Permission: Granted Speaker Series

After years of conversations and consultations, research and interviews regarding Diversity & Inclusion – I’ve learned that companies don’t have diversity problems, they have people problems. For too long diversity has been blamed for loss of productivity, discrimination and a litany of other workplace faux pas but diversity has never been the issue, it can’t be – people and their BS are the problem.

I solve people problems NOT diversity problems!

What I have also gleaned from almost 20 years in business is that these so-called “diversity” issues come from a term I’ve coined called Bias Synapse, easily remembered as BS. Bias Synapse explains our brains role in creating and keeping bias alive within us but no matter how you spin it, it’s ALL BS.

Speaker/Training Series

Permission: Granted to Get Rid of Your BS

Whether implicit or conscious, bias is the number one threat to humanity and any company’s success. If your company’s goal is to create cohesiveness within your organization, increase revenue, be innovative and/or elevate your reputation-the bias in your workforce and community is a roadblock. You know the problem. Permission::Granted is your answer.

Throughout this session, Risha allows attendees to express their biases, while giving them easily applicable tools to get over them, however screwed up they may be. Although diversity can often be an uncomfortable topic, Risha’s approach helps attendees to understand the concept, without feeling bored or judged.

Attendees will leave this conversation with:

• An understanding of Diversity & Inclusion
• A thorough awareness of his/her biases
• A realization of how his/her biases originated
• A recognition of the symptoms and results of bias
• Tools to address bias internally and externally
• Tips to navigate bias in the workplace

Permission: Granted to Build an Inclusive Culture

Building an inclusive culture is imperative to business success. Learn the keys to creating a culture that welcomes all employees, boosts retention and productivity. During this talk, Risha shares applicable tips and strategies to take your company’s culture to the next level.

Seminar includes:

• Keys to attract and retain top diverse talent
• Strategies to showcase how an inclusive culture provides a competitive advantage
• Stuff she thinks is important (that you should write down) as you establish your inclusive culture

Permission: Granted to Attract Diverse Markets

Companies need to know how to get diverse customers to buy their products and services. Why?

Because business sustainability, competitive advantage, a constantly changing economy and trillions in buying power. During this session, Risha will share with attendees the keys to effectively engage various diverse groups and provide them with tips to create a diversity communications strategy for their company.

Attendees will leave this seminar understanding how to:

• Create a successful diversity communications plan of action
• Communicate to diverse audiences
• Market to diverse groups vs. mainstream audiences

The Permission: Granted Program is tailored to fit a variety of topics and lengths. It can be customized as a keynote speech, half-day or full day workshop to take an in-depth look at multiple topics.

Contact me to start planning your custom Permission: Granted program.

Attendees have had this to say…

(I need) To recognize my own biases and be direct yet kind about calling people out who make insensitive or biased remarks.

Diversity & Inclusion training can be interactive; it doesn’t have to be boring.

The most important thing that I learned was a better understanding of personal biases.

Excellent training.

I would recommend this seminar to other agencies.

Presenter did a good job dealing with sensitive topics.

Should be mandatory training.

This class was very educational.

What attendees like best…

Discussions on bias

The speaker’s passion

The required interaction with others

Stories about the speaker’s own biases

The class participation was fun. Risha’s real-life examples using her own family was great and helped to make the class relevant to real life.

The facilitator was knowledgeable and the length of the class was just right.

The interaction between the speaker and the group.