How Managers Create a Culture of Belonging

HI! I am Kimberly Manns, CEO of H3Diversity, where we enable leaders to bring their whole selves (head, heart, hands) to the cultivation and creation of inclusive leadership and cultures of belonging. H3Diversity creates a safe space for leaders and staff members, at all levels, to bring forward all the things that make each individual—and therefore the organization—unique. Using tools like group and one-to-one executive coaching, leadership retreats, training, and strategy development, our work together culminates in an organization-specific, nuanced package designed to build inclusive leaders, inclusive teams, and inclusive organizations. H3Diversity has helped improve the corporate culture of clients like Ralph Lauren, Neiman Marcus, Black Entertainment Television, the Dallas Foundation, and many others. Our strategic “Head-Heart-Hands” approach is designed to appeal to and empower the three central areas of personal growth: • Head: Creating a shared understanding of data and terms. • Heart: Making meaning from individual, lived experience. • Hands: Providing practical tools to implement organizational strategies. The key to creating and sustaining cultures of belonging lies in the leader’s own personal and professional journey; capitalizing on their strengths and identifying areas that can be strengthened. My own journey, that included being raised in North Texas and attending a Catholic school where there were very few girls who looked like me, started me thinking from a young age about race and the things that make us different, as well as the things that make us all the same. My personal journey inspired me to pursue a career dedicated to bringing diverse stakeholders together to solve complex leadership challenges, first in the private and then public and non-profit sectors, which exposed me to a diversity of leadership styles. I use these experiences as a foundation to guide leaders in exploring the 7Cs of leadership: Commitment, consciousness, courage, curiosity, collaboration, cultural competence, and care. H3Diversity is committed to assisting leaders in “leaning in” to their own personal journeys, better understanding what makes us all the same, and then leveraging that understanding to celebrate all that makes us different. If you’re in pursuit of a culture of belonging—or are seeking to become a more inclusive leader—I can help. For insight into what H3Diversity can do for you, take a look at my LinkedIn Learning course on creating a sense of belonging (link in publications), and let’s connect to strengthen your organization.