Mita Mallick

Kudos to Pottery Barn 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Helping to create a more accessible 🏠

Hoping this inspires mass merchandisers (at lower prices points) to do the same.

#RepresentationMatters

#inclusion #leadership #culture #productdesign

Dear Leaders,

Stop thinking “the counter offer” will keep people from walking out the door.

Don’t wait for people to resign to tell them how much you value them. And want to keep them & support them.

Because it’s too late.

👉🏿 If you value them, pay them NOW.

👉🏿 If value them, invest in their careers NOW.

👉🏿 If you value them, show your gratitude & appreciation & support them however you can. Thank them NOW.

#GreatResignation #GreatAwakening #GreatReshuffle #inclusion #leadership #culture #licreatoraccelerator

I used to wait for that apology.

And quite frankly,

I used it as an excuse to hang on, not let go of anger, and delay my healing process.

Particularly for that trauma that I had experienced throughout my career.

Former bosses & colleagues who with

their actions and words reminded me

I didn’t belong in that organization.

Because one of the most painful things we can experience is actively be excluded:

in the small ways & the big ways every single day.

That serve as a reminder that we don’t belong.

And we can’t hold onto that anger.

We can’t wait for that apology.

We can’t delay the healing process.

Let’s start healing by ensuring we play a role

in creating workplaces where we all can thrive and belong.

How have you healed from trauma you have experienced in the workplace?

#leadership #culture #inclusion #MitaMallick

Image source: Instagram

I once had a former boss who had me take on two BIG jobs.

He was very skilled at “selling” people on doing multiple jobs:

👉🏿 It’s exposure to senior management

👉🏿 It’s a growth opportunity

👉🏿 It’s called “double hatting” everyone is doing it, get on board

There was no additional resourcing, no increase in pay. Doing multiple jobs burned me out. So I left.

If you expect people to take on multiple jobs, also expect for them to eventually resign.

#inclusion #culture #leadership #GreatResignation #GreatAwakening

This👇🏿hit me hard this morning.

Because I would tell my younger self to stop choosing what isn’t choosing you.

People, places and spaces that weren’t choosing me. But maybe deep down inside I thought they would change their minds.

No more hoping, wishing, & praying that they will choose us.

Because we are amazing.

So let’s move forward to what we are really meant to do and be.

#inclusion #culture #leadership #MitaMallick

Dear Leaders,

People don’t quit bad jobs.

They quit poor management & toxic environments.

They walk away when their contrubutions are no longer valued.

Are we able to recognize and accept the real reasons people are moving on from our organizations?

#leadership #inclusion #culture #MitaMallick

This👇🏿 really spoke to me.

Because I had become used to not speaking up, working behind the scenes, and avoiding the spotlight.

I wish I had granted myself permission to live a BIG life much sooner than I did.

#culture #leadership #inclusion #BrownTableTalk #LinkedInPresents

They kept saying I was going to get promoted:

👉🏿 “You are #1 on the list for the next Director opening”

👉🏿 “We need you to stay another 6 months on the team because of recent resignations”

👉🏿 “There’s just not enough budget this year to get you promoted”

👉🏿 “Why are you in such a rush to get promoted? It will happen when it’s meant to happen”

👉🏿 “You know, you don’t need that title to lead”

And more.

Year after year, they said to be patient.

My time would come.

And I was naive and believed them.

Because it took me too long to realize

that they had no intention of promoting me.

So I finally left. And got that promotion elsewhere.

When it comes to promotions, I now advise individuals to:

✅ Understand if leadership thinks you are ready for the promotion or is avoiding giving you feedback

✅ Be honest with yourself about how long you are willing to wait if you are promotion-ready, particularly in tough markets

✅ Ensure you aren’t only relying on your boss to advocate for your promotion; build relationships with other career sponsors

And more.

What’s your advice on how long we should wait for that promotion?

#leadership #culture #inclusion #MitaMallick

I was fooled into thinking

that I alone

could change the toxic work environment.

That if I just

Worked harder to meet the constantly changing deadlines

Shared my concerns when were once again under resourced

Created more processes and systems for everyone to follow

Supported team members by pitching in on their projects

Responded quickly to those fire drills in hopes they wouldn’t happen again

Spoke up when customers treated us badly

That things would change

It took too many years

for me to finally recognize

that some people want things

To stay the same

They find comfort in the chaos

They feel secure with the status quos

They are content with the toxicity because it’s all they have ever known

So why are some of us fooled into thinking

that we alone can change a toxic work environment?

#inclusion #leadership #culture #MitaMallick

I just couldn’t get promoted.

My former manager said:

“Next year. You are just not ready yet.”

Next year turned into 4 years.

I complained to a mentor who said to me:

“He’s never going to promote you.
You have become indispensable.”

And it hit me like a ton of bricks.
Because he was right.

In my need to get promoted,

I took on everything this former boss asked me to:

❌ Taking on more projects without any other work stopping, without additional resources

❌ Organizing our monthly business update decks, quarterly town halls, & team off-sites

❌ Creating on-boarding materials & leading key trainings for new hires who had joined the division

❌ Sitting on multiple cross functional task- forces, creating decks for others to present

❌ Agreeing to help him organize a gala event for the non-profit board he served on

And more.

Sometimes doing more gets you stuck.

Sometimes doing more gets you labeled as “indispensable.”

