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Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
5 Lessons To Guide The Next Generation Of DEI Leaders
Antoine Andrews is the Chief Diversity & Social Impact Officer at SurveyMonkey. I recently heard something from author John Maxwell that stuck with me: 'A leader knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. Leadership is an action, not a position.' As a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) leader, I couldn't agree more. We have a unique opportunity to shape the culture we believe in, and that includes lighting the path for those who will cast an even bigger shadow. With that in mind, I want to share a few lessons with the next generation of DEI leaders to ensure we keep showing up as a consistent presence through any storm. Because the clouds will break, and the impact of the work will matter more than ever. 1. Stay laser-focused on people. I'm often asked why DEI faces so much pushback, especially as we continue to observe companies and governmental institutions reducing or cutting their diversity programs. However, this question has kept the conversation away from what's most important: people. Our work is fundamentally about talent, opportunity, experience and culture—all of which center around individuals. Instead of getting caught up in what people think about DEI, let's focus on why it's vital. But don't just present statistics. Humanize the data by connecting it to real employee experiences to illustrate individual impact. Frame every DEI initiative, from recruiting to retention, through the lens of how it genuinely improves lives and opportunities. Be sure to prioritize employee listening, which could look like scheduling frequent, formal or informal check-ins or conducting feedback surveys. Additionally, empower managers and employees to understand how DEI principles, including psychological safety, directly benefit their development, team cohesion and well-being. 2. Look inward for your true north. Controversy related to diversity and social issues will inevitably arise. But getting distracted by external noise is a luxury we cannot afford. It pulls valuable time and energy away from established DEI priorities. Hold fast to your missions instead of getting sidetracked by headlines or what other companies are doing. To strengthen your internal compass, define your nonnegotiables. Work with leadership to clearly articulate your organization's core values and their relation to DEI. When external pressures arise, refer back to these principles. This provides the true north that will anchor your strategy and prevent reactive shifts based on fleeting trends. 3. Contextualize pressing issues with courage. As a DEI professional, you can bring compelling social issues forward to help other leaders better understand and potentially act upon them. Our conscience doesn't tell us what to do; it makes us revisit what's in front of us until clarity emerges. Be that voice—offering clarity, context and conscience in moments that call for courage. Share your perspective, taking into account your company's context and your own unique lived expertise. This might look like finding opportunities for employees to share their authentic experiences. Establishing a personal connection to real-world issues helps build empathy and understanding more effectively than data alone. Before bringing a complex issue to the table, always prepare leadership for nuance. Equip them with discussion points, questions and varied perspectives. Help them understand the "why," potential impacts and how the organization might thoughtfully engage or respond. 4. Ask the tough questions—and listen! Four in 10 workers (39%) are uncomfortable providing open and honest feedback to HR, according to some of our research at SurveyMonkey. This highlights a critical need to give employees regular opportunities to share how they're experiencing the organization through their respective lenses. Encourage others to pose difficult questions, and have those uncomfortable conversations that lead to growth and understanding. It's okay not to have all the answers right away. Your goal can simply be creating the space needed for collaborative learning and finding solutions together. Don't underestimate the power of open-ended questions that probe for deeper understanding, like "Tell me more about that experience" or "What could have made that situation better for you?" This uncovers the "why" behind the data. Crucially, model vulnerability yourself. Show that you're open to difficult feedback, and share moments where you learned from an uncomfortable conversation or changed your perspective. This encourages others to do the same, which fosters a truly feedback-rich culture. 5. Hold leaders accountable. Your role is heavy, so redistribute the weight. Every organizational leader is responsible for creating an inclusive environment, and when they embrace their role as stewards for DEI, they set expectations. It's crucial to be specific about what DEI-related goals each leader is responsible for and hold them to them. One way you can do this is by integrating DEI into performance management. Work with executive leadership to incorporate specific, measurable DEI goals into every leader's and manager's objectives. Equip people leaders with the right tools—including training, resources and data—to meet their DEI objectives. Then regularly review these goals to ensure the commitment isn't just aspirational but integrated into operational practice. Finally, celebrate and publicize both successes and lessons learned. When leaders achieve significant DEI milestones, publicly recognize their efforts to reinforce the work's importance and motivate others. Equally important, openly discuss challenges and lessons learned when goals are not met, fostering continuous improvement. When rooted in these principles, your leadership as a DEI professional won't just shift perceptions. It will drive tangible, lasting impact and create workplaces where everyone can thrive. Forbes Agency Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Do I qualify?
