Diversity

November 29 2022

We Are All Diverse

Rose Kaz Boss Blog, Diversity Diversity, Social Media, technolog 0

It feels a little trite to write but we are all diverse.

In fact, if someone is speaking on diversity as something outside of themselves, it feels to me almost rooted in white supremacy; like ‘Oh, let’s work on making this place more diverse because it’s been so homogeneous and really we didn’t mind that until that gatekeeping got canceled.’ And to be fair, many of us perhaps didn’t realize we were gatekeeping until we’ve been made aware.

We Are Waking Up

And now that we are waking up to what a truly inclusive world looks like as we recognize the myriad of experiences that make up the human condition, let’s try to activate actually doing things differently in each small circle we can.

Since many of our cultures have racism, sexism, ableism and well, all the -isms, basically baked into the bedrock of our current human experiences, it may seem almost impossible to actually create a diverse world that totally removes the power over dynamic that any -ism seeks to create. This is where I love to not only theorize on solutions but also actualize them into activated conversations that affect social change.

I’ve often been called the sledge hammer in most of my collaborative circles ( cue Peter Gabriel ) because theoretical, armchair conversations on changing the status quo bores me to pieces.

It’s action that makes a damn difference.

In my many collaborations in conversations with thought leaders, industry disruptors and business activists globally these past two years, I have garnered that the world is ready for a new way of considering the diversity of our shared human existence; in a nutshell we are all very different but also very same. Whilst our differences make our outlooks unique and thereby valuable, we all bleed red ya’ll.

How can we actually do something about this wake up call?

What we are building through the LBI Digital Ecosystem is more than just various channels where we connect with Women globally; more than a podcast, a blog or a new way of doing social media.

We are looking directly at ways that we can pull back the curtain on how we have historically done business and flip the script on how we are sharing our tools & resources.

And we cannot just do that by using old models of production, of tech and thereby use of the digital world. Our approach is directly aimed at equipping more women with access to information around money, sex & politics because we know that when Women have more knowledge, this equates to more power. And when Women are more supported, the entire village thrives. And as many of you know, it takes a village to raise anything or anyone up. When Women rise, humanity rises. Again, our differences can create the great equalizer needed so desperately in our world today.

As Women in business, we have an inherent ability to see many facets of a big picture. We can stitch together a network of community through our generations of women leaning into another for support in any facet of humaning; be it child rearing or idea sourcing, meal prep or logistics, long hugs or quick side eyes. Women work quickly to offer outside of the box solutions to big & small problems alike.

Many men will tell you, Women have a unique way to handle even the most daunting challenge. And so as we lean back into embracing our own differences as strengths, I wonder how we can also learn more from the diversity of emotions all humans can feel as a result of accessing more of our passionate or female side. Some may call this being ‘too emotional’. May I suggest it is actually being more human than robotic. Emotions are helpful and show our diversity of emotional intelligence.

A good cry or long embrace isn’t showing weakness, it’s showing connection. That diversity of emotional experience can truly change an otherwise numb human existence into a fully feeling & actualized human moment; even if it’s totally different than your go to feels of ‘powering through’, ‘getting shit done’ or otherwise operating in full logic instead of from the heart. Also, no one ever said they felt worse after a good cry. Just sayn’ !!

Easily noticed but a much more challenging lesson I’ve been learning about having to suit up daily as a Women in tech, is to be more bold than I’ve ever been with my idea of using tech to build bridges of diversity; tucking away my often more emotional side and leaning across the isle to learn other languages of business, art and leadership.

Embracing Diversity

With intersectionality at the forefront of the digital ecosystem we are building, it has become one of my biggest lessons learned to embrace the diversity around me instead of shunning it as something I can’t learn to lean into, even as someone who thought I was so ‘open minded’ and willing to learn new things. That is to say, as a leader of new ways of embracing tech, I cannot simply shun old ways of thinking. I have to learn from and then build better. That old adage of not throwing the baby out with the bathwater has never rang more true. By the way, who throws babies out anyways??

Notably, all big, global tech to date has been built by one particular sector of humanity, white men. Simply based on their experiences alone, that specific tech ( any of it arguably, from Facebook to Twitter, LinkedIn to Apple) has not been built in consideration of the diverse voices of ALL humans including, Women of all skin tones and gender identities, humans of varying accessibility and socio economic status.

