aspirational ally, this episode will leave you better informed to make a positive impact in your own community by creating spaces where all voices are valued and can be shared and heard.

Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:

  • Zack Nunn’s journey from HR management to tech entrepreneur
  • Introduction to Living Corporate and its mission
  • The significance of amplifying marginalized voices in the workplace
  • Navigating the challenges of being an aspirational ally
  • Launching a learning platform with an AI engine for custom content playlists
  • Offering organizational assessments with interactive dashboards and recommendations
  • Introducing the Living Corporate Collective for HR leaders, executives, and DEI professionals

LISTEN TO IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 87

Listen on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts or Spotify

People & Resources Mentioned in This episode:

Zachary Nunn – LinkedIn, Twitter

Living Corporate website

Living Corporate podcasts

Join the Living Corporate Collective

Categories: Blog, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Entrepreneurship
Posted on August 11, 2023

Written by Jennifer McClure

The Value of Taking a Strategic Approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion With Jennifer Ingram

photo of Jennifer Ingram

My guest on Episode 51 of the Impact Makers podcast is Jennifer Ingram.

Jennifer is the Founder and CEO of Calibrated Lens LLC,where she specializes in helping organizations to enhance their performance, productivity, and brand presence by centering equity and inclusion.

Jennifer has previously served as the first Vice President of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, which is the sixth largest United Way in the nation, and has also led DE&I  strategies at two nationally ranked academic medical centers – The Mayo Clinic and Henry Ford Health System.

She’s passionate about her work, and describes herself as an Equity & Inclusion Evangelist.

I think you’ll learn a lot from the fresh perspectives she shares in this episode.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:​​

  • What Jennifer learned by being a member of a Diversity and Inclusion committee back in elementary school, and how those experiences still impact her today.
  • How diversity should be an outcome of our work, instead of the driver of it.
  • Why the head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion should be a member of the executive team, reporting into the CEO.
  • The importance of clarifying how diversity programs have changed as a result of introducing equity into the equation.
  • What does equity look like from a strategic perspective?
  • Where many organizations miss the mark when trying to improve their diversity recruiting efforts.
  • Creative approaches to establishing equity programs in your organization.
  • How we’ve created a false sense of inclusion within organizations, and perpetuated that with diversity and inclusion programs.
  • Is it possible for a white person to be the head of diversity and inclusion?
  • Thoughts on incentivizing DE&I efforts for leaders of organizations.

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 51

(Email subscribers – click HERE to listen to the podcast.)

Key Quotes From This Episode:

“If you have a head of D&I that is not a member of the executive team, you’re missing the mark. Not to say that you can’t do good work, but it  won’t be as deeply impactful at achieving some of those desired outcomes as it could be.” ~ Jennifer Ingram

“What does equity look like from a strategic perspective? Diversity is happening, inclusion in intentional, equity is deliberate. It’s taking a deliberate look at your systems and understanding where you may be producing disparity.” ~ Jennifer Ingram

“Equity work is deliberate. It won’t just happen.” ~ Jennifer Ingram

“Folks love to say that diverse teams outperform more homogeneous teams. That’s not true. Well-managed diverse teams outperform teams that lack diversity.” ~ Jennifer Ingram

“Oftentimes we confuse the goal of reaching this kumbaya state, it’s not. The desire is not always to change everyone’s beliefs. That’s not success. It’s teaching how to be mutually respectful of differences and understanding and seeing and valuing those differences in others, and understanding that those are the things that make us better – not everyone singing from the same hymn book of sorts.” ~ Jennifer Ingram

People & Resources Mentioned In This episode:

Calibrated Lens LLC

Jennifer Ingram LinkedIn

Navigating Uncertainty and Unrest in 2020 by Jennifer Ingram

RESOURCE GUIDE: Exploring Differences, Reducing Harm, Evolving Strategies

Mishawn Styles

Connect with Jennifer:

Send her a message [https://jennifermcclure.net/contact/]

On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcclure

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferMcClure

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_mcclure/

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferMcClureSpeaker

Categories: Blog, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Podcast
Posted on November 19, 2020

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Recent Posts

  • How AI Is Changing the Game for Thought Leaders and Content Creators With Laurie Ruettimann and Jennifer McClure
  • How to Create a Company Culture That Attracts and Retains Top Talent: 4 Essential Elements
  • My Best Career Advice to Position Yourself for the Job You Want [Replay]
  • 4 Steps to Building a Business Case That Will Get Your Proposals Approved
  • Create High-Impact Presentations and Build a Profitable Speaking Business With Jennifer McClure and Dr. Daniel Crosby [Replay]

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