Episode 7: Identifying Employers that Prioritize Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging with Jamie Joshua Esq.
Guest Spotlight
Jamie Joshua is the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) at Cornell’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management. As Director, her job is to equip and empower students, faculty and staff with the skills and mindset needed to cultivate inclusive spaces, as well as to help the school develop its diversity, equity and inclusion strategy. Having received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2010, Jamie has been a member of the Maryland State Bar for over ten years. Before starting at the ODI in 2015 , Jamie spent four years as a practicing attorney in Maryland. Jamie is passionate about promoting diversity in the fields of law, science, and education. This passion has inspired her to begin coaching young professionals, graduates, and students as they identify and chart a course to the life they want to lead. When not at the ODI or coaching future leaders, Jamie loves helping her mother shoot and promote her YouTube cooking channel, A Pinch of Kerala, or watching any movie or TV show based on comic books.
Questions Jamie Addresses in this Episode
Please walk us through your career path.
What’s the best career advice you have ever been given?
What does diversity and inclusion in the workplace encompass?
Tell us about your current role as Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell. How has your legal training helped you in this role?
When job seekers are researching companies to apply to, what are indicators that a company prioritizes diversity and inclusion (beyond the standard statements). How can you tell it’s more than just PR and a true part of the company’s culture?
You had mentioned that Cornell’s Johnson School of Management is part of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management and on that site is a list of corporate partners making a difference. (https://cgsm.org/corporations/partner-list/) Could you tell me more about that partnership.
You lead the Diversity Council at Cornell’s Johnson School of Management and work with affinity club student leaders and the MBA Programs Team Administration to discuss climate of school and diversity initiatives. Could tell us about your work with this council and the affinity groups?
Do you recommend any resources for employees who would like to launch affinity groups at their current company? Are there national organizations with guidelines and best practices and support?
What about company leaders seeking advice on prioritizing diversity and inclusion for their company? Is the first step hiring an experienced Director of Diversity and Inclusion to lead the way and creating a new department solely focused on Diversity and Inclusion?
You initiated the Ally training into the Immersion curriculum for all 1st year MBA students, and you train faculty and staff for difficult conversations and unconscious bias. Please share some highlights of what these sessions cover. Are there resources you recommend for our audience to learn more?
Any final advice for job seekers of all ages as they explore opportunities?
Mentioned In Today’s Episode
There are no affiliate links in this episode.