What we are building through LBI is a way to utilize all the incredible resources that modern technology offers us in a way that authentically honors diversity instead of segregating it out of the equation. We aim to connect the many incredible communities of Women forward movements like Women owned & operated banking platforms like Elle Vest , access to health & wellness resources that Planned Parenthood purveys through the SuperMajority Education Fund, and the leaders of democracy at League of Women Voters .

All these groups separately aim to lean into the diversity of tools & resources our shared human experience calls for. We are working to activate all these thought leaders together by way of our global hub for Women who seek to live in a recognizably diverse, kindly celebrated, most equitable world.

Will you join us?

Come Backstage & help us change the world.

Love,

Rose Kaz

More About Rose Kaz:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Rose Kaz is the Fem Founder and she’s done this a time or two. Her photo & video production company has taken her around the world but her new app allows her female clients & even women she hasn’t met yet to lean into each other, learn about our opportunity as business activists to support, grow & shop directly from one another. We are building a new economy, globally. WOW!

And the app we are talking about is that which Rose + the LBI Crew has launched where the ask for women is to: ‘ take center stage in their lives; to stand up, speak out & get GLOWING like never before’ Think activism meets B school meets super hip, online resource center! Sprinkle in some new school networking and POW The LBI Backstage Pass is #trending!

Click here to come Backstage, meet Rose and the entire community of femme forward leaders.

November 9 2022

Politic Light with Ber-Henda Williams

Rose Kaz Boss Blog, Podcast, Politics Diversity, Inclusive, Light, Poiltics, Women in Business 0

OUR GUEST ON POLITIC LIGHT

Ber-Henda Williams is our first guest discussing POLITICS, and what it means to her. The Power of Girlhood Project was founded in 2021 by Ber-Henda.

The Power of Girlhood was founded to support girls in tapping into their power to create community, discover their value and voice, find career paths and change the world! Ber-Henda is a light and is doing AMAZING things in this world. You can find Ber-Henda on her website www.thepowerofgirlhood.org and on Instagram @Ber-HendaWilliams.

In this episode we discuss:

We know that a women lead world will be better for us ALL; particularly when we look at how the power inherent in Money, Sex & Politics are accessed.

“ So I think what really led me there was, I’m a very spiritual person. So I was communing with spirit. And I’m like, Okay, now what? What is the work really, right? Because I work with highly sensitive empathic women who care about social justice, equity inclusion and want to create a culture shift. So the revelation was a cultural shift term. Because in the feminine, there is this dynamic gift of empathy and wisdom, and intuition, community building placemaking agility, these are some of the things that we see femora fest out in the world.” – Ber-Henda Williams

On the Podcast, we talk all things Money, Sex & Politics as they pertain to women thought leaders, industry disruptors, and business activists.

In this episode, we are talking POLITICS and Politic Light.

Don’t worry, we promise to keep it light and bright, f-bombs delightfully placed 🙂

Seriously, it’s mostly comedy & errors with suggestions on how we can maybe, probably do better & asking leaders if they agree!

YOUR HOST OF MONEY. SEX. POLITICS PODCAST

Join host Rose Kaz, serial boat burner, humanist & social entrepreneur as she digs into conversations with a variety of female-forward visionaries who actualize their big visions into real-life actions.

These leaders push forward to a world where women are equal to men, underrepresented skin tones find safety, and folks who identify as theys and thems are valued.

JOIN US BACKSTAGE

Our talks here point to the shift we are building digitally to build a better world by doing social media differently. See what are we building behind the curtain, come Backstage, and get involved.

July 11 2022

Practical Ways to Connect with Other Women in Business: Resources and Communities for Solopreneurs

SayHiLBI@gmail.com Boss Blog collaboration, Diversity, Women in Business 0

There are a lot of women in business these days, and many of us work from home. It can be easy to feel isolated or alone when you’re self-employed, but that doesn’t have to be the case. In fact that’s one of the main reasons Ladyboss International and the LBI Backstage Pass were created! So that solopreneurs, ladybosses, and women business owners don’t have to feel so secluded!

Today we want to talk about the diverse options for resources and communities available to help you succeed, specifically when it comes to connecting with other women in business. Whether you need advice or just want to feel connected to others who understand your challenges, these resources will help!

