Rhonda Moret: Promoting Respect and Inclusivity

Culture and Leadership Connections Podcast

Bio:
Rhonda Moret is the Founder and CEO of Elevated Diversity, recognized for her leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and health equity. She has spent over a decade helping organizations develop equitable practices to benefit both workplaces and communities. A first-generation college graduate, Rhonda started her career at a multicultural ad agency, later becoming a communications strategist for major brands like Universal and Nike Golf. Often the only woman and person of color in her roles, she faced significant challenges. These experiences led her to establish Elevated Diversity in 2017, aiming to help organizations implement sustainable DEI strategies. The company’s innovative approach has attracted clients such as Berkeley Symphony, Boston Beer, and Homeland Security.
Links:

• Website: www.elevateddiversity.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhondamoret/

Quote:
“So much of who we are today and how we present ourselves to the world is based on all of these situations and occurrences that we have lived through.”
Episode Highlights:
In this episode, Rhonda discusses the impact of racial makeup and background on one's perspective, drawing from her personal experiences and insightful reflections on childhood experiences. She delves into the significance of diversity in personal and professional contexts, shedding light on formative incidents from her own childhood and the value of reinforcing respect in various settings.
Childhood Experiences:
Rhonda grew up in a tight community of Creole families. As an adolescent, Rhonda and her family moved to a different state, which brought it to her attention that she was different from other children. Not only was she different visually, but her perspective and point of view were different from the other children.
Influential Groups:
Rhonda’s family did not have a lot of money growing up, and Rhonda realized that if she wanted to move beyond that social class, she needed to develop a strong work ethic. She was never satisfied and was always looking for the next thing to work on. Religiously, Rhonda grew up Catholic, which gave her some sense of identity.
Cultural Influences:
Over the years, Rhonda has gravitated towards helping and supporting women find opportunities, especially where there are pay disparities. Helping women has opened Rhonda to new experiences, and she has learned things about herself that she didn’t know before.
Temperaments and Personality:
Curiosity has always been a part of Rhonda’s life. She remembers growing up and, together with her brother, spending hours reading encyclopaedias that their parents had bought for them. All the effort was in pursuit of curing their curiosity. Rhonda was born in the '60s, and she was brought up in a traditional way; they were not allowed to speak out of turn. Today, Rhonda has become outspoken, and sometimes she has to rein herself in when responding in certain situations and conversations.
Cultural Epiphanies:
Growing up, Rhonda attended Catholic schools where respect for those in authority was mandatory. For instance, if a nun walked into their class, they would all stand up and greet her. When she moved to a public school, she realized that kind of respect wasn’t there, which was disheartening for her.
Soapbox Moment:
Rhonda’s organization helps other organizations create a workplace where people feel they belong. If you are looking to create a workplace culture where respect is valued or want to solve issues around it, Rhonda invites you to check out their website.

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