Creating Inclusive Collaborative Workplaces: Fred Miller and Judith Katz of The Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group

“People are more skeptical now than ever about all things–authority, people, and organizations. And so the real challenge is, what are you showing to your people to let them know that they can trust you?” asks Frederick Miller, CEO and lead strategist of The Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group. Today, he and Judith Katz, fellow strategist and thought leader, combine their expertise to talk about how to create inclusive, collaborative workplaces.

Authenticity is a core value for both Fred and Judith and they try to incorporate it into all of their interactions with their clients. Fred shares that growing up as a young African American man in Philadelphia made a big influence on how he viewed the world. While Judith shares that her experiences growing up as the child of Holocaust survivors greatly shaped how she conceptualized justice and change. Ultimately, they found one another and have been collaborating ever since to bring an authentic human experience to their clients. The true goal for leadership needs to be to create a work environment that feels not only diverse, but also inclusive. People are no longer content to work for organizations where they do not feel their values align. It is more important than ever for the success of a business that leaders really demonstrate how much they value their employees.

Authenticity comes from being true to yourself and being willing to share your unique voice with others. When leaders embrace authenticity and connect with their employees and clients, that is when the magic happens. Diversity is a fact of life, but inclusivity is something that leaders must purposefully create within their organizations. True inclusivity and authenticity will enable greater collaboration and greater levels of problem solving.

• “One of the things that Fred and I brought to the client was they felt like we cared about them, as individuals, as a system, and as an organization. And to me, that's been an important part of authenticity.” (10:54-11:04 | Judith)
• “I was fortunate enough to go to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, an HBCU, and I saw many, many Black males at the time. I was like, ‘Wow, there's a range. We're smart. We're capable. The world's trying to keep us down, but we have a lot to give to the world.’ And it really helped me get more confidence.” (13:12-13:33 | Fred)
• “How do we create high performing organizations where people feel valued and supported? That's leadership, right? That's what leaders need to do.” (27:35-27:47 | Judith)
• “People are more skeptical now than ever about all things authority, people, and organizations. And so the real challenge is, what are you showing to your people to let them know that they can trust you?” (29:18-29:29 | Fred)
• “Diversity has to be there. There's no ifs, ands, or buts about that. What we need to do is make sure we bring the inclusion part. And that it becomes an organizational norm, management competency, and a way that people interact and solve problems inside the organization.” (30:35-30:51 | Fred)