“It is hard if you come to the table with just one set of tools. By bringing diversity and embracing diversity, you are bringing more tools to your toolbox. - Valerie Cockerell

Episode Highlights

00:01:46 - Valerie's Perspective on Diversity

00:04:33 - Diversity at Disney

00:05:48 - Stereotypes and Cultural Differences

00:09:40 - Overcoming Us vs. Them Mentality

00:13:42 - Perceiving Discrimination

00:14:35 - Challenging Assumptions

00:17:37 - Teaching Children the Value of Diversity

00:18:08 - Overcoming Workplace Exclusion

00:27:39 - The Importance of Diversity in the Workplace

00:30:19 - Embracing Individuality in the Workplace

00:32:02 - Purposeful Leadership and Unconscious Bias

Connect with Valerie:

Order the book – Manage Like a Mother

LinkedIn – Connect with Valerie

Diversity

From a young age, Valerie had a strong curiosity and desire to explore the world. She felt that there is so much to learn from different people and their unique perspectives. This curiosity led her to move to London at the age of 16 to learn English. Eventually that opened doors for her career with Disney and her journey to the US.

For Valerie, diversity is not something to shy away from, but rather a magnetic force that draws her in. She believes that embracing diversity and engaging with people from different backgrounds and cultures brings a wealth of knowledge and tools to the table. In her new book, Manage Like a Mother, Valerie dedicates an entire chapter to diversity and inclusion, emphasizing the importance of diverse teams in navigating the complexity of the modern world.

Make sure to listen to this episode on diversity. Her personal experiences and learnings inspire many, including managers and leaders, to create more inclusive and innovative teams.

Valerie's book is filled with relatable stories and practical takeaways for aspiring and existing leaders. This is such a unique look into leadership that provides moms and those with many lessons from their mom, clarity and inspiration in the complex world of leadership.