Navigating DEI Challenges: Mindset, Data, and Psychological Safety with Desmond Lomax
Eps. #74 June 11TH, 2024
🌈 Pride Month is here, and we're talking about navigating diversity, inclusion, and religious accommodations in the workplace.
In this episode of the HR Mixtape podcast hosted by Shari Simpson, Desmond Lomax, a seasoned clinical mental health therapist and senior consultant at the Arbinger Institute, discusses the misconceptions and challenges surrounding DEI programming in organizations. The conversation delves into the importance of authentic engagement, leadership buy-in, and the impact of mindset on behavior in creating inclusive workplaces.
Key Takeaways:
DEI efforts should be directly connected to performance, not just seen as a checkbox activity.
Leaders need to address their mindset and impact on others to create a psychologically safe environment.
Rebranding DEI initiatives as inclusion programs can help overcome political polarization and gain C-suite support.
Don't miss this insightful episode for valuable insights on navigating DEI challenges in the workplace.
Guest(s): Desmond Lomax, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, The Arbinger Institute
Desmond Lomax is a clinical mental health therapist who worked in the field of law enforcement and corrections for over 20 years. He retired from the Utah Department of Corrections, where he worked as the community programming director, in early 2020 and joined Arbinger as a senior consultant.
At the Utah Department of Corrections, Desmond worked to expand treatment resources for those on probation and parole throughout the State of Utah. He has a passion for helping others and was led by this passion to the field of therapy and corrections. He thoroughly enjoyed facilitating outward mindset workshops within the Utah Department of Corrections and saw the benefits that outward mindset brought to the department and the community it serves.
Desmond is an adjunct professor for the University of Utah in the field of forensic social work, He is a past president of the Utah Mental Health Counseling Association. He has a wife of 22 years who is a two-time cancer survivor.
