2045 Studio

We are excited to announce 2045 Studio is now open in Los Angeles! After bringing accomplished professionals of color together at our Clubhouse in New York City over the past year, we’re expanding our mission and community to the West Coast. Last Thursday, we hosted over 100 guests for an evening of connection to celebrate our Los Angeles launch. If you’re interested in learning more about LA membership, please contact LA@2045studio.com.

83% of Gen Z workers want a #mentor, but only 52% have one. How can companies bridge this gap to support the next generation of leaders? As America's population becomes increasingly diverse, it is essential for companies to invest in sponsorship programs for entry-level talent. This will help create more inclusive work cultures and ensure that future leadership reflects these upcoming levels of #diversity. To learn about how 2045 Studio can help you support your rising talent, HR leaders, and managers, explore our website or reach out to us at membership@2045studio.com. Read more from Fortune: https://lnkd.in/eSkYgvYs

At the end of June, we held a social game night at our New York Clubhouse. Members had the opportunity to get to know other professionals from various industries while playing classic games and enjoying the warm summer weather on our rooftop. To get access to future networking and professional development events, learn more about joining 2045 Studio at www.2045studio.com.

Some big businesses might be skittish when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion, but small businesses are still committed to DEI and its positive impacts on business performance. Three reasons why: 1) #DEI has been tied to innovation and creativity, as well as higher employee satisfaction and retention — key benefits which help small businesses survive. 2) While larger companies can struggle to create new work cultures, smaller businesses are more agile when it comes to fostering inclusivity and feel the benefits of DEI efforts more quickly. 3) Smaller businesses are generally usually under less scrutiny than their larger counterparts, allowing them the freedom to "stay firm and see the results" of their actions. Read more from Julie Kratz in Forbes, and get in touch with us at membership@2045studio.com to learn more about how 2045 Studio can help your company feel the benefits of an #inclusive work culture, no matter its size. https://lnkd.in/eB_Xupuc

Are your DEI initiatives truly driving change, or could they be doing more harm than good? A recent Harvard Business School Business Review article reveals that some common #DEI practices might actually undermine #diversity, while more effective methods are often overlooked. One strategy to consider: formal #mentorship programs. Pairing mentees with mentors helps employees broaden their networks, receive career coaching, and gain advocacy within their organization. This approach fosters long-term career success and promotes diverse representation in leadership roles. At 2045 Studio, we help today's companies foster #inclusive environments where every individual can thrive. Our approach empowers employees at all levels to embrace inclusive leadership and create a workplace culture that values diverse perspectives. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e-fSc8Wf

"I've enjoyed the events I've attended and would love to attend more intimate conversations like roundtables going into the summer! The community's focus on meaningful connections and impactful initiatives stands out." — Justin D'Agostino, 2045 Studio Member Our monthly roundtable dinners are dedicated to complex challenges faced by our community, touching on everything from leadership and innovation to people management and organizational culture. These intimate, in-depth discussions allow 2045 members and featured speakers alike to participate in vulnerable, honest conversations about the topics that matter to them most. Previous roundtables have featured speakers including Nicole Cuellar-Lopez, D'André Carr, Porter Braswell and more. To attend future events at 2045 Studio, apply for membership at our website.

DE&I can transform organizational cultures across all departments and levels when it evolves from being a siloed department into an integrated, cross-functional initiative. Seamlessly integrating DE&I into every part of an organization is a long-term process that requires organizational and cultural transformation from the top down and the bottom up. Here is an important article on why, if done well, DE&I is key to a truly inclusive future via Porter Braswell in Fast Company: https://lnkd.in/e6W_C7kn #Inclusion #DEI

Is the call for #meritocracy missing the point? Recently, Silicon Valley leaders have come out against #DEI. Instead, they're calling for meritocracies in the workplace. However, as stated by Mutale Nkonde, MA, a founder working in AI policy, the meritocracy argument ignores "the structural reasons," privileges, and circumstances that have historically allowed some groups to get ahead of others that haven't had access to the same opportunities for success. In short — meritocracies might not be as objective as one would think. Solutions for leaders who want to recruit and retain today's top talent: build workplaces where #diverse employees feel empowered to thrive, and create opportunities for #mentorship and training so each employee has equitable pathways for advancing and growing professionally. Read more from TechCrunch by Dominic-Madori Davis and Kyle Wiggers: https://lnkd.in/dUWe_5xd Visit www.2045studio.com to learn more about how your organization can partner with 2045 Studio and create a more #inclusive work culture for your employees.

"People in business that have been talking about #DEI have been focused entirely on the D. I call it the diversity disconnect. We focus entirely on representation, and we sometimes forget about the E and the I." — Paolo Gaudiano With so much emphasis placed on #diversity by both detractors and proponents of DEI, #equity and #inclusion are often overlooked. But if done right, a culture that fosters equity and inclusion will also naturally attract diverse candidates. In his TEDx Talk, social entrepreneur Paulo Gaudiano shares what leaders can do to create better workplaces that result in higher profits. Watch the full video from TEDx to learn more, and reach out to us through our website to learn how we can help you create more #inclusive work cultures. https://lnkd.in/e3dbzA6P

"At the beginning, you’re thinking about, ‘How do I grow vertically in order to get to that next stage of my career?’ But then as you go further up, it does become, ‘How do I then expand horizontally?’ You can’t progress in your career if you’re not thinking about those adjacent functions.” Earlier this month, we heard from Andrea Chesleigh, Chief Product Officer at Spresso.AI, who shared insights from her career journey in #product. One key tip that applies to all professionals: spend time learning skills outside of your role. By doing so, you can understand the bigger picture, advance in your career, and contribute more effectively to your organization’s overall success. If you or your employees would like to get access to future conversations led by diverse, influential professionals, apply for membership at our website: www.2045studio.com