From Affinity Bias to Gender Parity: Transforming Workplace Culture with Dr. Brittany Boone

In this episode of the "HR Mixtape" podcast, host Shari Simpson sits down with Dr. Brittany Boone, an industrial and organizational psychologist and diversity and inclusion consultant. They delve into the critical topic of unconscious bias in the workplace, discussing its implications even in organizations with strong diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) policies. Dr. Boone shares her insights on how biases are formed, the importance of self-awareness, and the need for ongoing conversations about bias to foster inclusive workplace cultures.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding Unconscious Bias: Dr. Boone emphasizes unconscious biases are not a reflection of one's character but rather how our brains process information and form patterns based on past experiences.
• The Importance of Self-Reflection: Leaders and employees alike must engage in self-reflection to identify their own biases, which is essential for creating a more inclusive environment.
• Building a Business Case for DEI: The episode highlights the necessity of demonstrating how diversity and inclusion efforts positively impact organizational performance, employee engagement, and overall job satisfaction.

Dr. Brittany Boone is an Industrial and Organizational Psychologist and experienced diversity and inclusion professional. Prior to transitioning into the D&I space full-time, Dr. Boone worked in the insurance industry and spent several years facilitating diversity and inclusion (D&I) trainings and discussions with Farmers Insurance. For the last several years Brittany has worked as a diversity and inclusion consultant, where she works with clients in the beauty industry, entertainment industry, law firms, financial services sector, museums, and a host of other organization types both in the U.S. and abroad, to design, facilitate, and deliver diversity and inclusion trainings, review on-set wardrobe and footage, train production teams and on-air talent, conduct culture assessments, and assist clients with the overall implementation of D&I strategic plans and goals.

Brittany holds a B.A. in Psychology from The University of Missouri-Columbia, an M.S. in Counseling Psychology from Avila University in Kansas City, and a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology with a specialization in organization development and social change from Walden University.