Ganesh Jayaram’s Post

I'm sitting in the Miami airport reflecting on the past few days at sea on Virgin Voyages with so many amazing Chief members: connecting with each other, finding rest, talking shop and having fun. These experiences, for me, solidify the idea that organizations only exist as a platform for human connection toward achieving a common goal. No matter the organization, the type, how you affiliate; whether it's an organization where you work, where you give, where you grow; whether it's public, private, for profit, non profit...All organizations exist as a platform for human connection toward achieving a common goal and that goal is impossible to achieve without people. At the end of the day, we're all searching for connection to our work, our purpose, our communities and to each other. As #leaders, I invite you this week to think about the ways YOU are connected, connecting and creating connection for those on your team. This is the work behind #inclusion, #belonging and healthy, high performing teams. It's not #rto or pizza parties. It's intentionally creating space for meaningful connection and experiences. You may not be able to take your team on a cruise, but you can find meaningful way to create space for connection - and watch the magic happen. It's work. But it's worthy. #chief #connection #leadership #culture

Last week I was invited by Paul A. McDonnough to #20LeadersIn20Minutes a Q&A series aimed at the global leaders of American Express Global Business Travel Black Engagement Network One of Paul’s questions really stuck with me: 🤔: What does the Global Lens of DE&I look like 5-10 years from now, are we losing momentum? Below is a brief summary of my response to him! I would love my LinkedIn community to chime in, what are your thoughts? And the American Express Global Business Travel leaders that were on the call what were your key takeaways? "Global DE&I efforts are gaining momentum, with organisations worldwide recognising their role in driving innovation and social progress. Policy changes and technological advancements, like AI, are expected to propel initiatives forward. Grassroots activism and corporate leadership are shaping a more inclusive future. While challenges persist, the momentum towards diversity and equity remains strong. Recent analysis projects that minority Americans will constitute the majority of the population by 2050, emphasising the urgency of DE&I efforts."

How inspiring to have one of the most prominent voices in our industry, Kelly Craighead President and CEO of CLIA | Cruise Lines International Association join our Women Warriors at Princess Cruises Holland America Group and Carnival Corporation. With an impressive digest of leadership roles from The White House to the United States Department of Commerce, she led initiatives that generated more than $250 billion USD annually from International visitors to the United States. Key takeaways: If we support others, success will come Never underestimate the positive impact you can and are having Instead of looking for work/life balance, find a way for them to co-exist in harmony

Representation matters. It is so important that we see people who share similar backgrounds in different areas! We hosted a panel discussion where our Asian American leaders discussed the impact of career journeys, navigating the dichotomy of Asian cultures focusing on the collective and Corporate America on the individual and valuing education and strong work ethic. I found these takeaways to be powerful and want to share with you as well: -Find moments to share brave and authentic stories about yourself because it would help us feel less alone. -Have a buddy system with whom you can grow together and encourage accountability. -It is okay to fail and to fail spectacularly! -It is also okay to have an accent - I definitely internalize this and embrace this for myself! Thank you to Steve Mason for his executive sponsorship of Asian talent, and our leaders for their bravery and vulnerability (Rupa P., Himanshu Doshi, Nicole Kim, and Preety S.) #AAPI #AsianLeaders #Mentors #Mentorship #CardinalHealth

I recently connected with Emma Kate Protis, a DEI colleague at Delta Airlines. Talk about iron that sharpens iron!💥 I appreciated her perspective as someone in the DEI field. Here’s what I learned: 1️⃣ FIND A COALITION OF THE WILLING: We chatted about employee sentiment and DEI backlash. She shared: ✨✨“Don’t focus on the 20%” of employees who may be not interested in the work (DEI). Remember the movable middle and how you are helping to move people along in their journey.”✨✨ So apropos.🔥 2️⃣ PACE YOURSELF. We discussed that in advancing any kind of change, you can’t expect an instant ROI. So, building trust, investing in relationships and focusing on long term outcomes are a way to sustain momentum….and your focus over time. It’s a marathon, not a sprint!🏃🏽♀️ 3️⃣ PERSPECTIVE IS EVERYTHING. She gently reminded me that DEI can be soul crushing work 💔After some reflection, here’s my advice for DEI practitioners: ✅ You can’t do this work alone 👥 so find your people ✅ Take the time to listen👂🏽& learn 🧠 ✅ Keep gathering tools 🛠️ for your toolbox (chess♟️, not checkers) ✅ Leave room for a new perspective💡 ✅ Push when you need to💯 And rest when you need to💕 . Her insights were so refreshing! Anything else you would add to the list? . #diversityequityinclusion #leadership #inclusion #womenworkwell #womenleaders