Forbes
22-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Power Of Growth: Five Steps To Rewrite Self-Limiting Beliefs
Farshad Asl, Regional Director of Bankers Life, Founder of Top Leaders Inc , John Maxwell Coach, International Speaker, Best-Selling Author. getty Your outside success can only grow as large as your inside allows. I learned that truth the day I stepped off a flight with a duffel bag, a one-way ticket and $400—and barely enough English to order coffee. The setbacks came fast. My accent triggered giggles whenever I pronounced "deductible." A friend told me, "Your English will scare clients. Find a real job." He was echoing the chorus of good-hearted relatives who urged me to "play it safe." That advice collided with my dream of entering financial services. The fear was real: What if they were right? Today, as regional director of Bankers Life, founder of Top Leaders Inc., a John Maxwell Leadership coach and an Amazon bestselling author of four books, I've coached thousands of professionals across four continents. The turnaround wasn't luck; it was the result of five daily practices that converted doubt into momentum. If you're a new entrepreneur, salesperson or emerging leader, use these same principles to expand the ceiling of your success. While it's hard to nail down an exact figure, I've seen estimates that from 50% to 80% of all available jobs are never publicly advertised. This is one reason we rise—or stall—to the level of the company we keep. My first network consisted of kind friends with modest dreams. Their caution was sincere, but it shrank my vision. My breakthrough occurred when I joined a leadership mastermind group, where I found myself surrounded by quota-crushing leaders who aspired for greatness. Proximity rewrote my story. Daily Action: Map your 10 closest contacts; color-code who stretches you and who slows you down. Within the next 72 hours, book a 15-minute coffee (virtual or in person) with one high-growth connection. Think of this as curating your personal leadership team: Boston Consulting Group found that companies with culturally and gender-diverse leadership teams generate 19% greater innovation revenue—proof that surrounding yourself with varied perspectives sparks better ideas and opportunities. 2. Invest in yourself every day. Confidence grows in proportion to competence, and "bite-size" learning, or microlearning, pays off. A Software Advice survey found that 58% of employees said they were more likely to use their company's online training if lessons were broken into 5- to 7-minute segments. In my early years, I devoured tapes by Zig Ziglar, read 10 pages of a leadership book at lunch and spent weekends at sales seminars even when I understood only 70% of the content. Those reps rewired my brain faster than any paycheck. Daily Action: Block 15 minutes on your calendar for learning: an audiobook in traffic, an article during lunch, a course module before bed. Discomfort is the tuition you pay for growth. 3. Journal to learn from failure. The only difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is how you record them. In Writing to Heal , James Pennebaker shares studies on expressive writing that show how journaling lowers stress and increases cognitive processing. Rejection letters became raw material for my 5 a.m. writing sessions. Over time, those pages formed the backbone of four books. My "Rule Of 5" Morning Routine: Reflect, write, read, pray and inspire—every day at 5 a.m. Daily Action: Before you check your phone, jot down one lesson from yesterday and one intentional action for today. The habit is more than feel-good: A 2018 randomized controlled trial in JMIR Mental Health found that a 12-week, 15-minute "positive affect journaling" practice significantly boosted participants' resilience compared with usual care. 4. Think like an entrepreneur. Even when you're on someone else's payroll, you don't have to act like a renter of your own job. When I began treating my territory like a startup—tracking P&L, innovating client-education webinars and branding myself as a retirement-readiness advocate—my commissions tripled and my role evolved into regional director. Daily Action: Ask, "What would the CEO of my life decide here?" Break one strategic goal into three executable steps this week. McKinsey's global survey of agile transformations found that organizations with highly successful, enterprise-wide agility programs achieved "around 30% gains in efficiency, customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and operational performance." 5. Embrace a no-excuses mentality. Talent is a gift; grit is a choice. Angela Duckworth's research in Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance shows that perseverance predicts achievement better than IQ. Every language barrier, no-show appointment or declined policy could have validated my critics. Instead, I adopted a rule: knock again. That bias for action carried me to stages in several different countries. Daily Action: Attack one task you've been avoiding: make the cold call, send the bold proposal, ask for feedback. Momentum compounds. The Invitation Your outside world expands only as far as your inside world will allow. Surround yourself with uplifters, feed your mind, document your lessons, own your career and refuse excuses. Millions measure success in square footage, followers or stock price; lasting growth is measured in the size of your mindset. Start the journey today: Schedule that first coffee chat, crack open a book and set your 5 a.m. alarm. When your inside grows, I promise your outside will outgrow even your imagination. Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
RTÉ News
28-04-2025
- RTÉ News
History, serenity and innovative food at Farnham Estate, Co Cavan
