Cheryl Manley

Having already developed and adopted new workplace protocols to ensure all Charter employees could work safely from home or in the field, Manley and her team are going beyond merely complying with emergency orders and governmental mandates. They are proactively responding to lingering uncertainties and risks posed by the ongoing pandemic, and adapting safety policies as needed—especially in regard to employees and family members who may have high-risk medical conditions. Keeping all employees healthy is paramount, but so is having a diverse and inclusive workforce. “This is an important tenet for Charter Communications as well, and holds true in the employees we hire and the professional services firms with which we engage,” she says. “I think it’s important to look in both traditional and untraditional places for candidates, and once you have this wonderful, diverse mix of talent, make sure that you provide guidance and serve as an advocate to help them move forward.”

 

Do you think there has been significant progress on DEI in the industry in the past year?
In our industry, and far beyond, diversity, equity and inclusion has become much more than window dressing. Events such as the “Me Too” movement and the killing of George Floyd have forced our nation to act more seriously around these issues.

At Charter Communications, D&I is a true business partner. It is integral to the way we think and operate – in the way we hire, in our culture, in our products and services and in our partnerships and community work.

But, as an industry, we all must keep working.

How have you been a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion?
I have been fortunate to have many champions along the way in my career who have helped me to advance and to find my voice. So, it is natural for me to want to support others.

Professionally, I’m committed to ensuring a diverse team, comprised of people who have different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. This is an important tenet for Charter Communications as well, and holds true in the employees we hire and the professional services firms with which we engage. I think it’s important to look in both traditional and untraditional places for candidates, and once you have this wonderful, diverse mix of talent, make sure that you provide guidance and serve as an advocate to help them move forward. I make this part of my job and way of operating every day.

My best advice for fostering open, honest communication…
is to create an environment of trust and respect, where people can feel safe voicing their opinions. As a leader, when I have a meeting with my team, I typically sit and listen to their thoughts on an issue before expressing my own opinion. This deepens my understanding of a situation and gives me a new way of looking at things. It also results in better, more creative solutions. By the way, the value of this technique extends far beyond the workplace!

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