Being a fearless leader is not something MKR’s Chief Relationship Officer, Kayla Carmichael, is unfamiliar with. But to expand her knowledge on leadership and invest further in her personal and professional growth, Kayla attended the 2024 Fearless Conference presented by The BrandLab.
Here’s a bit about what she learned about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) efforts — and how courageous decisions impact the marketing world we know today.
Being fearless
The 2024 Fearless Conference hosted at Marquette University brought together keynote speakers, panelists, and participants to discuss turning positive intent into genuine impact. With an emphasis on being courageous in places that feel intimidating or uncomfortable, attendees learned about the significance of bringing new DEIB efforts into the marketing world.
Courageous reminders
When asked what was particularly noteworthy about the conference, Kayla shared three insights that stood out to her:
- Share the Spotlight: The BrandLab featured their own youth and alumni of their internship programs. Setting the perfect example and providing evidence to the power behind their messaging. Not only did this highlight the impact DEIB efforts have on real people’s lives, but it reinforced the idea that young professionals hold unparalleled value. The panelists were both entrepreneurial and inspiring. It was overall impressive seeing people so fresh on the scene have such a professional and profound opportunity to put all they’ve learned to use.
- Adapt to Change: Audience data is important. But we have to remember that we market to human beings. And those human beings have expectations. What you might consider “ahead of the curve” in terms of DEIB could be the “bare minimum” to your audience. This duality isn’t disappearing anytime soon. Your audience looks for an array of solutions, inclusive campaigns, and inner company representation. Be willing to meet and adapt to — then exceed — those evolving expectations.
- Put These Lessons to Work … and Life: While the conference focused on DEIB, it was also relevant to more generalized, smart business practices. And life practices. To have a “good business,” you need to be talking about building leaders, having tough conversations, and “preparing for the race before you try to run it.” This applies to leading a good life and founding a diverse, accepting culture as well.
How to be bold
Diving head first into implementing new efforts can seem intimidating. But Kayla has a few fearless tips to help you become the kind of thought leader your business needs.
“True, sustainable change is a marathon not a sprint,” Kayla said. “DEIB is our forever work, and it isn’t so we can collect more data. It’s so we can evolve along with society and lead in new ways. We have influence, and we need to use it.” Here’s how.
- Don’t ignore the youth. Reach out, teach them about your business, and show them why they’d want to work alongside you. Having a diverse and successful business isn’t simply about finding the right candidates, it’s about creating qualified candidates. That begins with education.
- Pour effort into people. Create opportunities for them to grow, use their expertise, and add their unique value to their field.
- Don’t give up on goals. Businesses strive for more diversity. But that’s not achieved with a snap of your fingers. You have to try, fail, and try again. Don’t lose hope. Instead of throwing in the towel, tweak the goal. Break it down step by step to overcome one barrier at a time.
- Find the right people. Don’t overcomplicate it. Solidify what your values are and find individuals who exude those same morals.
Looking for a team of fearless individuals ready to help your business reach its full potential? MKR would love to chat.