To kickoff #Pride Month festivities, the #UnderArmour LGBTQIA Teammate Resource Group, UNIFIED, has curated a series of activities for members and allies to gather and celebrate as one community. Last week, our teammates heard from three inspiring LGBTQIA Under Armour collegiate athletes during a panel moderated by Unified leaders. This was followed by an evening of mingling, music, and shopping the ’24 Pride Collection at our Baltimore Brand House.
We were thrilled to gather as a community to uplift LGBTQIA teammate and athlete voices, and look forward to many more moments to come together throughout Pride Month and the rest of the year to support and celebrate our teammates.
Athletes and sportspeople are role models that show us what is possible within us.
When you don’t have role models who look, sound, or live like you – it sends the message that you, specifically, can’t.
That’s just one of the many reasons why diversity and inclusion in sport is so important.
Join us on the 11th of June for DIAL Global’s Sports Inclusivity Summit, and we can talk about the rest 💪 https://lnkd.in/eXe_kxZj
9️⃣2️⃣ Days to Go!
Last week, we shared the leadership role Pierre de Coubertin had in bringing the first edition of the modern Olympic Games to life, as well as his negative role in excluding women from the Games and professional sports. During the history of the Games, many inspiring women and allies have been fighting for gender equity in sports.
Allyson Felix is one of them. This American hero is simply the most decorated track and field athlete in the history of the Olympic Games. She won 11 medals – 7 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze. If reaching those heights was not enough of a leadership accomplishment, she has also helped to push important social issues forward.
In 2019, she wrote an op-ed for the New York Times exposing that her sponsor, Nike, was not guaranteeing salary protection for female athletes during the first months after pregnancy. The article strengthened previous claims from other athletes and led to a change in Nike’s maternal policy. She was also an open advocate against the inequitable maternity care of black women in the United States, which was triggered by the challenging experience of the premature birth of her daughter due to pre-eclampsia.
If Pierre de Coubertin helped to actualise the ancient version of the Games, women like Allyson Felix are helping to actualise its modern culture, so we can truly celebrate athletes going faster, higher, stronger – together.
#100DaysofSummer#LegacyGroupe#Sport#Leadership#OlympicGames
Change can be intimidating, but it's essential for growth and progress. Just ask Lori Waran the first female president of Richmond Raceway.
She believes that in order to stay the same, sometimes things must change.
Here's what we can learn from her perspective:
✅ Evolve to thrive: To ensure longevity, sports and industries must adapt and engage new audiences.
✅ Embrace inclusivity: Making everyone feel welcome is key to fostering a sense of belonging and expanding reach.
✅ Challenge norms: Break down barriers and stereotypes to create an environment where all individuals can participate and enjoy.
Let's apply these principles beyond the world of sports. How can we evolve and engage new audiences in our own industries? Share your thoughts and ideas below!
Watch the full interview at rvasbn.com!
#ChangeForGrowth#Inclusivity#EmbracingEvolution#RichmondRaceway#RVASmallBusinessShow
#collaboration#lgbtq There are so many lessons for leaders here. From collaboration to LGBTQ rights, to racial reconciliation, to creative thinking, and so much more, leaders in your organization may be outside your norms or unconventional from corporate world altogether. Our job as leaders is to find harmony, to lean into different ways of thinking or leadership, and include those differences into our decision making and leadership style. Teamwork, harmony, collaboration, inspiration….
Each time I happen to come across these 90 seconds, #intersectionality is what comes to mind.
- Serena Williams : woman of colour
- Ibtihaj Muhammad: woman of religiously targeted community
- Caster Semenya : woman of colour and gender diverse community
- Tatyana McFadden : woman of disability
[& many more]
This advertisement surely is a multi-dimensional representation of various social identities [choosing not to highlight what din't work for the brand ~ maybe for another post].
Relate it to the workplace :
- age gender
- gender economic standing
- gender identity nationality
- gender identity race
- age marital status
- gender marital status
- gender parental choice
[& plenty more]
Non-consideration of #intersectionalities is amongst the top reasons behind project & strategic objectives not being met.
Decision-making based simply on the experiences of different broadly categorized groups does not suffice. It is also about how individuals within the same group experience the workplace differently.
#DEI#intersectionality#inclusion#belonging#NIKE
Every four years, as we cheer for American athletes in the Olympics, we're reminded of the incredible diversity that is America's greatest strength.
In 2024, we saw the first all-Black gymnastics podium. A first-generation Mexican American from Florida won a medal in breaking. A powerful women's basketball team with a diversity of racial identities and sexual orientations won its 8th straight gold medal. LGBTQIA Americans won medals in at least seven sports. And we saw many more examples of unapologetically diverse excellence across a wide array of sports.
The Olympics are a moment when we spotlight this diversity and proudly point to it as a testament to what makes America exceptional. But the past few years have seen an attack on programs that seek to increase racial diversity and equity in other dimensions of American life. We celebrate diversity for 2 weeks, then tear it down for 4 years.
