Given the current climate where DEI efforts are increasingly scrutinized, scaled back, or politicized, Jenny Chen, founder and CEO of Catalais Consulting, joins Giulia for a candid and powerful conversation about what it truly takes to build inclusive, equitable workplaces that go beyond performative gestures.
With a background in investment sales and deep personal experience navigating the corporate world as a woman of color, Jenny pulls back the curtain on performative D&I efforts—and offers a blueprint for real, systemic change. From restructuring outdated business processes to fostering genuine sponsorship over surface-level mentorship, Jenny explains why respect, intentionality, and leadership accountability are key to creating workplaces where everyone can thrive.
Whether you’re a business leader, HR professional, or advocate for inclusion, this episode will challenge you to rethink your approach to equity at work—and give you tools to start making a difference today.
Topics Covered:
- DEI as Core Infrastructure – Why DEI can’t be a side initiative and how companies often miss the mark by failing to embed it into the foundation of their business.
- The Need for Structural Change – Jenny explains how diversity problems often stem from outdated systems, not individual biases, and why rewiring internal processes is essential for lasting progress.
- Respect Over Labels – Moving beyond identity boxes to build cultures rooted in mutual respect and shared humanity.
- Mentorship vs. Sponsorship – Why mentorship alone isn’t enough, and how sponsorship can create real opportunities for underrepresented talent.
- DEI in a Shifting Political Landscape – Jenny addresses the growing backlash against DEI and what it means for the future of workplace inclusion.
- From Competition to Community – Challenging the “women are their own worst enemies” myth and celebrating the organic, supportive networks women are building to lift one another up.
- Leading with Integrity – How leaders can foster more inclusive cultures—often by recognizing the quiet, unacknowledged DEI work already being done in their organizations.
Resources Mentioned:
- Catalais Consulting
- Tune Up Your Warrior Podcast with Jenny Chen
- Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn
- Follow KnowThyBrand on LinkedIn
Episodes similar to this one:
- Make Work Fair: What Works (and What Doesn’t) in Gender Equity at Work
- Telling Stories that Matter: Amplifying Marginalized Voices Through Media
ABOUT THE SHOW
KnowThyBrand – Championing gender inclusion in business by Giulia Iannucci
Discover the facts behind gender inclusion, listen to incredible guests as they share their unique stories and expertise about the challenges that women face, and learn what we can all do to foster gender equality.
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