As a key player in how Charter approaches new laws and regulations in addition to its employment practices and HR policies, Manley’s role requires a deep and diverse knowledge of the company’s 100,000 employees. She’s a member of Charter’s internal business resource groups—Spectrum Women and Spectrum Multicultural—but also is involved with other organizations like The WICT Network and NAMIC, where she is Emeritus, Immediate Past Chair.
Who would play you in a movie about your life? Kerry Washington. From what I’ve seen and read, Kerry is humble, has a sense of humor that allows her to laugh at herself, has grown rather than faltered from difficult life experiences and has a fabulous fashion sense. I aspire to be a woman with such characteristics.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about diversity within your industry? In my experience, diversity has been misperceived as the hiring, retention, promotion, or advancement of individuals whose primary – and perhaps only – qualification is their diverse characteristic. Although such a perception is a gross misrepresentation of what diversity means and its positive impact on the industry, it has led to the coining of phrases such as “DEI hire” and the notion that diversity is quota-based. Sadly, the idea of encouraging and fostering diversity is slowly becoming taboo.
What nonprofit are you proud to champion and why? As an employment attorney, I am a staunch believer in justice and equality. Earlier this year, I had the privilege of attending a consortium presented by the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama. In addition to learning about EJI’s mission from its founder, I had the opportunity to spend several hours at The Legacy Museum. It is a remarkable expression of the work EJI has done and continues to do in its effort to eradicate racial injustice through education and thoughtful, meaningful dialogue.
What does work-life balance mean to you? Balancing the extraordinary demands of my job against the necessity to maintain a robust personal life means working efficiently, delegating in a way that creates career-advancing opportunities for others, mastering the skill of organization, declining the quest for perfection, decluttering both my work life and personal life whenever possible, and prioritizing everything, including the small stuff. I have discovered that a balanced life increases my gratitude and brings immense joy.