In every industry and facet of life, diverse perspectives drive innovation, creativity, and excellence. Racial, gender, and sexual diversity correlate to increased profitability (McKinsey 2015), greater innovation and creativity (BCG 2016), and stronger employee satisfaction and retention (Harvard Business Review 2018).
Let’s extend the Olympic spirit beyond the Games and make it a daily practice to celebrate and embrace the rich tapestry of talent and viewpoints that make our country great. Here’s to championing diversity not just on the podium but in all aspects of our lives.
#Diversity#Inclusion#Leadership#Olympics#CelebrateDiversity#DEI#StrengthInDiversity#DiversityMatters Post co-written with ChatGPT.
In today’s fast-paced environment, the ability to think strategically and lead transformative initiatives is crucial for staying competitive and achieving lasting impact.
I will challenge gender stereotypes, discrimination and bias!
I was raised singing songs like “What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice and all things nice” and whilst I actually loved it at the time, and it appeared harmless when my parents sang it to me - I realise now that it started at a very young age.
In fairness, my mother and father (and especially my father) championed me to succeed in sports - I was a sprinter, hockey and netball player and ultra competitive. They also encouraged me with my music, and found ways to demonstrate my talents. Even in his Father of the Bride speech, my Dad spoke about how strong I was, and that I was stronger than most men (but in the context of it being surprising, because I was a woman.) My Dad couldn’t help it, he was born in the 50’s and of a different generation, but my sisters and I would challenge him none the less. I would be out on the driveway lifting large rolls of carpet, packs of solid oak flooring (he was fitter by trade) up onto my shoulder, or lifting massive bags of salt into the house (for our water softener) and generally doing anything I could to impress him, and prove that #thisgirlcan - I was one of three girls!
Despite this, as was the way back then, I grew up imagining a CEO was a man, that a feminist, or anyone who left work early to collect their kids, or a nurse for example, were women.
Gender based stereotypes (and any stereotype) have no place in today’s society, but whilst we’ve come a long way since the Emiline Pankhurst days, we still see that person look at the woman at the table to take notes, fetch the tea’s or collect the guests etc.. amongst others.. including even the words people use to describe our behaviour, or emotions.
If you don’t remember this advert, you need to see it. I’m sharing now because I think it’s an amazingmy powerful demonstration of how even words are gender biased.
#inspireinclusion#iwd2024#internationalwomensweek#inclusion#speakout#speakoutforothers#womeninhistory#womeninbusiness#womeninsports#nike
Recently applied for a Lululemon Athletica international grant | We recently lodged an international grant through the Lululemon Athletica apparel company. It is an international scheme and not a small amount (USD 50,000), so our expectations are not high, but it only took us a day to work on the application. Actually, it was only a few hours, but Gary's broadband internet woes meant that he needed to fill out the form three times.
If successful, we will use the funds to pay honoraria to members of our Executive Team, sitting fees for members of our Board of Directors plus Advisory Board, as well as appearance fees for our webinar presenters and blog authors.
Too often, Australians with disability are expected to share their experience, insights, expertise and ideas for free, rather than being paid for their contribution. Most of the members of our team are working on a voluntary basis and not being paid. We aim to walk the talk, in terms of respect, justice and paying for their contribution (if only at a fraction of what is really worth).
We will keep you posted on how we go.
#Enabled_vip#disability#incubator#gigster#hobbyists#volunteer#ndisprovider
**PLAYPride: Celebrating Inclusion in Sports for LGBTQIA Communities and Allies**
The recent kickoff of PLAYPride Season 4 was a resounding success, showcasing the transformative power of inclusion in sports for LGBTQIA communities and their allies. This season promises to be the most engaging and cheerful yet, bringing together a growing number of participants eager to enjoy sports in a welcoming and supportive environment.
The importance of inclusion in sports for LGBTQIA communities cannot be overstated. For many, sports have historically been a source of exclusion and discrimination. PLAYPride is changing that narrative, providing a safe and welcoming space where LGBTQIA individuals can feel comfortable participating and celebrating their identities.
By bringing together all athletes, allies, and community members, PLAYPride creates a powerful force for change. It challenges stereotypes, promotes understanding, and builds bridges between different groups of people. Through sports, PLAYPride is fostering a more inclusive and equitable society for all.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a part of PLAYPride, and I'm inspired by the courage and resilience of my fellow participants. Together, we're making a difference in our community, and we're showing the world that sports are for everyone.
>Join us in celebrating inclusion in sports for LGBTQIA communities and their allies. Spread the word about PLAYPride, and let's continue to work towards a future where everyone has the opportunity to participate in sports and live their lives to the fullest.
#PLAYPride#InclusiveSports#RoanokeDiversityCenter#MakingSportsAccessible#BreakingDownBarriers#LGBTQIAInclusion
Exciting. Congrats Under Armour for this incredible type of experience. Working to #Unified genders in sports. Great job, guyz !