How to Connect with Other Woman in Business:

Some of these ideas won’t be new, or surprising, but they are worth mentioning as we have this discussion about building connections –

The first step is to find your community. There are women in business groups and communities for every industry, size, and type of business out there. You can find them online or offline, big or small. Obviously we recommend the LBI Backstage Pass – this is our inclusive and diverse community that is all about collaborating, elevating and inspiring other women!

We’ve seen so many amazing partnerships, friendships and collaborations happening because of our community platform and we’d love for you to join!

And of course there are so many other amazing, like-minded communities you can be a part of! (Feel free to mention your favorites in the comments below!)

Attend events! There are women in business conferences and events happening all the time. This is a great way to network and connect with other women who might be able to help you in your business journey.

We often host virtual AND in-person events as a part of the LBI Backstage Pass, these are open to anyone to attend! You can also find other, local events on sites like meetup.com or your local business associations.

Get involved with social media. There are tons of active women in business Facebook groups, Twitter chats, and LinkedIn groups where you can engage with others on a daily basis. There are even whats app groups and slack channels you can be added to for support and encouragement, you’ve just got to look around for them!

Look for mentorships and coaching opportunities. These relationships can be invaluable when it comes to advice, guidance, and support in business. You can find women in business mentors in your personal and professional networks, or you can seek out programs specifically for mentorship. We’ve got some very talented coaches inside the Backstage Pass and they love to support and connect with ladybosses that need their wisdom!

Many times women in business are more than willing to help other women succeed – so don’t be afraid to ask!

Online networking calls: Something that’s become more and more popular over the last few months is online networking events! Typically they take place via zoom, and you get to “e-meet” these talented and passionate women in business. You’ll find these opportunities happening inside of the LBI Backstage Pass, as well as other women run communities and groups.

These virtual meetings are a great way to get comfortable on camera, talking about your business, and making connections that could lead to great relationships for your business!

Don’t forget that you are never alone in your business journey! There are women in business all around the world, just like you, seeking out advice and guidance. These tips will help you get started on finding your community and connecting with other women who can help support you on your path to success!

Do you have any favorite resources or communities for women in business? We’d love to hear about them below!

And if you’re not already a part of our LBI Backstage Pass community, we would love to have you join us! You can learn more and sign up here. See you inside!

May 25 2022

Why Diversity Is One Of Our Core Values

Rose Kaz Boss Blog, Core Values Diversity 0

From the desk of our Founder, Rose Kaz

When I set out to lead a team to build the LBI Backstage Pass last May of 2021, I wasn’t exactly sure how we were going to create a social media platform built by women in business for women in business but I was clear on why this type of social experience needed to be created.

I’ve worked in leadership roles of production for most of my professional career and whilst the great covid pivot has shed light on doing more business online, it has also exposed even brighter sore spots in our structures of power, the ways we organize ourselves, money and ultimately, who holds the keys to the purse.

In preparing to take our in person conversations series with women in business that we launched in 2017, Ladyboss International, to an online forum, I pulled inspiration from these raw moments of 2020: the killing of George Floyd and many, many other unarmed people of color, the situation at our borders, and of course, the pandemic itself.

I became more aware of the glaring need to share wealth in more inclusive and generous ways than the patriarchy has historically done. I set out to do that through building a new, woman lead brand that is based fully on this concept of leveling the playing field. Because if the powers that be won’t do it for us, well then, I’ll lead the way my own damn self.

I have been a student of political science for many years. I hold a degree with a Bachelor of Arts in the subject with a focus on global politics. And whilst I don’t ‘technically’ work in politics at the moment, I believe wholeheartedly that all of our work is political. That is to say, I see how we structure our businesses, our access to resources and how we spend our time to be very political. Even a choice to be a- political is a choice.

In writing this article about diversity, I don’t want to simply drop some #BLM insights from my seat of white privilege. I do, however, want to dig into how and why we can all do at least 5% more to actually lean into diversity. After all, we all have accents, we all have been born from a mother and we all have the same color blood. These are a few of the long list of things that make being a human both the same AND diverse. We can be many things at once. And that’s ok.

