The Why? Although promoted to her post in January, Das has always made DEI a priority. She helped launch the WICT PAR Study, and during her 1996-2015 tenure as WICT’s chief of staff she also helped created the Women in Technology Award. At C2HR, Das continues to promote DEI and social justice resources via its C2HR CON sessions and HR Knowledge Center.
She Says… “Leaders need to create a safe environment for employees to have candid conversations about race, discrimination and injustice. Then, they need to translate that insight into action.”
First internship: When I was in college, I worked for a Senator Hollings from South Carolina. That experience led to my interest in the media and communications industry.
Song from your earlier days that’s still on your playlist? I grew up with a lot of Indian music, as my parents immigrated to the states in 1967. However, when I was a preteen and teen, my sister, cousins and I would make up dance routines to American pop music that we would perform for our family. One of my favorite routines was to New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triangle.”
Advice for productive conversation about race in the workplace: If there is one thing that we have learned, it is that DEI doesn’t live in one place in a company. Everyone needs to embrace it and have ownership. Leaders need to create a safe environment for employees to have candid conversations about race, discrimination and injustice. Then, they need to translate that insight into action. As one of our recent C2HR CON sessions highlighted, it’s important to move beyond words to impact. Leaders can set an example by approaching DEI holistically to include pay equity, hiring practices, development opportunities, and social justice.