With so much diversity in the world, it’s important to learn the best ways to communicate to people who are different from you. A great example is our guest today, Tamara Box, the Managing Partner for Europe and the Middle East at Reed Smith LLP. Tamara is an authority in securitization and passionate about diversity. She is a founding member of the 30% Club steering committee, the chair of the “Women of Influence” campaign for the charity Cancer Research UK, while also sitting on the Advisory Board of international children’s charity Theirworld. On top of that she is a member of the Court of Governors of the London School of Economics.
Wow, now with that impressive resume, let’s jump right in and learn how Tamara implements the art of inclusion and diversity at the highest levels.
In this Episode:
[00:01 - 05:55] Opening Segment
- I introduce and welcome Tamara Box
- Activities and career
- Inclusion and diversity
- Tamara talks a bit about her global experience
- Passion for travel
- Love of difference
- Grew up in Texas
- Moved to London
- Passion for learning other cultures
- Travelling for education
- Tamara talks about the cultural shift from Texas to London
- Fell in love with economics
- The making of me
- Grew to love the city
[05:56 - 11:25] Looking for the Differences to Connect and Lead
- Tamara talks about how she connected with other cultures
- Look for the differences
- Treating it like an adventure
- Tamara gives her keys to strong leadership
- Requires empathy, authenticity, a willingness to be together
- Don’t lead from above
- Willing to be wrong
- Vulnerability
- Leadership in different cultures
- Listen, and be interested
- Adapt and let yourself be wrong
- Willing to listen to other ways
- Just jump in and learn together
- The art of reading people
- Willingness to accept differences
- Shared experience
[11:26 - 24:44] Diversity Within Leadership
- Tamara talks about her work in diversity inclusion
- Valuing and looking for the differences to be a part of the team
- Being all the same doesn’t lead to innovation
- Chaos is ok
- Why leaders don’t include diversity
- Fear of being wrong
- Destabilization and insecurity
- Tamara shares her experience as a woman in leadership
- Personally not hindered, but it may not be the case for others
- Given great opportunities
- Working in management started showing bias
- Getting a seat at the table
- Creating a straightjacket
- Tamara’s perceptions of Unconscious Bias
- How we’ve been taught to view the world
- Perspectives are built on what we see daily
- Redraw the balance example
- Learned as children
- Unconscious Bias training
[24:44 - 40:37] The Work of the 30% Club
- Tamara talks about her work in the 30% club
- Progress for women in the workforce
- Establishing role models
- Getting the people who could make change on board
- Steering the organization
- Now at 33%
- 14 country span
- Why 30%
- Current activities and developments
- Mentorship at the 30% club
- Open and honest conversation
- Puting women forward for the mentorship
- Who Tamara looks to
- The difference from sponsorship
- How to build sponsorship
- Two way street - ROI
- Be great and be hungry
- Mutually beneficial
[40:38 - 50:18] Closing Segment
- The most impactful conversation of your life?
- At 10 years old
- If it’s not your fault, you’re not responsible
- If you are responsible, you have the power to change it
- One communication skill that you could have had?
- Understanding about sports
- The best communicator that you know?
- Ed Sheeran
- Tina Clark
- Barack and Michelle Obama
- How to find Tamara
- Links below
- Final Words
Tweetable Quotes:
"The differences are what you’re really seeking out… It really excited me to hear about people’s differences.” - Tamara Box
“I think real, effective leadership in my view is when you’re listening, when you’re in something together, when you’ve been there together. Really, you’re willing to be wrong.” - Tamara Box
“The best way to turn on innovation and creativity is to focus on diversity and of course inclusion.” - Tamara Box
Resources Mentioned:
You can connect with Tamara on LinkedIn and Twitter. Be sure to check out The 30% Club to learn more about how you can support.
You can connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Join The Communication Nation and learn from others in the community. Feel free to email me at gregrice79@yahoo.com, I’d love to hear from you!
Want more help with your digital marketing? Go to my website https://gregjrice.com/inflection/ and let’s have a conversation.
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