In drafting the business plan for the launch of the LBI Backstage Pass platform, I remembered a dream I’d had about 5 years ago where I was walking down a busy city street, somewhere like NYC, Chicago or LA. As I was attempting to cross the street, a woman of color in her mid to late 40’s told me in no uncertain terms: ‘STOP WALKING!!!’ And she said it again 2-3 times at even louder decibels to be sure that me and all people attempting to cross the street were acutely aware that we better stop or be met with extreme harm from passing cars. And then moments later, that same crossing guard was assisted by another guardian of the street, also a woman of color, similarly aged and escorting other pedestrians to quickly: “WALK!! GO ON!! HURRY UP AND CROSS THE STREET”; making sure that the safety of all crossing was her chief priority. And in my dream, I absolutely listened, stopped and then began to walk quickly to obey the boss of the cross walk.

When I woke up, I began to think about this notion: What if women of color hold the power innately to move us forward into a better and safer world?? This is likely why these women have been historically marginalized in ways far deeper than other groups because that power is a direct threat to the status quo of the white, patriarchally order.

And if women of color were more embraced for their innate power and for that matter the buzz word of diversity actually became an action item and not a forced inclusion theory to ‘get numbers up’ or make the optics of a business appear to support black, brown and indigenous women, then we would absolutely see a new world that is, in fact, both a better place FOR ALL and with opportunities for each and every human being to live to their fullest potential.

My point in sharing this dream here in a blog entry written by a woman in business about diversity is not just to have a paragraph to drop into my (sub)conscious thoughts about women of color or to show how I dream my life and the world around me to be. Sure, yea, a peek into my bizarro brain may provide a good laugh or two but my point in sharing this vision is to direct our attention to the bigger picture that when more women are at the helm of business, leadership and ultimately where our money goes, more people will have a better quality of life.

And if the majority of those women in business are darker skinned than I am, even better. I am not advocating for men to have less power. I am calling for women, specifically women of color to have the same amount of power in business, in roles of leadership as men do. Period.

May 11 2022

Overcoming Coaching Stereotypes Through Diversity

SayHiLBI@gmail.com Boss Blog, Business Diversity, Women in Business 0

… and how it increases opportunities for all.

Article written by Kitty Kistler

If you’re a coach, influencer or social marketer who’s been paying attention, you already know that coaching has been reinvigorated, or even revolutionized, by the growing obsession over self improvement and personal wellness.

Over the past two decades, the industry has massively shifted into the online space, allowing the average person a backstage pass to tools and techniques, as well as real people, to lead them to a better life experience.

After decades of coaches being somewhat hidden in plain sight, known more by those in the high ranking positions of business, wealth, and fame, the term “coaching” is now showing the world it should belong in the lower ranks as well. Because the terminology is becoming more mainstream, the industry is cashing in on becoming more accessible and available to all people. However, it appears the self-inflating cyber bubble has begun receiving kickback because of, what can be classified as, “perceived detachment” from the struggles of the real world.

And right now, the real world is on fire.

Real Pain. Real Suffering. Real Life.

Which is why more people are tuning in, watching, eager to tap into easy to obtain wealth, beauty, and freedom all at the shift of their mindset. But this same ease has prompted industry speculations that the integrity of coaching’s propaganda is potentially harmful, even at times, toxic.

Now, more than ever, inclusion and diversity matter.

And they look more like ethics, integrity, and acceptance.

As the idea of living by your own rules becomes more normalized, it also demands change in how coaches take up space, and make room for others at the table.

During these past few years, the fight for equity is one that can’t be denied. From postgenderism, women’s rights, racial inclusion, cultural acceptance, and religious apostasy, coaches must learn to witness others without assumption or the desire for creating uniformed conformity.

And as a coach, helping to bridge the gap between where a human is, in their current reality, to where they want to transition into, you’re asked to provide safe spaces for the broken, the exhausted, the lost, the scared, and the humbled–ones that look more like giant hugs, meadows to frolic, and wilderness to wander.

The world is full of asylum seekers whose homes, offices, churches, schools, communities, and minds are not safe. When they can’t find this safety, they assume they are too different to survive it, too poor to afford it, and too broken to deserve it which has created the need for diversity and inclusion to become a major talking point around clarifying your values, solidifying your core message, breaking the industry trends, and reshaping the landscape to welcome those desperately seeking change.

