With special guest, Sona Khosla

This week on the Allyship in Action Podcast, Julie Kratz is joined by Sona Khosla, Chief Impact Officer at Benevity. Inclusion is about having resilience and courage to keep doing good when it feels like the world’s spinning the other way. And that’s exactly what Sona and Julie dove into this week – this idea that even when the news is full of noise and doubt, there’s a powerful current of good still flowing, quietly and persistently.

Resilience and the flame of inclusion is still alive

This week on the Allyship in Action Podcast, Julie Kratz is joined by Sona Khosla, Chief Impact Officer at Benevity. Inclusion is about having courage to keep doing good when it feels like the world’s spinning the other way. And that’s exactly what Sona and Julie dove into this week – this idea that even when the news is full of noise and doubt, there’s a powerful current of good still flowing, quietly and persistently. It’s about finding that inner strength, that “baked-in cake” resilience, and reminding ourselves that this work, this striving for inclusion and impact, it’s not a trend, it’s our DNA.

Sona discusses her journey into corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the current state of DEI work. She shares about her initial lack of awareness about CSR and her discovery of Benevity, a tech platform that helps companies engage in philanthropy and social impact initiatives.

She expresses her passion for this work, viewing it as a way to serve others, promote justice, and recognize the interconnectedness of humanity, drawing upon influences from figures like Nelson Mandela and Eastern religious philosophies.

The conversation acknowledges the significant pressures currently facing DEI work, including challenges stemming from the pandemic, economic instability, and social justice movements.

Key takeaways from this conversation:

• The Quiet Persistence of Impact: Despite the noise and pushback, many companies are quietly increasing their investments in CSR and DEI initiatives, recognizing the long-term value and employee expectations.
• Data-Driven Advocacy: The importance of leveraging data and metrics to demonstrate the ROI of inclusion and impact initiatives, moving beyond emotional appeals to tangible business benefits.
• The Long Game of Legacy: Focusing on the enduring impact and legacy of leadership, rather than short-term reactions to current pressures, emphasizing that this work is about long-term human connection and value.
• The Power of Small, Consistent Actions: Emphasizing that even small, consistent actions, like internal communication and employee listening sessions, can make a significant difference in maintaining a sense of belonging and commitment.
• Generational Values Driving Change: Highlighting the influence of millennials and Gen Z in shaping workplace values and consumer expectations, reinforcing that inclusion is not a passing trend but a fundamental shift.

Actionable Allyship Takeaway:

Start a conversation. Even if your company seems quiet on DEI, initiate a lunch-and-learn or team discussion about the data and trends shared in Sona’s research. Talking about it, even in a small group, reinforces that these values matter and builds a sense of community.

You can find Sona and check out her following resources:

• Sona’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonakhosla/
• Benevity’s research: https://benevity.com/impactlabs
• Benevity’s resource hub: http://benevity.com/leadwithpurpose
• The Executive CSR report: https://benevity.com/the-executive-csr-report

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This post was previously published on Next Pivot Point.

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