Stephen Espinoza

Espinoza’s focus since the spring has been creating the protocols necessary to bring live boxing and Bellator events back to Showtime. He’s now been able to put together the largest schedule of world championship boxing announced since the global pandemic forced live sports to come to a halt. In Espinoza’s eyes, a true commitment to diversity and inclusion can only be shown through decisive, meaningful actions that create a company-wide culture that values individual experiences. “And for media companies in particular, that must be accompanied by a genuine commitment to having a variety of experiences and perspectives authentically reflected in their programming,” Espinoza says.

The conversation about racial injustice in 2020 has been… long overdue, but still superficial, incomplete and, thus far, unsatisfying. 

In what ways can companies best show a sincere commitment to diversity and inclusion?
A sincere commitment to diversity and inclusion can only be demonstrated by decisive, meaningful actions to create a company-wide culture that values individual differences, rewards diversity of thought and encourages fairness, flexibility and collaboration, enabling all employees to participate and contribute at their full potential. And for media companies in particular, that must be accompanied by a genuine commitment to having a variety of experiences and perspectives authentically reflected in their programming.

What are some of the tough conversations this industry needs to have?
Too many organizations take token steps, make empty financial promises and engage in performative displays of social justice and diversity. It is time for us to move past the abstract acknowledgment of systemic injustices and to instead start asking ourselves, “How is my organization in general, and how am I individually, perpetuating or exacerbating the problem?” The fact of societal inequalities and systemic biases is plain; it is no longer enough to acknowledge and oppose those abstractly. Each of us must be humble enough to acknowledge that there are almost certainly ways in which each of us contributes to those injustices, and we must be brave enough to confront – and change – our own individual actions, decisions and statements. We will never make meaningful progress on issues of justice until each of us recognizes the prejudices and biases within ourselves.

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