To accommodate social consciousness, corporations specifically, are changing the way they hire, promote, and market. As a coach, you’re also a business owner and should begin embracing similar concepts to create healthy standards and develop a company culture.

Here are 3 ways you can weave these principles into your business:

Truly know and understand your client and potential client. Knowing who you serve and who you are as a person allows you to include those who will benefit most from your message and align with your values. Your clients deserve a safe, empathic space that accepts and welcomes them as they are.
Be sure to create offers, products, and systems that align with your mission and core values. Knowing what you stand for and what doesn’t fit your value guidelines will eliminate confusion, frustration, and assumptive risk when signing a new client or inviting them into your community.
Understand the reality of your audience. Pricing and service offers depend on who you choose to work with. While it’s in your company’s best interest to charge for the value of your work, the time you invest, and the sustainability of your business, grossly over (or under) charging will leave a gap in the trust / expectation between you and your audience.

It’s essential, as an entrepreneur, to create a business that’s sustainable and profitable to carry out your mission of serving others, but as a coach it’s imperative to know who you are as a person, who you serve best, and the values base of your company. All 3 of these guidelines will help you to present your programs as true service offers and eliminate the need for harmful marketing.

Being a diverse and inclusive leader demands an open mind and a softer understanding of the needs of others, which allows you to meet them where they are to create a safer harbor.

The landscape of the industry, and the world, is changing and this is your opportunity to create a heart-led business that embraces real people, equally, with integrity.

Find Kitty here:

Facebook // www.facebook.com/groups/howtolifecoach

Instagram // @ kitty_kistler

LinkedIn // @ kittykistler

Kitty Kistler is an experienced Life Coach + Business Mentor.

Driven by a desire to see integrity within the coaching community she created Ready, Set, Coach Academy to teach aspiring coaches, course creators, influencers, and social marketers how to coach professionally and build sustainable heart + values centered businesses. Her goal is to expand and diversify the industry while helping more coaches become successful, profitable business owners as well.

May 9 2022

From Struggles to Triumph: Empowering Other Women Business Owners

SayHiLBI@gmail.com Boss Blog, Career Diversity, Women in Business 0

Article written by Christina Hernandez

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, If you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

I was raised in a very traditional hispanic home. Growing up and going to college was not something that was talked about. Not because I was a woman and it was frowned upon, simply put, opportunities like that were never shared.

My dad’s first job in America was in a factory. He worked hard to provide for his family, but we still lived paycheck to paycheck.

My family’s origin to America began with my grandfather. He came to America alone from Puerto Rico to find work. He worked in fields picking produce, working hard until he saved enough money to bring his family here and start a better life. Like so many others, he wanted to offer a better life for his loved ones.

Humble beginnings to say the least. And when I became a single parent more than a decade ago (2010), I absolutely understood the path my grandfather took when coming to America. To start from the bottom and work hard to get to a better place and a better future.

So I did what most single parents do when life hits hard; I started my life all over again and I went back to school to get a degree.

I worked insanely hard to complete my degree, all while working a minimum wage job and raising my son with the help of my parents.

I finally started my new career in 2018 thinking that my life would be better now that I had a better income, but that was simply not the case. On the one hand I did have a better structured schedule, but the long hours kept me away from my son. I had to work on Sundays, and some Saturdays as well… I did not get the freedom I thought I would have.

And just when I thought I had things sort of figured out, my son was diagnosed with ADHD. With all of the struggles that ADHD children deal with, traditional schooling was not an ideal fit for him. So, I realized I had to homeschool him.

It wasn’t long after that I realized working a 9-to-5, homeschooling, and the single parent life was too much work to ask of one person.

So I had to figure out how I was going to be able to manage it all…

Most people view failure and loss as a negative thing, but I’ve turned it into my superpower.

It’s so much easier to give up on life and quit when things get hard. And honestly, I struggled with that myself. I thank God everyday for helping me focus moment by moment because that was the only thing that helped me press on.

I’m so grateful for my past struggles because they led me to create my marketing business, Selah Marketing. I decided to start my own business to help other business owners with their marketing journey, and have the flexibility that I needed with my son.

I’ve been in the marketing industry for almost 5 years and since then I’ve learned, grown, advanced, and improved.

I built a business designed to help course creators and coaches build a sustainable online business without sacrificing family and personal time. Using automated sales funnels and FB ads.

