Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

To reach equality and diversity in the workplace, it takes brilliant minds like Nikki Lanier to make sure black and brown talent thrive once they’re there! Nikki is the CEO of Harper Slade, a racial equity advisory firm focused on “helping organizations advance equity for some and equality for all.” A Chief HR Officer for three companies, Nikki, takes a more collaborative approach to leadership that has proven successful for over 25 years. She is responsible for driving accelerated cultural change and creating and implementing innovative organizational development. 

Get ready for a power-packed episode where we’ll explore the urgency of the racial equality mission, how organizations can get involved, and why this nation’s future depends on it! 

Equity for Some, Equality for All:

[00:01 – 04:16] Opening Segment 

• I welcome Nikki Lanier to the show
• • Bio 
• Nikki talks about the role of faith in her incredible journey 
• • Acting out a divine assignment 
  • A mission to build racial equality in the workplace 

[04:17 – 12:06] Operating From a Divine Downloading

• Nikki shares about her vision and “divine downloading”
• • Righting wrongs and resetting narratives 
  • Her experience as a Louisville native during the Breonna Taylor murder
  • Fasting to ask God to illuminate the path to racial equality 
  • Deciding to build a company/asset around this mission
• Nikki talks about her time in the Federal Reserve 
• • Confidence in being carried by intellect 
  • “Presumed deference” - feeling like you have to work to prove your position
  • Drop the assumptions and know that you deserve your role 

[12:07 – 21:40] Equity for Some, Equality for All 

• How Harper Slade is disrupting the DEI space
• • The presumptions of marginalization of darker citizens 
  • Being darker in this country has significant ramifications
  • Being afraid to offend the ones in control 
  • So what are we doing to fix the problem through DEI? 
  • Unearthing the culture and climate, you’re cultivating 
• Making sure black and brown people can thrive in the workplace 
• • Amplifying the talent that comes from diversity 
• Nikki explains the missteps organizations have been making
• • We have inherited this race issue, not created it 
  • It’s our generation’s responsibility to unpack this 
  • It’s not about blame; it’s about restoration 
  • It’s going to take a collective resetting 
• Book your free consultation at The Kas Company

[21:41 – 33:41] Operating the Mission of Racial Equality with Urgency

• We need to speak the right language 
• • Arguments have a place, but they don’t move capital 
  • Minorities are already the majority 
  • Understand the health of the middle class 
  • We will be relying on black and brown people to bolster the economy 
  • Holistically, “It’s not a black or brown issue, it’s an American issue” 
• The main call to action for organizations to start doing the right thing 
• • Compliance has its place, but commitment also has its place 
  • Choices made vs. choices had 
  • Realize that change and disruption doesn’t feel safe 
  • Staying the same is truly what’s unsafe 
• Opportunities to get on board with this mission 
• • Launch discussions around the country 
  • How to get involved
  • • Links below 

[33:42 – 38:48] Closing Segment 

• The legacy Nikki is leaving in this world
• Does Nikki have a pre-speech/pre-talk ritual? 
• • Cutting loose with a little Proud Mary 
• One stereotype that needs to be done away with? 
• • The idea that anger needs to play a major role in equality 
• Nikki’s favorite wealth-building strategy 
• • Enacting this mission to create equality for future generations
• Final words 

Tweetable Quotes:

“When we think about the workplace, it is a microcosm for the entire society at large. And our society has conditioned itself to presume marginalization, stunting, muting, diminution, of darker citizens.” - Nikki Lanier

“I’m not interested in helping you devise a recruiting plan. I’m more interested in understanding and unearthing what kind of culture and climate you’re cultivating in the workplace to ensure that, once recruited, black and brown talent can thrive.” - Nikki Lanier

“Arguments still apply, but they don’t move capital.” - Nikki Lanier

Resources Mentioned: 

• Black Enterprise: Black Business Development

Want to connect with Nikki? You can find her active on LinkedIn. Advance racial equity and equality by visiting https://www.harperslade.com/. 

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Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!