5 Things / found on TikTok
Here’s a real-life example of why diversity and inclusion is important. I don’t go on TikTok. Maybe I’m too old. But I have a team full of people who are different than me, and one of those people, October, is a Millennial and is non-binary. They sent me a link to a TikTok video in which user Star_Sama13 discovers that Old Navy has gender neutral clothes integrated throughout the store.
You can watch the emotional video here as the user tries on clothes and remarks on how these clothes showed up with zero fanfare. They’re thrilled that they don’t have to choose between the men’s and women’s departments.
This inclusion, which I hadn’t previously seen covered anywhere else in the media, matters because it normalizes all-gender fashion and gender diversity.
Having diversity on my team reduces the potential gaps in my worldview. It makes me a better person and a better leader, and that makes me better able to serve my company’s diverse clients. It’s as simple, but as significant, as that.
Here are some of the good vibes I learned this week:
Survivor fans will notice something different this season. Host Jeff Probst has stopped using the phrase, "Come on in, guys!" in an effort to use more inclusive language. This is a hard habit to break, even for me. But this matters because at the end of the day, 'guys' is a gendered term, and that means it's not inclusive of everyone.
In my book, I wrote about Chobani Yogurt Founder Hamdi Ulukaya’s The Tent Partnership which helps refugees get jobs. Ulukaya has a new Tent Coalition for Afghan Refugees with more than two dozen companies who have committed to joining Chobani in hiring, training, and resourcing Afghan refugees. This matters because the public sector's capacity is limited, and the private sector can play a significant role in supporting these refugees, especially when there's a worker shortage at many companies.
The NCAA "March Madness" basketball tournament will now include women's basketball under the brand. The commitment also promises greater financial equity. Although women's basketball is incredibly popular, the sport has been under-resourced at both the college and professional level. This decision by the NCAA matters because it's the equitable thing to do and shows greater investment in women athletes. Finally!
Lastly, Switzerland became the 30th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. It was one of the few holdouts in Western Europe. This matters because marriage rights should be equal, regardless of gender-- and this story is notable because there are still more than 150 countries without this basic right.
Screenshot from video by @Star_Sama13