291: Kind Curiosity: How to Navigate DEI Conversations with Bernadette Smith

Send us a text How can mid-career professionals engage in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) conversations without fear of saying the wrong thing? Bernadette Smith, CEO of the Equality Institute, shares her ARC Method—Ask, Respect, Connect—a simple yet powerful approach to fostering authentic connections while ensuring psychological safety at work. In This Episode, You"ll Learn: ✅ How to navigate DEI discussions with confidence and "kind curiosity" ✅ Why over-apologizing for mistakes can do more harm than good ✅ How to build meaningful relationships in workplaces scaling back DEI efforts ✅ Why progress in social movements includes setbacks—but connections endure ✅ How pickleball (yes, pickleball!) offers surprising lessons in inclusion Key Takeaways: ✔ The ARC Method makes DEI conversations more approachable and effective ✔ A simple, sincere apology is better than over-apologizing ✔ Asking for help isn’t a weakness—it strengthens relationships ✔ DEI isn’t about political correctness—it’s about harnessing diversity for success Subscribe to Bernadette’s newsletter → FiveThingsDEI.com Bernadette Smith’s Website → https://BernadetteSmith.com  Listen to her podcast → Five Things in 15 Minutes If you"re looking to lead with inclusion and confidence, this episode is a must-listen! Support the show Thank you for listening to The Mid-Career GPS Podcast. Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here. Visit https://johnneral.com/resources to get The Mid-Career Job Search Jumpstart and join The Mid-Career GPS Membership Community. Visit https://johnneral.com to join The Mid-Career GPS Newsletter, a free, twice-weekly career and leadership resource for mid-career professionals. Connect with John on LinkedIn here. Get John"s New Mid-Career Journal on Amazon here. Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching. Subscribe to John"s YouTube Channel here.