Black History Month: Q & A with Gabrielle Bell
In celebration of Black History Month, we were lucky enough to spend a few minutes with our Senior Workforce Services Specialist, Gabrielle Bell! In this interview, Gabrielle answers three questions about the importance of diversity in the workforce and her hopes for the future.
Q: As a mom, what do you hope for in the future workforce for your son?
A: This question really gives me some pause. I think that the workforce has a long way to go, but also the world has a long way to go. So, saying that, I would hope for my son to feel comfortable enough to be able to use all of his creative abilities. I hope that the workplace of the future embraces diversity because diversity brings creativity and from creativity comes success. So, I would hope that my son can be himself.
Q: What do you say to employers who simply meet diversity expectations?
A: Employers who simply meet diversity expectations are selling themselves short. They are missing out on untapped potential. A diverse workforce with people of different cultural backgrounds and of different skin colors, bring creative ideas to the table to be applied to a common goal – the goal of the business. To businesses that have just met their goals, I ask: whatever happened to exceeding goals?
Q: Anything else you would like to share regarding Black History through the lens of the workforce?
A: The Workforce is constantly changing. For example, In the past some employers asked African-American women to straighten their hair. I’m glad that’s one thing that has changed. It makes me feel comfortable and it lets me be who I am. As we move forward, I would hope that more employers embrace this and other things that would make individuals from diverse backgrounds feel comfortable.