On my way back home from Canada, this article in an in-flight magazine caught my attention. It discusses leadership styles that unite different generations of workers. One quote in particular jumped out at me: "This isn't about DE&I (diversity, equity, and inclusion) per se, this is about creating cultures where everyone can bring their best work." That is indeed the dream =)! #diversity #dei #leadership

Do top performers tend to overvalue their role in the workplace? Indispensability is a myth. Surveys suggest that many corporate professionals, especially high achievers, feel indispensable but history disproves this. The world didn't stop with the loss of great minds like Einstein, Gandhi, Mandela, or Socrates. Their absence posed initial challenges, but progress continued. It's important to take pride in our accomplishments without crossing into egoism, just as humility should not make us feel worthless. Balance is key. Realizing we're not essential doesn't mean neglecting our duties. It's about being proud and humble without falling into the trap of thinking we're indispensable. When you feel too important, it's time to step back and move forward with a balanced perspective. President Charles de Gaulle once famously said, "Graveyards are full of indispensable people." Let's navigate our careers with humility, pride, and awareness that we're part of something bigger. #ProfessionalGrowth #Humility

As we enter into AAPI Heritage Month, it's so encouraging to see others like my good friend Norman P. discovering an article that I co-wrote with Harish Hemmige and Rachel Ellison last fall. Upon a fresh reading, there was one part that really stood out to me this year: "Some 32% of Asian American survey respondents strongly agreed that they would like to reach a management role in their organization, but only 19% of respondents believed that they have a fair opportunity to reach upper management." In the article, we don't elaborate on this statistic much further, but it occurred to me that as long as the AAPI community continues to exhibit this gap between aspiration and affirmation, we essentially destine ourselves to the executive representation disparity that we so often bemoan. In 1977, Albert Bandura coined the term "self-efficacy", which refers to a person's belief in their own ability to succeed in a task. The hypothesis is that greater levels of self-efficacy result in greater levels of resiliency in the face of adversity, therefore increasing the likelihood of achieving a goal. You must first believe that you can demonstrate a positive behavior before you enter a setting where those positive behaviors can produce positive outcomes. Are there still systemic and environmental factors at play? Sure. But perhaps just as important is the need to shift our inner dialog -- that this isn't "just the way it is". Rather, that in order for this to change, we must also believe that it can change. #aapi #aapiheritagemonth

Our cultural heritage is an essential part of who we are. Cultural adaptability doesn't mean leaving behind our roots; it's about expanding our horizons. While we grow and embrace new perspectives, it's vital to stay connected to our cultural identity. Thriving in diverse environments goes beyond coexistence; it requires the ability to flourish amid differences. Flexibility and adaptability are key: 💚 Flexibility means welcoming new ways of thinking, behaving, and problem-solving, just like a tree sways with the wind. Embracing change is an opportunity for growth. 💚 Adaptability involves integrating lessons from cultural diversity into our lives. It's like a chameleon adapting to its surroundings, helping us respond effectively to evolving circumstances in the global landscape. As you might have guessed, cross-cultural adaptation and integration is the theme of this week’s download. You can get your free copy here: https://bit.ly/45y4Yth ❣️ Shoko #LeadershipJourney #MindfulHabits #MondayMorningRituals #LeadershipRituals #RestandRecharge #WeekendRituals #shokokmasuda 🌍 #CulturalAdaptability #EmbraceChange #CulturalIdentity

“When we are talking about diversity, it’s not a box to check. It is a reality that should be deeply felt and held and valued by all of us.” – Ava DuVernay 💙 Today Southwest Airlines had our annual in person Inclusion Summit, and we had the chance to hear from SWAmazing guest speakers (including our CEO Bob Jordan), break out activities, and to step out of our confort zobe. While Inclusion is felt everyday hear at Southwest – we dedicate time to provide resources for all employes on how to listen, learn, and transform our understanding of each other and move towards inclusion for ALL 💪🏾💪🏻💪 ❤️ One of the many things I LUV about Southwest Airlines is, we are not afraid to say we aren't perfect, but we are getting there. Our number one goal is to make sure everyone can authentically exist in public, without fear. Mistakes are going to happen, as we learn from one another - but we must learn it is okay to admit we are wrong – and just remember we are more alike than different. We are only experts in our own experience, therefore be curious, be courageous, and be vulnerable – but also remember to be respectful 🫶🏾🫶🏻🫶. 💛 As a company, we take the "me" out of everything, because it takes "every single one of us". It is an honor to be able to represent Pride🏳️🌈 for our DEI Council, showing support, and seeing others simply being an ally for one another. Action is happening, it just takes time 👏👏🏻👏🏿. ✨️ You deserve to be able to be your authentic self and that it is okay to make mistakes. Because at Southwest, every individual matters, every individual has a role to play, every individual makes a difference: https://lnkd.in/gSgQFtfG ✨️ #recruiting #networking #dei #letsconnect #aviation #jobseekers #inclusion