Creativity

Diversity: Lip Service Is Not Enough

Diversity: Lip Service Is Not Enough

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Diversity is a maligned word depending on its use and context. If diversity is being used to describe a set of experiences that can potentially add value then it is almost unequivocally a good thing. Recruiters and companies are constantly touting how much they value candidates that can pull from a host of diverse experiences. Diverse life experiences are also heralded as being part of the makeup for living an “interesting life”. The individual who has climbed mountain peaks, bungee jumped & partied in exotic locales is perceived as having achieved a diverse mix of experiences that make for a potentially eclectic worldview. We can vary on degree, but the idea that this type of diversity is generally positive is clear. Switch the focus to diversity among people, whether via race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. and the slope becomes more slippery. We might agree in some vague notions diversity might be a good thing, but outside of a rainbow colored room, how “good” is it? If various groups and individuals assign a certain level of importance to the principle of diversity how does it happen so rarely? I believe, this disconnect occurs because (1) failure to highlight and promote how diversity adds measurable value in professional, academic and creative circles and (2) disingenuous “champions” of diversity whose agenda seeks to support the status quo rather than upend it.

An honest and effective commitment to diversity requires heavy lifting. It requires that individually or as an organization there is recognition that diversity is not a “numbers game” but a “values game”. If the assumption is that a diverse community makes us smarter and better then it must be part of the DNA of your organization. Values are our guiding principles, and diversity as a value must be baked into the mix of other principles that are deemed important. This will ensure that on all levels diversity is taken into account and is part of the planning, strategy, and execution vital to the success of the organization.

Many so-called proponents of diversity are actually ill equipped or disinterested in contextualizing diversity as a conversation around values rather than representation. I spent the formative years of my post-MBA career working on Wall Street at the arguably premiere firm, Goldman, Sachs. The firm aspired to a diverse workplace but like almost every Wall Street firm (and most of the Fortune 500 as well) fell well short of their ambition. These gaps only widened at the senior level. I remember as a young college student looking up the “Top 10 Blacks on Wall Street” and then my dismay at realizing almost 6 years later virtually no change in that list. The “Highlander Effect” was firmly in place and it was clear the prevailing notion was “there can only be one” when it came to diversity. Some progress has been made but not nearly enough relative to our lip service regarding the importance of diversity. Let’s be clear, Wall Street is an easy scapegoat but across almost all corporate America the story is the same, no one is above critique. Often the supporters of diversity are merely advocating for a few more seats at an exclusive table. In essence, they become a select few invited into the conversation while the underlying system remains unchanged. It would make more sense to question whether the table is worth sitting at in the first place. If the status quo is not prepared, capable or willing to have a conversation that elevates diversity then we risk more wasted energy. We have to build a new “status quo” where those who truly value diversity (in the DNA) are supported. There is evidence across the board that diversity is important if we want organizational optimization, just read here, here and here. If we accept this premise, then lip service not only falls short but also is harmful to the advancement of diversity. It reinforces the self-serving behavior of those who trumpet diversity for the many while solely interested in the diversity of the individual…themselves.

These are remarkable times; transparency and access to information allow us to know more than ever about the people and organizations we interact with. More frequently, people around the world are making values based decisions. They are looking to align their personal choices with others who share their value system. This offers an incredible incentive to advance diversity as a core value and truly move the dial for the type of inclusion that will benefit everyone.

Gatekeepers vs. Gatecrashers: Our Global Theme

Gatekeepers vs. Gatecrashers: Our Global Theme

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New York, NY – It’s a pleasure to announce the theme for our upcoming global Influencer Conference series. Developing a theme takes time, and countless fits and starts until you land on a concept that “feels right”. In order to accomplish that, the theme must be relevant to all our audience, our partners and align with our values. I think we have managed to do that and much more.

Our theme is “Gatekeepers/crashers: Thriving or Dying?” You can read our descriptive brief here:

The advent of technology and digital media was supposed to herald the end of the age of gatekeepers. The 21st century promised the democratization of communication and access.
Now, almost 15 years into a new century, it begs the question whether that has that truly been the case? Has the power and privilege of gatekeepers subsided or, has the expansion of technology actually had the opposite effect, increasing their reach and power?