From serene spa hotels to invigorating day retreats, Ireland's wellness sector is booming. When it comes to unwinding, we've never had so many options. Immersive spa gardens, urban saunas, lakeside hot tubs, thalassotherapy specialists, and a seemingly infinite number of infinity pools, the Irish hospitality sector has well and truly tapped into wellness. One new addition is Farnham Estate's collaboration with Comfort Zone, the B Corp certified Italian skincare brand specialising in sustainable face and body treatments and products. I was invited, along with a group of journalists, to try the brand's new treatments in the hotel spa. I was last in Farnham Estate in mid-2022, when the long shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic still lingered over the stately manor house hotel and reared its head in things like widely spaced dining tables and conversations punctuated with adjusting our face masks. Returning this year felt like walking into a different hotel entirely: as lovely as the first trip was, the sense of bustle and atmosphere in my most recent visit showed just how vibrant a spot it is - and always was, based on its history. Once the the home of John Maxwell, Baron Farnham, the 400 year-old grand manor house is located a short drive from Cavan Town and was once the seat of one of the most prolific land-owning families in the region. Set on 1,300 acres of sprawling land, it has been restored and expanded, with a modern glass structure snaking around the back of the majestic stone facade. After a drive of just under two hours from Dublin, we arrived in time for afternoon tea in the Music Room, recently revamped into a luxurious and opulent space. The green wallpaper and opulent chairs and corner couches create a serene setting, made all the more romantic by the long windows that overlook the green lawn in front of the manor house. The afternoon tea was one of the best I've had. Finger sandwiches with egg and truffle, a peppery charcuterie-filled wrap and delicate smoked salmon on brown bread all went down a treat. The scones were buttery and sweet, while the top tier of desserts was devoured almost instantly. Pistachio and strawberry tarts, a coconut-dusted Swiss roll and choux au craquelin filled with chocolate mouse and a tromp l'oeil cherry were delicious. Since the sun was shining we decided to walk off our tea on one of the many trails encircling the grounds. There are no less than six walking trails on the estate, all of which loop through or around the mature woodland and a number of loughs: Farnham Lough, Derrygrid Lough and Coal Pit Lough. We checked into our room next, located in the modern extension. Eight of the hotel's 12 suites are located in the manor house, the column-fronted entrance of which is preserved in its ornate glory inside the modern reception area and offers a peek at a winding staircase, opulent wallpaper and dimly lit rooms. The other rooms, meanwhile, are bright and airy, with exceptionally comfortable beds. My favourite - and unexpected - feature was the sliding hidden door that created a window from above the bath into the bedroom. Not sure why you'd need it, but it's great for spooking your unsuspecting boyfriend while he puts his feet up post-drive. I was invited to try the Himalayan Salt Massage Ritual as part of the trip. If, like me, you were hoping for something a bit vigorous, this isn't that massage. My therapist Evangelina talked me through each step, stressing that it was less hands-on than other massages but it still proved very relaxing. First, she traced pressure points on my body using solid blocks of pink Himalayan salt that were heated on a little plate. It was similar to a hot stone massage, but with more controlled heat as each block could be turned depending on what muscle Evangelina was targeting. I'd mentioned my shoulders were tight, so she kindly spent some time releasing them. Next, was the salt scrub, which she applied all over me before wrapping me in a soft cloth. The process did feel like being licked by hundreds of cats, but my skin was left buzzing with sensation afterwards. While I marinated like a piece of steak, Evangelina did some scalp massage, before directing me to the shower to rinse the scrub off. Heavily seasoned and polished to perfection, she finished the massage by applying the Comfort Zone body cream, leaving my skin visibly shining. The adult-only spa was designed Heinz Schletterer, whose previous projects include spas at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, the Sandy Lane in Barbados and the Queen Mary cruise liner, and is predictably elegant. Finally, it was time for dinner in the Cedars Steakhouse, located in the modern part of the hotel. Unsurprisingly, the menu has an impressive selection of steaks, but we opted for a T-bone and a côte de boeuf. The T-bone arrived charred to perfection, while my côte de boeuf was rich and fatty. The menu overall is inventive and seasonal, with the scallop and chive ravioli starter especially delicious. The poitín-cured cod with grapefruit was an innovative dish, with a delightful focus on differing textures. We finished our meal with a coconut and yuzu dessert and an exceptional ginger and orange baked Alaska. The verdict If it's a serene staycation you're after, Farnham Estate is worth the drive. From the expansive golf course to the leisurely walks and spa, there's just enough activity on site to keep you occupied and ideally far away from your phone. I was especially impressed with the food on this trip, and will be thinking about that baked Alaska for many days to come. The details We stayed in a Patio King Room as invited guests for one night, prices for which start at €190 with the hotel's spring sale. I tried the 60-minute Himalayan Salt Massage Ritual, which costs €125. Our breakfast and evening meals were also included. Other hotels in the area include: Slieve Russell Hotel Cavan Crystal Hotel Cabra Castle Hotel
