Reflection

The following was shared as an internal letter to the community of NexGen Center. These are companies who have partnered with NextGen Center, and leaders who have gone through our Foundation of Effective Leadership program - either internally with their company or externally within our community. I shared my thoughts about racial inequality and the mindset shift that is critical for us to make change. Some of our community members shared it with their networks and so I thought I’d share it on our blog as well.

- Brian

Dear NGC Community:

I’d like to share a story with you that I hope resonates, and thank our fellow community member, Pashara Black, for permitting me to do so.

As I’ve reflected upon the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, I kept coming back to a conversation I had with Pashara a few years ago about systemic racism, as we shared a cup of coffee at Beyu Caffe in Downtown Durham. 

Pashara told me about a training she had recently completed in Greensboro at the Racial Equity Institute. We talked about systemic racism in the United States, how impactful the training was for her context and development, and how important it is to engage in this conversation. To build a more diverse and inclusive culture. To see people for who they are.

I was moved by our conversation because it is not a conversation that I engage in often. More significantly, I was moved by how transformative Pashara’s training experience appeared to be for her. She expressed her learnings in such a passionate way that shifted my own thinking. That connected with me, on an intellectual and emotional level.

Pashara and I reconnected last week and discussed the current state of our community as well as the impact that this conversation at Beyu had on me. Something she was not aware of until I told her directly.

So why am I sharing this with you today? Because, in my view, this conversation highlights one of the most powerful tools we have as leaders - the power to engage.

To listen actively. To ask powerful and thought-provoking questions. To stay present.

To become more aware of our mindset, assumptions and beliefs. And then to use that awareness to create change. For ourselves, and more importantly, to elevate others.

When we engage effectively and intentionally, we open the door for exploration, curiosity, and growth. The second and third order effects of that exploration, curiosity, and growth have potential for significant impact. Think about a wave and its ripple effect.

I know that this community of leaders has the knowledge, skills, and ability to engage effectively. You’ve put the work in. You have the power to act, speak, and share experiences that create waves and ripple effects. To lead.

For me, to lead means we also must live up to our responsibility and remember our shared humanity. We must speak up. We must end discrimination and intolerance. We must create change.

In the spirit of powerful conversations and engagement, I’m including a podcast recorded last week about systemic racism, vulnerability, and leadership (Brene Brown with Ibram Kendi)  Link Here.

Thank you again to Pashara for sharing her experiences with me, and to all of you for engaging in this community. Individually and as a community we can, and will, make a difference.

Pashara Black is the Events and Community Outreach Manager at StrongKey, an open-source cybersecurity company located in Silicon Valley, CA and Durham, NC.