Welcome to this episode of the Intersection Podcast! Today, I’m privileged to host Suzanne Jakstavich, Human Resource Executive, Leadership Coach and proud mom. Suzanne has a deep commitment to developing people and culture strategies that empower talent, foster growth, and drive business success.

Suzanne's leadership journey was shaped by personal experiences, including growing up with disabled grandparents and observing her parents' work environments. Her people-centric approach emphasizes psychological safety, curiosity, and vulnerability as essential elements of leadership.

In our conversation, Suzanne delves into the challenges facing organizations today, such as:

• managing multi-generational workforces
• navigating work-life integration
• and combating burnout in hybrid work environments.

She underscores the importance of leadership capabilities in allyship, mentorship, and sponsorship to create inclusive and affirming workplaces.

Balancing her career while caring for her autistic son has taught Suzanne the importance of resilience, self-reflection, and finding supportive communities.

Her advice for leaders centers on adopting a growth mindset, prioritizing learning, and remaining curious amidst change.

If given a magic wand, Suzanne would improve employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, recognizing the transformative power that everyone can bring to the workplace..

Join us as we explore the dynamic intersection of leadership, inclusivity, and workplace culture with Suzanne Jakstavich.

Thank you for listening!

Resources:

Suzanne Jakstavich’s Linkedin
Aspire Chicago

Welcome to this week's episode of the Intersection Podcast! We are excited to have Kate North, a workplace strategy expert, to explore hybrid work and its impact on inclusive workplaces.

As a principal at Global Workplace Analytics (GWA), Kate brings over 30 years of experience as a trusted advisor to business, HR, and real estate leaders. Her passion lies in crafting transformative workplace strategies that align organizational culture with business goals.

Kate is dedicated to helping organizations optimize hybrid work arrangements to boost innovation, engagement, and inclusivity.

The highlights of our discussion about the future of the workplace:

• The challenges and opportunities surrounding hybrid work models.
• Why we must be intentional when designing hybrid workplace models to ensure inclusive cultures.
• The significance of gathering employee feedback, testing different approaches, and prioritizing employee experience.
• Why it is imperative for leaders to be empathetic and transparent when leading in hybrid models

Thank you for listening! You can also follow Kate North for more on hybrid work, and the future of the workplace

Thank you for listening!

Resources:

Hybrid work article
Inclusivity article
Kate North Linkedin

Welcome to this week's episode of the Intersection Podcast! We are honored to have Emily Voorde, Founder and CEO of INTO Strategies, a disabled-led firm dedicated to fostering inclusivity in moments, movements, and campaigns.

Emily’s journey from an AmeriCorps member to 2nd grade teacher and then serving as a liaison to Disabled Americans and K-12 educators in the Biden-Harris Administration is nothing short of inspiring. With a passion for justice and equitable access to education, Emily brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise on disability representation.

The highlights of our discussion:

• Emily shares insights from her career journey, including her experiences working on Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign and in the White House Office of Public Engagement.
• We delve into the prevalence of disabilities in the U.S. and the importance of distinguishing between having a disability and disabled identity.
• Practical steps organizations can take to foster disability inclusion including using inclusive language, auditing accessibility, and collecting data on disability representation.
• The impact of disability inclusion on organizational culture and the competitive advantage it brings.

Thank you for joining this vital conversation. You can also follow Emily Voorde for more on advancing equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Thank you for listening!

Resources:

INTOStrategies.com
@INTOStrategies on Instagram
@ShortyVoorde on Instagram
Emily Voorde Linkedin