Insights

Celebrate Black History Month with "Learning to Own It – The Power of Diversity and Being your Authentic Self"

Feb 18, 2020

Own it.

Two small words, one powerful message that continues to ring true. As we celebrate a month worth of diversity, equality and notable achievements, Team Somos wants to take it back to 2018 and a truly memorable presentation by Somos’ Chief Operating Officer (COO) William Carter at Ericsson’s African American Alliance.

Carter opened his presentation with a challenge to employees and the company alike – a challenge to be courageously responsible with how they approach both work and life. Included in this is being brave and embracing who you are and how your diverse background can positively contribute to the greater organization. As Carter pointed out, diversity is a powerful concept that companies aren’t leveraging to their benefit.

What can we do to promote diversity within our organization? First and foremost, companies can embrace diversity. When this is done, team members feel empowered to be their authentic selves and, once comfortable with this concept, realize that there’s no limit to what can be accomplished. One way Carter exemplified this was to draw from his own past. His parents, as survivors of the harsh Jim Crow era in the Deep South, were not afforded the opportunities others may have had. His father knew; however, that his authentic self wasn’t an uneducated passerby and instead empowered himself to be his very best. The result? A long and successful career within General Motors.

However, Carter noted that working hard and being driven are but a small part of being courageous and owning it. A large part of driving change and organizational success is to be the best you can be. Simply stated, “You can’t be successful when you’re being someone else.” But what exactly does this mean? It means shifting your paradigm and recognizing that you have been hired for a purpose and that you are an important part of a team. And as a part of a team, you have a responsibility to challenge yourself to be a thought leader and a positive contributor. Don’t wait for permission to be yourself – OWN the corporate responsibilities you’ve been trusted with, do your very best and always finish what you started.

To change the trajectory on a corporate level, Carter emphasized the value in having a broader perspective, part of which includes recognizing the power of diversity. Surveys consistently show, and data supports, that diverse teams improve a company by fostering creativity and innovation. When we invest in our corporate culture and diversify our workforce, we are not only more successful; we’re more profitable. Diversity should never be an after-thought – it should be a key strategic initiative that should NOT be overlooked.

Throughout his longstanding career, William Carter has both challenged adversity and embraced diversity. He specifically cited how inspired he has been in his most recent role at Somos and how proud he is to be a part of an organization that so deeply recognizes the importance of a diverse workforce. Similarly, Eric Thomas, the then Vice President, Solutions Delivery & Project Operations at ‎Ericsson, as well as the presentation’s moderator noted, “We are here to build the bridge.” This includes introducing new ideas and inspiring others to be their authentic selves and to promote diversity each and every day of the year.