This week, in the Diversity Corner podcast, I will be providing definitions for different terms and phrases pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion. There are many individuals who are unsure or just unaware of the true meanings about certain phrases or words such as Two Spirit or Equity versus Equality.

You will have a better understanding of some of these common everyday words which we hear whether it is in our growing diverse workplaces or in the mainstream society. In today’s growing diverse workplaces and multicultural society, it is important to distinguish what these terms are and how they should be used.

This week, in the Diversity Corner podcast, I talk about using proper terminology to address different cultures in Canada. It is not only appropriate but also important to be respectful when addressing  particular groups.

I am sure you have been in situations where you are not  sure how to address certain groups of people,  for example Indigenous Canadians. Should they be referred to as Indigenous, First Nations or Aboriginal, etc.? What about the people who are coming from India. Is the use of the term Indo-Canadian still acceptable? In addition to learning different terminology, you will also learn where and when these terminologies came into existence.

In today's multicultural society and diverse work environment, being sensitive and respectful is critical to being inclusive.

In this week's Diversity Corner podcast, I will answer three main questions about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). I chose these questions because I have been asked them on a number of occasions.

The three questions are: How serious are companies about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) ? Why is diversity still a topic of discussion? What can organizations do when it comes to DEI?

The answers may or may not surprise you, but they are from my perspective and somewhat eye opening.

This week on Diversity Corner, I am speaking with Arif Velji, an owner of several businesses in Canada. From early on he went out of his way to attract and serve clients from different ethnic groups from South Asian, Filipinos to people from the middle east and so on.

You will learn why it is important to target different ethnic groups and what they all have in common. He says reaching out to different clientele is one of the main reasons why his various business ventures have rebounded quickly after the Covid -19 shut down. In addition, he talks about how to interact with individuals who may look or act different than you.

These days, it is given that your organization will have employees and clientele from all cultural backgrounds. And knowing how to interact with them might set your business apart from your competitors.

These days a large number of organizations might be succeeding when it comes to diversity in their workplace, but are they inclusive? Many decision makers think they have inclusivity, but some polls suggest that is not the case.

In today’s podcast, Diversity Corner, I will talk about three simple points how you can make your workplace more inclusive. Inclusive work environment makes it possible for all to feel valued and acknowledging their differences.

This week on Diversity Corner, I am speaking with Jas Sahota who has built many businesses from the ground up. And he has held many positions within these organizations, including Human Resources.

You will learn how to meet the needs of employees in a multicultural work environment because individuals of different cultures have different needs. He also stresses the importance of mentoring, which can unleash the great potential for many employees. Jas also states that one of the most important things he has come to learn in his 30 year career is that people need to be a priority #1 in any business.

In today's constantly changing business climate, the greatest asset of any company is not the machinery, the buildings, but rather the personnel. When employees are valued and respected by the owners or decision makers, then the  bottom line is also impacted. 

In this episode, Diversity Corner, I speak with a well travelled architect,  Carman Kwan, who has a medium size firm called Architectural Collective in Vancouver, BC, Canada. 

Kwan, a Canadian of Asian descent, also shares some of her experiences of racism in the workplace where the owners refused to intercept.

You will learn how to lead a diverse cultural workforce and how to deal with some of the challenges. She adds that life expereinces, cultural elements and contributions made by her staff are immense. And they have become ambassadors of various ethnic communities.

She highlightes that newcomers to this country are more loyal, committed and giving than Canadian born.