So much of my story comes from my upbringing and struggles. It has shaped my drive, personality and work ethic. I’m proud that I’m the first generation, born and raised in America and first generation to graduate college in my family.

Today I’m a Latin woman with a small business. All because of my grandfather, who came to America to provide a better life for his family. I’m truly grateful for my family’s hard work and I’m so very proud of our family’s journey and progress.

My mission at Selah Marketing is to empower a diverse group of women and come alongside them to assist them to pursue their dreams and not have to limit their family time in the process. By helping them generate automated sales leads, to grow their business. Because we can be present as mothers for our family and become successful CEOs.

If you’re in a difficult place like I found myself in, don’t give up! Like Dr. King said, “whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”

Let’s do it for the ones we love!

Find Christina Here:

Instagram | Website | Facebook

Christina Hernandez is a single parent to an amazing teenage son. She graduated with a music and composition degree at MBI. She has also studied digital marketing and Facebook ads. And is an influencer and business educator.

May 4 2022

Diversity in Action: How our community members engage in diveristy

SayHiLBI@gmail.com Boss Blog, Core Values Core Values, Diversity, Women in Business 0

When we talk about our core values, we don’t want to just highlight them from the LBI team side of things. We also want to share and include the perspective of our community members and how each value shows up and impacts their business.

Recently we shared a definition of diversity that we really resonated with and asked for feedback from our community with a few specific questions.

The definition we shared was this:

A mix of differences in any particular setting to include but not necessarily limited to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, age, or generation, and job function.
from Inclusive Conversations by Mary Frances Winters

The first question we asked is if our community members had any additions to this definition and what they might change based on how they do business.

Pamela Jarrin, from Bien Box, had this to say: “I think diversity should include the varieties of neurodivergent women, if they are introverted or extroverted since that affects how people show up in their business.”

When we asked what diversity looks like in their businesses, the women who responded had this to say:

Martine Stefanovic shared “I have the amazing opportunity to serve businesses with a beautiful mix of backgrounds and experiences. This has allowed me to learn so much from each business and it has really helped shape the businesswoman I am becoming.”

And Lakeisha Muhummad said, “In my business diversity looks like attracting who I am seeking and it’s not a limited thought connected to their color, race, creed, sexuality, or religion. Being able to service those who seek what I have to offer them.”

Pamela added, “I am a Latina owned business that welcomes everybody as a client. My main focus is to bring diversity with my vendors since I find that many small business are misrepresented or lack representation in other companies. Hence, I have chosen to purchase my products from Latinx, BIPOC, women owned businesses.”

When we asked about a time that they advocated for diversity, our community members had this to share –

Lakeshia: “I speak about diversity through my own personal story and how me and my siblings were raised, but also through other experiences I’ve had in life with other people. Including speaking about systems and how they look different for people.”

Martine added: “2020 was the year where many faced the relating that diversity was not always a top priority for many businesses. In the summer of 2020, I was involved in creating a Black Caucus for the Black women in the company I worked for. It was wonderful to work with a company that was willing to listen, learn and implement plans to make a space for their Black publishers to be heard and seen.”

We continued on with the conversation to ask who our community members integrate diverse perspectives into their businesses.

Pam shared: “Making sure that people know my business is Latina owned and bringing a mix of entrepreneurs from different backgrounds.”

Lakeshia had this to say: “By being open minded and also being honest that no we don’t all have to look alike sound alike or do things alike to share space or even potentially work together. I focus on purpose and intentions which have aligned me with meeting all kinds of people.”

And Martine added, “As a community manager, I often have the opportunity to help plan content with my clients. As a content creator, I believe there is a responsibility to help bring forth diversity wherever I see it may be lacking. Everyone deserves to be seen and recognized.”

We absolutely loved hearing from the members of our LBI Backstage Pass community about their thoughts and perspectives on diversity and how it shows up in their businesses. We can’t wait to continue our community conversations and sharing insights as we continue to share more about our core values and how they impact the community we’re building and the mission we’re on!

