Transcript excerpt of Lybra Clemons speaking about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in leadership. Clemons criticizes excuses for not hiring diverse talent, calls for accountability (performance goals and compensation tied to DEI), and emphasizes the value of senior leaders who reflect diverse backgrounds.
These are the things that drive me crazy. Why are we lowering the bar when. When asked about, like, hiring diverse talent or we can't find them, like they're just some, like, weird truffle somewhere you got to find off the mountaintop in Italy. It's just the same conversations over and over again. I'm not racist. I hired so and so. That's actually not what we're talking about. It's very hard to really get people to shift their thinking and their behaviors if they are not held accountable to it. Like, they are their actual performance goals and they need to be compensated based on whether they actually do them or not. I am a black VP. Black VPs are a lifeline. When you have senior people that look like you, that, to me, is super important. If you are not creating the prototype of the type of leader that you want at your company that incorporates diversity, equity, and inclusion, then you're going to have some serious challenges and problems. So if you're really caring, you want to spend some time and get to know. My name is Libra Clemens, and I am ready to make change.
