Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Nika White.
Hi Dr. White, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
“Leave no one behind” is more than just a phrase or affirmation I often reflect on. This organizing principle drives every aspect of my leadership in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) field and is embedded in the ways I show up personally and professionally to do this critical work.
As an award-winning leadership consultant, entrepreneur, Black woman, and devoted mother of a neurodivergent son and a strong activist daughter, DEI are much more than a career choice. On the one hand, it is my lived experience as a multi-generational minority within a dominant culture that systematically disadvantages people like me. On the other, it is within that same dominant system I became an educated, global expert because of college-focused parents and a commitment to generational wealth.
This unique perspective enables me to understand conditions within both dominant and nondominant cultures. I’ve inhabited both all of my life and can now tease out parts of the systems and entrenched beliefs that get us all knotted up, frayed, and disoriented inside and out. It is the act of fully unraveling the yarn—straightening and pulling taut the raw fibers that bind humanity in belongingness—that we remember we are intertwined. Interdependent. Only then, can we begin the true work of weaving a more equitable future.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Entrepreneurship is hard. It’s not just about knowing your craft and being a subject matter expert, it takes having strong business acumen. Passion will only take you so far. To sustain business success requires both will and skill.
Finding the right talent and building a strong healthy culture can be challenging for any organization. NWC has experienced this. The key is clarity in your vision, mission, and core values. I’ve learned the significance of over-communicating with empathy and compassion – there’s no denying that empathy and compassion are both vital. Any time we find ourselves in a period where there’s so much uncertainty, we need to over-communicate. We must ensure that leaders and messengers on behalf of the company are thoughtful and considerate. There’s value in those leaders demonstrating vulnerability and sharing how they’re navigating and being impacted by complex social issues. This allows others to know that they’re not alone, and that moments of uncertainty abound. You must ensure you have a voice of authenticity, transparency, and truth. Authentic updates will be helpful and comforting in these times of uncertainty. Organizational leaders should think through and ask these questions:
Which different groups will be impacted by this decision and how?
Is there a way to create more equitable divisions of the impact?
Am I communicating any changes or shifts in an empathic and inclusive way? The bottom line, keep asking strategic DEI questions at every point, and encourage other leaders to do the same.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Dr. Nika White is a national authority and fearless advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As an award-winning management and leadership consultant, keynote speaker, published author, and executive practitioner for DEI efforts across the business, government, non-profit, and education. She has presented over 200+ keynote speeches and presentations across the country on issues such as team engagement, organizational leadership, strategic diversity, a lens of equity, and intentional inclusion. Dr. White’s talks bring a mixture of expertise, passion, vision, and authentic style to create holistic takeaways for audiences. With over 20+ years of leadership, Dr. White helps organizations break barriers and integrate DEI into their business frameworks. Her work has led to her designation by Forbes as a Top 10 D&I Trailblazer.
The heart of Dr. White’s work addresses the ability to create transformative environments with intentionality around inclusion. She helps create professional spaces where people can collaborate through a lens of compassion, empathy, and understanding. Dr. White is the author of two books: “The Intentional Inclusions®” and “Next Level Inclusions: Transforming Your Work and Yourself for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Success” with a third book published by Forbes Books scheduled to release in September of 2022, entitled, Inclusion Uncomplicated: A Transformative Guide to Simplify DEI.
Colleagues and clients often call Dr. White the “inequity disruptor” –– and she’s known for treating DEI not as just a job responsibility, but as a vital leadership function.
Navigating an evolving business and organization environment requires strategic diversity an equity lens, and intentional inclusion. Nika White Consulting partners with organizations of all sectors and sizes on this journey to provide practical solutions and resources for success.
There are so many factors that set us apart from other consulting agencies. To start, I would like to share our core values which help set us apart and describe the essence of who we are as a full-service DEI boutique consultancy. Collaboration, curiosity, change as a constant, continuous improvement and constructive candor keep us agile and able to construct individualized solutions for our clients. At NWC we seek to understand before we solve. We anticipate, expect, and embrace change as a gateway to growth for our clients.
Through our Deep Dive Assessment, survey, learning & development sessions, focus groups, and 1×1 interviews we learn about the intricacies of our clients. We believe in getting to the crux of the matter and solving issues at the root cause. NWC sees all data as an opportunity; new information generates new possibilities and the beginning of an eye-opening DEI journey. We also speak our truths in caring, courageous, and constructive ways. This ensures that our clients can fully realize their DEI potential.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People can visit my website at nikawhite.com where they can discover a wealth of knowledge through my books, blog, podcasts, white pages, publications, and vodcast called “Intentional Conversations.” Readers can also connect with me on social media.
Also, I invite people to be on the lookout for my book number three, Inclusion Uncomplicated: A Transformative Guide to Simplify DEI in partnership with Forbes Books scheduled to release fall of 2022. DEI is complicated, but it doesn’t have to feel that way. My primary reason for writing this book, Inclusion, Uncomplicated, is to demystify DEI concepts so that leaders, champions, and change-makers like you can own practical, actionable tools to make a real difference, right now.
The heart of my work is to help create transformative environments with intentionality around inclusion. This book will teach you how to do that, personally and professionally.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nikawhite.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikacwhite/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikacwhite
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikaWhite
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NikaWhite2015
- Other: www.nikawhitespeaks.com
Image Credits
Stacey Gardin Portraits