For all of the talk of the democratization of the creative process, gatekeepers are more firmly entrenched than ever. How do creators of arts based culture navigate and succeed, as the gates get higher? How do well-meaning gatekeepers connect to and enhance existing cultural ecosystems? We pull the covers back and reveal the true machinations behind culture, commerce and influence by bringing gatekeepers and gatecrashers face to face…a modern day showdown between new age Visigoths and their roman emperor counterparts. 

Friction between gatekeepers/crashers lies at the center of our creative, social, and economic lives. In fact, one could argue as sector and industry designations blur it is more of a challenge to determine who serves which function. In fact, one could argue that at different times and under different circumstances organizations and individuals can wear both hats.

The recent Supreme Court decision of McCutcheon v. FEC and the F.C.C’s flagging interest in protecting net neutrality highlight how precarious the common interest are relative to corporate design. Cultural spaces are not immune as music, film, and other creative endeavors have more participants than ever giving the appearance of democratization even as they wrestle with fewer effective channels to gain traction and attention for their work. Even an artist as prolific as Kanye West feels constrained in his creativity. In an interview with radio/TV Host Sway, Mr. West details the frustration he encounters dealing with gatekeepers. The back and forth between the two men, which is sometimes contentious highlights the yin and yang between creativity, commerce and access. This brought home how important this is. If a globally relevant artist like Kanye is dealing with these issues, what about the rest of us?  In another telling quote Kanye West says this

“It’s mixing creativity with the fight like an athlete. Like it’s okay for the athletes to fight and push it, but they want the creative people to shut-up and be quiet. But these are the people with the real ideas that can actually change, can reorganize, can design cities, can restructure a curriculum, you know, can make life easier. And that’s the part of the game I want to be in: the making life more awesome.” October 28, Los Angeles’ 97.1 AMP Radio

“Creatives” are fighting to be heard, but who are they fighting against (or for), and why? Over the next few months through salons, essays, and finally our global conference we’ll confront the shifting landscape between gatekeepers/crashers across industry and creative disciplines in order to map our collective future.

Welcome to the journey.

Why Mindfulness

Why Mindfulness

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Over the years of producing Influencer Conference we have settled on a core group of values that inspire and guide us as a company. Our premise is simple. We believe that values, the things we care about and drive our passions are more important that our vocation, the things we do. These values shape the agenda, speakers and audience of each conference.

Explaining mindfulness and why we include it among our core values is pretty easy. During 2012’s conference I remember looking out at the crowd and seeing a sea of blue glowing screens. Laptops, tablets, smartphones all lit up signifying people were firmly plugged in, communicating with someone or something but not actually “in the room”. I was struck by this, because we take great pains to curate an event that would be interesting, thought provoking and beneficial. The audience confirmed their interest by purchasing a ticket, so clearly they agreed. Yet, here we were in a room together and apart. I thought to myself, are people paying attention? Are they listening to the discussion or merely waiting for the next soundbyte to be shared via social media? These questions remained with me post conference and it was shortly thereafter I made a decision to encourage our platform to move to one that emphasized mindfulness. I have practiced yoga and Vedic meditation for a few years and both practices have become increasingly important in how I harness my creative energy and manage stress. Now, that doesn’t mean in order to be mindful everyone has to do either of those two things (though we encourage it!). What we mean by mindfulness, is removing distractions in order to be fully engaged in the present circumstance. As a result, we are now asking that guests refrain from plugging in while talks are in sessions.  The value lies within the room, being present, not outside in the technosphere.

The commitment to mindfulness is a challenge as sponsors and partners partially determine the value of their participation by social media metrics. We respect that. We just don’t agree it is the standard by which we should measure the success of our event. We’ll continue to ask that our guests pour their attention, creativity and uniqueness into the room rather than outside of it.

This year we tackle this topic more in depth with the panel discussion: Present Tense: How Being Mindful Drives Creativity.

You can register here for that talk or any of our other panels via our website here.

And if you want to check out a cool introduction video to Vedic Meditation and it’s benefits take a look at this clip shot by Vedic & Yoga Instructor Light: