ARTICLES
Explore articles written by or featuring Dr. Nikki Lanier and/or Harper Slade — insights, perspectives, and features from trusted publications.
Swan Stacking: A Call to Reframe Crisis Leadership in an Era of Unprecedented Volatility
We are entering a critical inflection point in human, economic and corporate history — an era marked by the simultaneous collision of multiple existential stressors on the American psyche and workplace. Boards of directors and corporate executives are currently navigating an invisible crisis, one that is not yet reflected in strategy decks or boardroom briefs: the compounding emotional, psychological, economic and sociopolitical toll on the American workforce.
"Swan stacking," as I have come to regard this, is a new framework for understanding the convergence of multiple, overlapping black swan and gray swan events. Employees and leaders alike are experiencing layered shocks, ranging from geopolitical upheaval and policy-driven social volatility to lingering psychological trauma from the Covid-19 era, along with deepening distrust of systems once assumed to be safe.
These compounding events are not ancillary; they are central to business risk, talent strategy and operational resilience. And yet, too few boards and senior leaders are addressing them as such.
A Business Imperative: Evolving DEI For Our Multicultural Future
“Equity isn't about sameness. It's about proportional fairness. It requires acknowledging that different groups come into the workplace having experienced different histories and face different real-world challenges that impact their experience of the workplace.” -Dr. Nikki R.
2045 and our multicultural future are just a few short years away.
As we are preparing for that future, it is important to evolve the way we think about DEI.
Grateful to have Harper Slade featured in this Forbes article as Dr. Nikki R. highlights the ways we should be thinking about DEI; moving beyond inclusion to highlight the importance of equity, addressing the challenges of equity through proportional fairness, and addressing the "who," "what," and "how" of building high-performing multicultural workplaces.
Five years after George Floyd's murder, HR professionals wrestle with DEI programs
Long before diversity, equity and inclusion became a trend for many businesses, Henry Beards was overseeing DEI initiatives at UPS. That's why the recently retired human resources executive is taken aback by negative attitudes toward the policies and programs he says were designed to create a fair workplace.
“I feel terrible about it,” says Beards, who spent 30 years in HR and now lives in Charlotte. “The program is set up to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to perform and get paid to perform based on their skills.”
These days, DEI programs in all forms are under a blistering attack. President Trump is dismantling DEI in the federal government. In North Carolina, the UNC System has banned those programs. Lawmakers in Raleigh have moved to eliminate DEI from K-12 schools and state government
Some businesses — including Lowe’s, Target, Walmart, and Amazon — that once celebrated their programs are reportedly eliminating or scaling back their policies.
Dr. Nikki Lanier runs a consulting firm that helps businesses prepare for the future workforce with strong multicultural teams and racial equity. She welcomes the current turbulence DEI is navigating.
Directors to Watch 2024: Gender Diversity
Directors & Boards has highlighted nearly 500 significant and diverse directors since our semi-annual feature, Directors to Watch, was launched in 2006. These professionals have contributed to and will continue to expand ongoing dialogue on board best practices and corporate governance excellence.
Directors to Watch is just one aspect of Directors & Boards’ ongoing efforts to drive ethnic and gender diversity on public and private boards across corporate North America.
The E in Equity as a Saving Grace: Interview with Nikki Lanier, Corporate Racial Equity Strategist
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to interview Nikki Lanier, a Corporate Racial Equity Strategist and the CEO of Harper Slade LLC. As with all interviews, I showed up prepared – and I’m glad I did, too. Nikki is as powerful speaking on the topic of diversity as she is addressing its economic impacts.
Given her focus on racial equity, I wanted to understand her perspective on how the tendency of corporations to fold race into overall diversity (which also includes gender, disability, Veteran-status, sexual orientation, etc.) affects their ability to achieve the kind of change results she and many others are looking for.
