Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging: Celebrating Diversity Month
Welcome to another episode of Financially Naked: Stories from the Financial Gym! In this month's DEIB installment, hosts Rachel Adaline and Joy Liu delve into the important topic of implementing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). From exploring the diverse financial perspectives shaped by individual backgrounds to discussing the pivotal role of empathy in financial training, Rachel and Joy navigate the complexities of DEIB within The Financial Gym and beyond. They shed light on the difference between performative DEIB efforts and genuine commitment, discussing the importance of meaningful action over surface-level pledges.
Podcast Notes
The personal finance industry has historically excluded certain groups of people. For most people, personal finance is influenced by family and life experiences rather than formal education. The type of family you are born into directly impacts your life and financial trajectory.
This means that when people want to become financially healthy, their options and paths will look very different. The phrase, 'personal finance is personal,' applies here.
Genuine empathy is simply believing people when they share their struggles. Taking their words at face value fundamentally transforms how we interact with others. Listening with empathy can offer valuable insights and learning opportunities for everyone involved.
It is crucial to distinguish between performative DEIB efforts and genuine commitment. Merely making surface-level pledges without meaningful action fails to drive real progress or effect change.
Empathy & Inclusion in Financial Training
Since personal finance is so personal and everyone's path is unique, it can be hard to figure things out independently. There's so much information out there, and it can be overwhelming to sort through or learn, especially if you're stressed about money.
The Financial Gym provides an accessible membership with human Trainers to guide clients through their financial journey, accommodating a diverse client base with unique financial backgrounds.
The Financial Gym welcomes clients of all financial shapes and sizes, from people with debt to those with millions in net worth. This means Financial Trainers need to be equipped to work with anyone who comes through the door.
They hosted an 'Exercising Empathy Series,' where subject matter experts visited the team to discuss different topics. Because The Gym focuses on being an inclusive place for everyone, they wanted to provide the team with as many tools to be the best Trainers possible.
Building an Inclusive Workplace
Inclusivv offers monthly webinars and private sessions to promote diversity and acceptance in the workplace, addressing topics such as ageism and acceptance. This can be a great starting point for companies who do not have any DEIB programs.
DEIB has to start from the top. HR plays a crucial role in building an inclusive workplace, actively combating bias in recruitment processes. They are the first stop for all candidates interested in the job.
The Gym values passion and personal experience over a specific educational background. You do not need a certain degree to become a Trainer at The Gym.
Each potential hire goes through the same hiring process and is asked the same number of questions. It's designed to be as equitable as possible.
Continued Progress & Reflection
Employee surveys can be a great tool for evaluating how new workplace initiatives are received. You can reflect on how your employees feel before a new initiative and then again after it has been implemented for a while to see how the team feels and if anything can be improved further in the programming.
Even with progress, there's still work to be done to foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) at The Financial Gym and in workplace environments. This is because there is no end goal with DEIB; rather, it is to continue learning and growing.
DEIB aims to cultivate greater understanding and empathy toward diverse experiences and perspectives. The best way to start is to listen and believe when people tell you their experiences.
If you want to work with a Certified Financial Trainer to help navigate your finances, schedule a free warm-up call today! If you have any ideas or questions for the show, send an email to trainerpodcast@fingyms.com.