Sometimes doing more gets you the #2 spot, the strong back up, & never the promotion.

I learned the hard way that just “doing more” doesn’t get you promoted.

I left that former boss to land an external promotion.

What lessons do you have on why you didn’t get that promotion?

#leadership #culture #inclusion #MitaMallick

This👇🏾

Disney fans seeing Black Santas🎅🏽🎅🏾🎅🏿 for the first time in theme parks.

Now I am going to cry 😭

#RepresentationMatters 🙌🏾

#inclusion #leadership #culture #marketing

I never would speak of the workplace trauma I had experienced.

I thought once I made it past the hurt it was done. It was over.

I didn’t realIze that the next part was the healing.

And I would make it through that too.

Some of us will never talk about the things we are healing from.

Some of us will begin to share.

Some of us will still doubt our own experiences,

because we have been taught to grow thicker skin and stop being so sensitive.

And we have made it through the hurt.

We will make it through the healing too. 💜

Image credit: iuliastration on Instagram

#leadership #inclusion #culture #MitaMallick

Each time I left a job, I said it was for “growth opportunities.”

Which was code for the fact that my growth had been stunted by bad leaders.

#inclusion #leadership #culture

Yup.

I have been in this seat 👇🏿

“Tell me why you would be a culture fit here.”

“Like I said, I am all for diverse talent, as long as they are good.”

“So you must be the diversity hire!”

Let me make this clear:

We aren’t diversity hires.

We earned our seats.

Check out my book, Reimagine Inclusion, where I tackle the following myth:

I’m all for diverse talent.
As long as they are good.

I hope it helps you on your journey to be a more inclusive leader.

Link in comments 👇🏿

#inclusion #leadership #culture #MitaMallick

Dear Leaders,

We can be quick to label someone as a “poor performer.”

How often do we ask ourselves:

👉🏿 Did we onboard & train them properly?

👉🏿 Did we check-in with them consistently to see how they were feeling about the role and work?

👉🏿 Did we make ourselves available when they had questions & needed our help?

👉🏿 Did we have their back & coach them through mistakes?

👉🏿 Did we do everything we could to support them & help them succeed in this role?

Because when are quick to label someone as a “poor performer”

Remember that it’s also a reflection on our leadership.

What are your thoughts on using the label “poor performer?”

#leadership #culture #inclusion #MitaMallick

I have tried to find empathy for former toxic colleagues & even bosses.

Because sometimes people are so deeply wounded they lash out in unpredictable ways.

And at some point, I needed to prioritize myself, my self respect and my worth.

#inclusion #culture #leadership

I am not an overnight success.

It took me years & years to become a published author:

👉🏿 I wrote three novels after undergraduate school, had an agent, never got published

👉🏿 I went to get my MBA after my agent dumped me; wrote a fourth novel that never got published

👉🏿 I started writing a book 4 years ago, got another agent, and it’s finally getting published this October 2023

My mother reminded me the other day that I have wanted to be a writer ✍🏾 ever since I could hold a crayon.

Don’t give up on your wildest dreams.

Just because it’s taking time doesn’t mean it’s not happening. 🙌🏾

#leadership #culture #inclusion #MitaMallick

No more chasing people & opportunities that don’t value us.

Just love this sentiment 👇🏿

#inclusion #kindness #culture #leadership #connections

In 2023, I will continue to have zero time for:

❌ gossip
❌ drama
❌ being taken advantage of
❌ backhanded compliments
❌ non apologies with no accountability

I’m committed to not participating in toxic relationships.

How about you?

#inclusion #culture #leadership #MitaMallick

I used to think
that forgiving

a former boss or
a former coworker
for their bad behavior

meant that I had to
open the door
to re-engage with them.

To extend the olive branch
To be in touch again
To reconnect

Sometimes when they
slide into your DMs or
show up in your emails or
text you & you deleted their number…

They may have changed
They may want to help you
They may want something from you
They may want to hire you or refer you
They may want to rebuild the relationship

And it’s perfectly ok to be
in this place:

We do not want to rebuild and invest any energy in those bonds anymore.

We’re good.

Why do you think some people mistake forgiveness as an opportunity to re-engage with you?

#inclusion #leadership #culture #MitaMallick

Dear fellow Moms,

We are the official tear wipers.

We are the chef and the dishwasher.

We are the referee.

We are the stylist and the laundry goddess.

We are the chief entertainment officer.

We are the photographer, the nurse, and the carpool queen.

We are the best friend.

And we are just ordinary people all living in extraordinary times. And we are still here.

Happy Mother’s Day 💜

#parenting #culture #love #kindness #leadership

Recently, someone sent me an unkind note.

I was floored by it.

Almost rendered speechless.

They took the time to type it up & hit send.

It was a good reminder for me.

Whether it’s at work or at home, before you send that note:

👉🏿 Sleep on it. Give it 24 hours.

Give yourself some time to edit & revise that note. Go back and check the facts vs.
the feelings.

👉🏿 Share it first with a friend.

I have had friends over the years review my notes and say: what are you hoping to accomplish by sending this?

👉🏿 Don’t hit send.

Some notes aren’t meant to be sent. Write that note in your journal for closure. Type it up and save it. Or just toss it out or hit delete.

In the end, I decided not to respond to that note.

Because not responding is also a response.

Why do you think we send unkind notes, texts and emails?

#leadership #inclusion #culture #MitaMallick