Meet Janet M. Stovall | Diversity Pragmatist, Consultant, Communicator, TED Speaker,

We had the good fortune of connecting with Janet M. Stovall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Janet M., we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I’m a serial risk-taker who is risk averse. In general, I thrive on certainty–a homebody who likes being grounded in familiar spaces, with a few really close friends who have been in my life for decades. However, two things that will push me past my risk aversion to take a risk on changing are unhappiness or unfairness, be they with an employer, a career or a relationship.

Unhappiness has led me to quit every job I’ve ever had; the longest I’ve ever stayed in one place is six years, and that was early in my career. Unfairness is the reason I’m in the diversity, equity and inclusion space. Taking risks to leave unsatisfying situations and taking a risk to step into a difficult space—these two things, together, have actually shaped my career and my life. Avoiding risks by sticking to what I know best and care about most have helped me be comfortable with what I’ve achieved in both.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a diversity pragmatist. I believe business, more than any other entity, can dismantle racism and systemic inequity. Someone who trades the subjective for the objective, who works to understand how DEI works in the private and public sector, as opposed to the social sector. Someone who prioritizes systems-level change over interpersonal dynamics. That’s a little bit different from what you will come across normally.

Pragmatic diversity accepts that the reasons for diversity in business differ from the reasons for diversity in society overall. Diversity in business is not the right thing to do, it is not social work. Pragmatic diversity views difference as a competitive asset to be viewed—and leveraged—as such. Pragmatic diversity is the smart thing for a particular business to do. It’s about getting past managing diversity to leveraging difference. It is a three-part strategy that asks three basic questions:
1. What does diversity solve for in our business? (Real problems)
2. What does success look like in our business? (Real numbers)
3. How important is it that we get there for our business? (Real consequences)

A lot of people champion DEI because they believe it is ‘the right thing to do.’ That’s conditional. After all, people once thought slavery was the right thing to do. I opted to focus on helping organizations understand that DEI is the smart and valuable thing to do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
• For history, The National Center For Civil And Human Rights. • For culture, the Apex Museum and Herndon Home; maybe the High Museum
• For drinks, Parlor, 8ARM, Local 7
• For food, Busy Bee Café, Twisted Soul, Barcelona Wine Bar, Local 7, Sprig

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to the amazing Black women who have shared their intellect, insight and inspiration along my journey. I’d also like to shout out Kim Clark, co-author of my soon to be released book, The Conscious Communicator: The Fine Art of Not Saying Stupid Sh*t.

Website: pragmaticdiversity.com

Instagram: @diversitypragmatist

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetmariestovall/

Twitter: @janetmariestov

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=janet%20stovall-diversity%20pragmatist

Other: TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/janet_stovall_how_to_get_serious_about_diversity_and_inclusion_in_the_workplace?language=en TED Partner highlight: https://www.ted.com/talks/american_family_insurance_one_company_at_a_time TEDx Gateway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIBh8_wt-IA