Find Pamela here: website | instagram

Find Lakeshia here: published articles on our LBI Boss Blog | instagram

Find Martine here: website | instagram

May 2 2022

At Ladyboss International We Value Diversity

SayHiLBI@gmail.com Boss Blog, Core Values Core Values, Diversity, Women in Business 0

At the LBI Backstage Pass, we believe diversity is key component to success. It’s important for us not only in the community we’re creating, but also when it comes to who we partner with. We value differences of opinion and welcome new perspectives that will allow us to grow as a platform.

The team behind the LBI Backstage Pass is 100% dedicated to making sure that our community and platform is diverse and welcoming to all womxn from every walks of life!

Inside the LBI Backstage Pass Diversity Means…

True story telling – We desire that the BsP is a place where all are welcome to share their authentic stories. We want this to be an inclusive space that honors cultural backgrounds, prioritizes open communication, active listening and showing humanity to all.

Passing the Mic – Diversity means “passing the mic”, a favorite term of our founder Rose Kaz, and means that we are actively co-creating access to a platform that amplifies all voices. We’re creating curiosity about other’s stories and empowering each other to share, to listen and to practice compassion through empathy. We are collaborating and inspiring others to have the courage to speak up. All stories matter in our community and we want to mirror that to the world at large.

Access – A warm welcome is waiting for you inside the BSP. We want all to feel seen, heard and empowered. And then have the courage to mirror that energy back into their own world. We believe in practicing what we preach, and have seen the ripple effect that happens when we as leaders set the tone. There is a magnetic alignment and open accessibility in our community that is unlike any other!

Making the door bigger – We envision a platform and community that is constantly expanding. We’re creating more seats at the table, and paving the way for all. When we throw the door wide open, and then make the door(s) even bigger, we create infinite possibilities for all to grow, expand and achieve our dreams. This inclusive and diverse energy becomes magnetic and allows us to create even more opportunities for others.

Careful and mindful – Integrity and Intentionality are important factors in our view of diversity. We are specifically creating a space that is open, encouraging and conscious of the need for leadership in this arena.

Asking for accountability – Recognizing that we’re human and fallible, we openly ask to be held accountable. We are beholden to the community that we are serving and supporting. Honest feedback is vital to creating the collaborative community we dream of. We practice active listening when feedback is given and examine where we can grow and improve as a team.

Cultural awareness – The LBI Backstage Pass is to be a global movement and an experience that isn’t restricted by location or time zones. This is a space for all to tell the stories relevant to their culture and experience. Through education and edutainment, we welcome all and invite you to show up, share, and change the “gold standard” of female entrepreneurship.

Non-violent communication – Our space is meant to be a platform that allows us to facilitate hard conversations, in a safe environment. We fully recognize that HOW you say something is just as important what you are saying and we open the floor to all who can participate with kindness, actively listening and honor the safe space we’re creating. We want to show up and create change in the world from a place of softness and femininity.

The word diversity is thrown around a lot these days. But what does it mean to us? By now you should have a pretty good idea about what our team believes diversity looks like in our community and how we are committed to creating access for all. We believe that by asking for accountability from ourselves as well as others, you can create a safe space where anyone has the opportunity to share their story without fear of judgment or retribution.

What does diversity look like in your business?

January 31 2022

What inclusivity means to our Fem Founder

SayHiLBI@gmail.com Boss Blog, Core Values Core Values, Diversity, Elevate, Inclusive 0

Hi, it’s me, Rose Kaz. Have we met ??

I’m a commercial photographer, recovering showgirl & business activist. I have been a woman in business for most of my adult life. I’ve had a few ‘jobs’ and quickly learned that I am an entrepreneur inside and out; as Napoleon Hill calls us ‘serial boat burners’. Though instead of burning things down, I am most interested in building things up, specifically social media built by women, for women globally so that we can take center stage in our businesses & in our lives! I firmly believe a women lead world will be a better world for everyone.

In recent years of social uprising, Covid lockdowns and our recurring opportunities to look at how and why we do what we do, I’ve often been asking myself about what inclusivity really means to me, to the work we are doing on the LBI Backstage Pass and overall, what it means for Women in Business. To say I’ve been to the drawing board a few times is a vast understatement and I suspect that I won’t stop drafting anytime soon. There’s this ongoing urge for me to do more, say more and do my god blessed best to ensure all women globally feel welcome in this world; even when, honestly, I do not.

