Welcome to Inclusion Bites, your sanctuary for bold conversations that spark change. I'm Joanne Lockwood, your guide on this journey of exploration into the heart of inclusion, belonging, and societal transformation. Ever wondered what it truly takes to create a world where everyone not only belongs but thrives? You're not alone. Join me as we uncover the unseen, challenge the status quo, and share stories that resonate deep within. Ready to dive in? Whether you're sipping your morning coffee or winding down after a long day, let's connect, reflect, and inspire action together. Don't forget, you can be part of the conversation too. Reach out to jo.lockwood@seechangehappen.co.uk to share your insights or to join me on the show. So adjust your earbuds and settle in.

It's time to ignite the spark of inclusion with Inclusion Bites. And today is episode 127 with the title Equity in Action. And I have the absolute honor and privilege to welcome Sharitta Marshall. Sharitta is the founder of Visionary Development Consulting. She's dedicated to ensuring that everyone feels seen, heard, and valued within their organization. When I asked Sharitta to describe her superpower, she said, my superpower is my ability to connect diverse perspectives and translate them into actionable strategies that align with organizational goal. Hello, Sharitta. Welcome to the show.

Hi, Joanne. Thank you so much for having me.

Oh, what a pleasure. What a pleasure. So, Sharitta, tell me. Equity in action, what does that mean to you?

Well, let me first by saying equity is making sure that everyone has the appropriate resources that they need to thrive and be successful in any given situation or experience. So equity in action for me, from the perspective of the work that I do, means that there is an acknowledgment of systemic inequities, and there is an intentional and impactful plan to address those systemic inequities. So everyone has not only the correct tools that they need to thrive, but also the opportunity that they need to be the best possible versions of themselves.

Yeah. I I completely get that and resonate with that. But a lot of people, I find, don't truly buy into the concept of of equity. You know, they they look around and they think, well, hang on a minute. This is it's all about meritocracy, isn't it? Everyone should succeed on their own merits. And that's a common myth that exists in in recruitment, in in the workplace, around this belief in the meritocracy.

Yeah. And it comes from the misguided belief that equality is available for everyone. And the simple fact is is that if you say, well, we've given everyone running shoes, so everyone should be able to run, but you have an individual who does not have ability to use their legs, who is blind, who never learned how to run. But the standpoint of, well, if we gave everybody shoes, then they should be able to do it. And that's why I come from the lens of equity because we need to be able to provide resources for everyone given what they need in order to thrive and not just have the assumption from 1 perspective that if everyone is given this 1 thing, then that means everyone has the same starting point, the same ability, as well as the same information to be successful.

Yeah. III see people talk about this all the time, and and a lot of people will tell me, well, they've had a tough life as well. You know, it's not been easy for them. No 1 gives them any help. That's the challenge, trying to allow people who hold privilege to recognize how that privilege has benefited for them all of their lives and to have and to be able to connect, as you say, with that sense of equity where people need those tools, that that support to succeed.