Building Our Own Table: Dr. Nika White

Hello friends, when I refocused my career on equality and anti-racism, Dr. Nika White was one of the people I started following. Sometime later, we ended up in the same mastermind group. I value her voice, and I’m happy to be able to introduce her work. Please meet Dr Nika…

Dr. Nika, tell me briefly about your background prior to founding Nika White Consulting

I have nearly 20 years of experience, and am using my communications background to effect change in the community and world. Before founding Nika White Consulting, a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) management consulting firm, I fostered open dialogue, built trust, and engaged key stakeholders to build support and strategies ensuring all individuals can feel safe, heard and appreciated at work through my work with the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, D&I leader and Management Supervisor at Erwin Penland Advertising and Senior Account Executive at Allegro Advertising.

Give me the elevator pitch for Nika White Consulting

NWC is a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) management consulting firm with recognized authority on strategic diversity, intentional inclusion, and organizational effectiveness. The firm’s focus is intersecting business, diversity and leadership to help organizations integrate DEI into their business frameworks.

And in more detail?

I help maximize people’s and organizations' effectiveness, potential, and capacity. My overall praxis and scholarship are in organizational development, specifically focusing on systematically operationalizing strategic and intentional efforts that foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). I maximize people’s and organizations' effectiveness, potential, and capacity through optimized systems and culture. This holistic approach centers organizations’ most essential asset - its human capital.

The heart of my work is at the intersection of organizational development and industrial psychology. I systematically move people and organizations toward change for better results. To ensure the alignment of goals and objectives for sustainable transformation, I rely on my extensive experience in marketing communications.

What inequity were you trying to redress/address, and why is this important?

To grow Intentional Inclusionists® and make DEI practical so that organizations can shift systems in support of cultivating a culture of belonging and go to the next level of the DEI journey. This is important in solving systematic racism. Everyone needs to take responsibility for the work of DEIB and to do that practitioners need to make it as assessable as possible. My newest book, ‘Inclusion Uncomplicated: A Transformative Guide to Simplify DEI’ published by Forbes Books, gives detailed ways to include DEIB in your everyday life.

How’s it going? What has the response been?

The response has been excellent. NWC celebrated its 6-year anniversary this year.

What’s next?

My goal is to focus on evolving in driving and championing DEIB initiatives within organizations to create sustainable impact.

In relation to racism, what is your vision for the future?

To create a society where all people and all organizations are intentional in their efforts and pursuit of equity, inclusion and belonging.

Thanks, Dr. Nika. Folx, please connect with Dr. Nika on her website, on LinkedIn and on Instagram.

Bonus: Three articles from Dr. Nika

To give a flavour of what Dr Nika shares, and a hint of what you might get in her book, here are three articles that stood out to me:

1. Rethinking Grief: The Hidden Impacts Of Non-Traditional Grief On Employee Happiness - “There’s more to grief than a loss of life. Expanding that definition to include non-traditional forms of grief like the loss of work opportunities, social connections, finances and more can create a new lens by which we view grief and what we can do to support those experiencing it.”

2. How To Hold People Accountable Without Shame - “Many people feel ashamed at the moment and can react poorly to being called out. But it’s important for you to practice empathy and self-control in moments like this because the ultimate goal is to encourage a change in behavior.”

3. How a Culture of Conformity Can Diminish Your Organization's DEI Goals - “encourage employees to challenge the status quo courageously but respectfully. A conformist culture causes us to exclude new ideas and compromise innovation opportunities in systems, processes, and new product/service offerings. “

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© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2023. All Rights Reserved.

Cover photo courtesy of Canva.

I am an anti-racism educator and activist, Co-Founder of Mission Equality the author of “I’m Tired of Racism”, and co-host of The Introvert Sisters podcast.