In this rapid‑fire interview, Professor Pete Alexander talks with Becky Kekula, an international motivational speaker and disability‑inclusion advocate who lives with dwarfism. Becky shares her personal journey of facing discrimination in over 100 job interviews, which fuels her mission to make employment more inclusive for people with disabilities. She highlights the collaborative spirit among companies working on disability inclusion, noting that unlike other demographic agendas, firms are willing to share best practices to tackle unemployment for disabled workers. Becky advises that businesses treat diversity and inclusion like any other agenda—asking questions instead of making assumptions—and points out that most accommodations cost less than $500, often as little as a $10 step stool. For leaders, she stresses keeping an open mind, offering support only when permission is given, and providing constructive feedback, which she says is essential for growth and often lacking for disabled employees. Becky recommends fellow advocate Francisco Aller for future podcast episodes. She recounts her first job at Creative Artists Agency, where she worked in entertainment marketing and comedy touring, leveraging the role to influence media representation of people with disabilities and later founding the “Disability in Media” brand to share empowering stories. Listeners are directed to her website beckymotivates.com or her email beckymotivates@gmail.com for more information.
Chapters
This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast, where business leaders share their insights. It is 6 questions in 7 minutes because successful business leaders are busy and rarely have more time to spare. So let's get to it. Question number 1: In a few sentences, please tell me who you are and what you do.
Hello, I am Becky Kukula, and I am an international motivational speaker and disability inclusion advocate. I work in the space of disability inclusion because I identify as someone with dwarfism, part of the disability community, and when I was trying to enter the job market, I faced a lot of challenges. I went on 100 interviews and was judged by my appearance in every single interview, and I want to prevent that from happening to people in the future. So my work is dedicated to making the world more inclusive, especially when it comes to employment.
Oh, Becky, it's so great to have you on the show. Question number 2, what's the best thing about working in your industry?
I think the best thing about working in my industry specifically is working with a lot of companies in the same industry who are willing to work together to solve the unemployment rate for people with disabilities. In a lot of other demographic areas or in other— a lot of other agendas that companies may have, they're always competing and not willing to share best practices with each other. But when it comes to disability inclusion, nobody can solve the unemployment rate alone, so they're working together, which is awesome.
Oh, I love that. And it's, it's, it's, it's so needed, especially with what's going on now with the economy, etc. So I'm really, really grateful that you're on the show today. Question number 3. I have a fictitious book with all the answers for business. What chapter would you think most companies should read?
I think a lot of companies need to read about diversity and inclusion, and the key to that chapter is that you really don't treat it any differently than any other agenda, and you just treat people like people. You ask questions rather than making assumptions. People get very worried about people with disabilities being a liability or accommodations costing too much when most accommodations are less than $500. In my career, I've had a step stool for an accommodation in most scenarios, and that's $10. I think there's all that fear that prevents them from doing the great work. So it's overcoming your fear of including everyone in your workplace.
That is so well said. Thank you so much. Question number 4, other than the generic work harder, have a great attitude, and care for customers, what advice or insight would you give to other business leaders?
I would say keep an open mind. Let people know that you're there to support them on their journey. But don't try to step in people's way. Don't try to do something for someone without them giving you permission to help them. So put it out there that you're willing to support them on their journey, but let them tell you when they need the assistance. In addition, provide constructive feedback whenever possible, because that's the only way that people are going to learn and grow. I've craved that my entire life as someone with a physical difference. People are afraid of offending, afraid of saying the wrong things, and it prevents me from learning and growing. Because I need to learn from my mistakes and get better.
Absolutely. And both things that you mentioned are so powerful. And it's interesting, learning the right way or the proper way to give that constructive feedback is so critical because if it is communicated in a way that is very helpful, then the employee gets better and everybody wins. It reduces any kind of stress that might might be caused by the employee not doing the job the way, let's say, that they're expected to. Am I, am I understanding you correctly?
Absolutely. And a lot of people with disabilities are now getting employment opportunities, but they're getting entry-level employment opportunities, and they're not getting that support to learn and grow within organizations because they're not able to get that constructive feedback. And they deserve it. If they want to climb the ladder. And we should allow that and provide a space. And by talking about mistakes that are made and figuring out strategies on how to do better in the future, we all get better.
Mm-hmm, absolutely. You know, it's so well said. Thank you so much for that insight. Question number 5, what other business leader like yourself would you like to acknowledge and invite to be on my podcast?
I would love to invite a good friend, Francisco Aller. He went to my alma mater, Providence College, and he is an amazing speaker and really paved the way in the school environment after my time there. It really was not— disability inclusion wasn't as much on the agenda when I was there, and he really has paved the way.
Francisco is a wonderful connection of mine. I really appreciate you mentioning him because he's, he's, he's somebody that I I think so highly of as well. So thank you for that.
So double recommendation.
Recommendation. Exactly. And question number 6, please tell me about your first job.
My first job was at Creative Artists Agency, which is a major talent and sports agency in Los Angeles. I was a temporary employee for 7 months at that job and then finally was able to prove myself to gain full-time permanent employment and benefits. I worked in entertainment marketing where we worked with brands brands to get them more visibility in entertainment. So it could be a brand like Harley-Davidson where we would seek out motorcycle riders and we would try to figure out which celebrities are not riding Harley-Davidsons and how would we get them access to one so then they could be in magazines riding Harley-Davidsons or integrating brands into scripts, reading scripts and not just having it be product placement but having it be Putting it in a scene where you talk about it. So like a Moët champagne moment rather than just throwing it in the scene and then talking about winning it for eBay. Whenever people win auction items on eBay, they're loving that feeling of just winning something. And then I worked in comedy touring at the agency as well, where I sought out comedians and figured out who had a lot of talent and who didn't. One of the great things about that experience was that I was able to point out those comedians who would point me out. So those who would not be too kind to me when I was in the audience because I stood out, I was able to write bad reviews about them so then the agents wouldn't consider them as future clients because it kind of was a testament to their character. Even though comedy is meant to be funny, sometimes it can go too far. And I really enjoyed being in a place that was a well-oiled machine, lots of information, producers, writers, directors. Actors all working together to gain more visibility in the entertainment space. And one reason why that job was so important to me was getting access to a platform that influences how people like me are portrayed in society. And from that, I was able to build a brand called Disability in Media, where I share stories on Facebook and Twitter about people with disabilities doing things, whether or not they're famous or, or not. They've been in articles and blogs doing things that others may think are impossible.
Wow, I absolutely loved hearing all of that, and it's so inspirational. So I really appreciate you sharing that. Thank you so much. And Becky, thank you for being on the show. How can people find you?
People can go to beckymotivates.com, or you can always email me at any time at beckymotivates@gmail.com.
Perfect. This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast. Thanks for listening.
