When I started with Experian nearly 25 years ago, I was at a point in my personal life where I was still embracing all the aspects of who I am and how these truths would show up in my professional life. Thankfully, it didn’t take long to realize I could be myself without worrying how I would be received or fear of compromising future professional opportunities.
While tensions over our differences still divide us, corporate America is doing better at embracing diversity, and understanding the quality of decisions that are made when diverse voices are at the table. It’s a privilege to have spent my career with a company where bringing your whole self to work is not only OK, but also expected.
Inclusion is important, but belonging is what we need to strive to achieve. To best serve potential borrowers and create a more equitable path to homeownership, we have to be deliberate in this quest. We have a responsibility to build a more inclusive industry, and this starts with building great teams within each of our organizations.
Imagine if everyone in your business felt as safe as I do to bring their whole selves to work. The mental and emotional energy our teammates spend sheltering aspects of their lives that make them who they are saddens me. If they were empowered to bring their diverse experiences to the table, could they bond with others quicker, positively affecting team performance and achieving goals faster? Could they help someone else know it was OK to be fully themselves and watch them confidently come into work every day?