Happy International Women's Day! This year's theme is "Choose To Challenge," which is so fitting for the work we do with our clients. We help clients challenge assumptions, the status quo, resistance to change and fear of what will be uncovered if we start to get serious about DE&I work.

As seen in Forbes

Every person I know who is involved in diversity, inclusion and equity work is exhausted. Down to their bones tired. And so worried that they're not doing enough. DE&I is hard work. If it's not hard right now that is probably an indication you're not digging deep enough, because we're getting to core systemic issues that have been in place for generations.

If you are not Black or Asian, you may feel it’s not your place to say something about all the terrifying ways racism is playing out around us. In fact, the exact opposite is true. Demonstrate humanity. Show up.

Staying quiet, keeping your head down, acting like this is none of your business sends a message - even if totally unintentional - that you do not care, that because this does not affect you directly it is not important. This is totally contrary to being an ally at a time allyship matters most. Allies show up.

Business leaders are largely in desperate situations right now. They’re either struggling to keep their business alive, or scrambling to keep up with newfound demand, with very little in between. DE&I work is at high risk in either scenario because both create an all-hands approach to producing and selling, forcing people and culture initiatives into the back seat - or, even worse, onto the chopping block.

I lived in New York City during 9/11 and so much about the COVID-19 crisis takes me back viscerally to that time. What we all need to do is to start leading, now. Whether you are a leader in name or not, your leadership skills are desperately needed to create a sense of calm, connectedness, compassion — in a word, INCLUSION — with those around you.