The Challenges of Leading Diverse Teams
Today’s work environment is full of challenges for today’s leadership including uncertainty with post-COVID business models; attracting adequate talent to support customer demands as well as navigating increasingly divisive social-political community dialogues around business diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. This presentation will attempt to offer leaders’ perspectives on what DEI is and isn’t and how its challenges might be addressed.
Bio: Faye Richardson-Green believes people matter and are the differentiator in achieving organizational success. To that end, she frequently uses human-centered approaches to influence people performance and organizational culture change. Willing and able to address tough issues in a sensitive manner, Richardson-Green envisions making a difference in the world by inspiring individuals and organizations to adopt critical behavioral and mindset shifts needed to grow and thrive. Her primary strengths are listening deeply, challenging systemically, and thinking innovatively, especially when differing worldviews are present.
With more than 40 years of broad-based leadership experience and local market insight within for-profit and not-for-profit business sectors in Western Michigan, Richardson-Green has influenced the strategic direction of numerous organizations in roles as diverse as co-founder, committee chair, facilitator, and board trustee. These organizations include public and parochial school systems, healthcare systems, leadership institutions, foundations, and not-for-profit human services.
Faye Richardson-Green began her professional career in banking branch management. She continued developing her leadership capabilities during her 33 years at Steelcase Inc., a global work environments company. In 2015, she founded Richardson-Green Consulting LLC to share her expertise and knowledge with others. Known for her expertise in leadership development as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion, she frequently coaches and facilitates business professionals in the Midwest. Presently, Richardson-Green is a visiting professor at Grand Valley State University teaching a course on leading diverse work teams.
Richardson-Green’s broad-based community experience has resulted in her receiving many distinguished local awards, including: “Community Trustee” through the Grand Rapids (GR) Area Chamber of Commerce Center for Community Leadership; “Tribute” through the West Michigan YWCA; “Racial Justice Unity” through the Knights and Ladies of Peter Claver of the GR Catholic Diocese; and “The Raymond C Tardy Community Service Giant” recognition through the GR Community College Bob and Aleicia Woodrick Center for Equity and Inclusion.
Richardson-Green attended the Executive Institute on Women and Leadership at Stanford University. Richardson-Green earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Oakland University in Rochester, MI. The “Certified Diversity Professional” credential was bestowed by Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations in 2009 and “Certification in Cultural Intelligence” in 2016. Richardson-Green and her husband, Bob, reside in the greater Grand Rapids and share four sons, two daughters-in-law, eleven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.