It’s been said we often build the worlds we wish to live in. I can say with absolute certainty that’s exactly what I am up to with my LBI Backstage Pass crew. Now let’s be clear:

I realize every day that I absolutely do not have the answers to what a truly inclusive world looks like. But what I do know, is what it does not look like! With that said, I’ve made it my mission to remain open to feedback, questions, comments, concerns, cancels and call outs!

I also am aware that as a white woman, my privilege proceeds my imposter syndrome, my occasional social anxiety ( yea, even extroverts get it!!) and a variety of other ‘issues’ that sometimes leave me feeling not exactly welcome. This said, my sisters with darker skin have absolutely experienced far more occasions of exclusion than I. And I have empathy and want for everyone to feel welcome.

When we first launched the platform in Fall 2021, I was canceled once a week, seriously.

First by a cyst gendered, white male who told me I ‘was not man enough’ for this to be a successful endeavor of building social media by women, for women. Ha! Ok, Bro!

The next week I wasn’t Brown enough, the week after that I wasn’t Gay enough and the week following, not Hebrew enough. And let me just tell you that as a small statured but loud, Queer, Jewish, Woman, I’ve also had my own experiences of not knowing exactly where I fit in. AND that’s why I want to make sure that anyone & everyone who wants to do life differently, who wants to see our systems change, who wants to pull back the curtain on how we do business knows that we are building stages together so that we can ALL BE WELCOME. If the systems that be will not include our valuable perspectives, we will build our own, thank you very much, Bro!

So let’s talk about the value of the intersection of diversity – in people, in fields of business, and in various levels of experience as an entry to inclusivity.

Sure, I could reference ye old dictionary definitions of what the word to include really means but let’s face it, you’re reading this on a device connected to Google, so you got that search on your own, Boss! And over the arch of time, we can see that knowledge shared from people with more experience is just as valuable as the pure, unadulterated innocence of insights from new thought leaders. Same can be said for each person’s human experience offering a unique perspective, especially when that point of view is coming from a variation of cultural background, age or life path than my own; from a different socio-economic level than what I have been born into or even just from an alternative area of study, expertise or line of work.

When I talk about inclusivity with the LBI Backstag Pass crew, I lead with the intention that to be inclusive is to listen more than talk, to slow business down because in order to include everyone, this will take time. And to my surprise, honest and true surprise, slowing down for this well intending inclusion is really fucking hard for me. I really do want everyone’s voice to be heard whilst simultaneously being super efficient so as to also honor people’s time. Spoiler alert….doesn’t happen that way because to listen also takes time, to stop the express train of business takes pause and to really do bizz differently, takes the long way, yo!

And every day, I’m absolutely re-working our timeline, drafting another way to include more perspectives. That is, I’m 1000% a work in progress on this, every blessed day.

And I’m totally ok with that.

December 21 2021

Diversity in Action: How we follow through on our core values.

SayHiLBI@gmail.com Boss Blog Core Values, Diversity 0

Our Core Values are part of the fabric of our community – they extend to both internal and external aspects. As we’ve being going through the beta phase of your community and laying the foundation we want to grow from, we’ve dialed into what our core values look like, feel like, and how they make an impact for every one involved.

Our core value of diversity has been no different.

We’ve talked about how it’s more than just optics and shared some powerful Ladyboss quotes and insights, now it’s time to share a little more —

How we activate diversity in our community.

We try to instill a sense of diversity and inclusion at every touch point of the community –

visuals that represent the members of our community in all their amazingness.
asking for opinions and insights from our community and including them in the content we create and share – from instagram, to the blog, to inside the Backstage Pass itself.
offering scholarships to help more people join the community and be a part of the conversation.
actively listening to understand where people are coming from and what they need.
“Passing the Mic” and creating space to amplify the stories of all our community members.
asking critical questions that help us think about how we can stay true to our core value of diversity.

Inside the LBI Backstage pass diversity is an opportunity to intentionally include voices that aren’t typically believed or included in the conversation. This can be seen in everything from team structure, events programming and even who we highlight on our social media platforms.

We know that diversity isn’t a “one and done” value. True diversity is ever evolving, expanding and impacting those it touches. We’re on this journey for the long haul and we’re committed to enacting and maintaining our core value of diversity on a daily basis!

We hope you’ll join us on this journey and tell us about your own experiences with diversity in your business below!