Mikaela Waller, MHR

Hey Garry Johnson III, right on time. I'm not a frequent coffee drinker but have been thinking of getting a bit into it and was looking for a Black-owned brand to support so...kismet. I just bought that 1871 😋 ☕️ Coffee Description: "HBCU Fun Fact: Established in 1871, this historic institution is renowned for its legacy as the first land-grant historically Black university. With a steadfast commitment to academic excellence, social progress, and leadership development, the university empowers students to effect lasting change in their communities and beyond. Coffee Description: A very complex medium-dark roast of bright full flavor African grown coffees. Enjoy hints of toffee, caramel, chocolate, raisins, green apples, red fruits and even hints of cherries and black currant with a soft floral finish. Coffee cherries are often processed by hand at the home of the farmers after being hand picked. Quality standards are high and farmers adhere to these strict standards with environmentally friendly processing, washing the beans and leaving in the sun to dry, then hand sorting and packaging." Read full description and more about BVU here: https://lnkd.in/gVr6qHd8 Question for devoted java drinkers: Is it true if you brew whole beans instead of ground coffee ☕️, you get a richer taste? 🤔 What's your favorite way to consume coffee? Also support this brotha please.

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🌟 Building a Strong Professional Network: Strategies for Black Women 🌟 Building a robust professional network is essential for career advancement in today's competitive landscape. Here are five key strategies for Black women to expand their network, cultivate meaningful connections, and leverage networking opportunities: 1️⃣ Seek Out Mentorship and Sponsorship: Find mentors and sponsors who can provide guidance, support, and opportunities. Mentors offer valuable advice, while sponsors actively advocate for your career advancement within the organization. 🤝 2️⃣ Join Professional Organizations and Affinity Groups: Engage with organizations and groups that focus on supporting Black professionals and women in your industry. These platforms offer networking events, workshops, and resources tailored to your career growth. 📚 3️⃣ Attend Conferences and Industry Events: Participate in conferences, seminars, and industry events to connect with like-minded professionals and thought leaders. These gatherings are excellent opportunities to exchange ideas, gain insights, and form lasting relationships. 🎤 4️⃣ Leverage Social Media and Online Communities: Utilize platforms like LinkedIn to connect with professionals in your field. Join online communities and groups that align with your interests and career goals, and actively participate in discussions to build your visibility and network. 🌐 5️⃣ Be Intentional and Authentic: Approach networking with intentionality and authenticity. Focus on building genuine relationships rather than just collecting contacts. Show interest in others' stories and offer your support, creating a reciprocal and meaningful network. 💬 By implementing these strategies, Black women can expand their professional networks, access new opportunities, and achieve their career aspirations. Let's continue to support and uplift each other in our professional journeys! 🌟💪🏾 Please Subscribe to our movement The Sisterhood Society for Women of Color on our website (SisterhoodSocietyWOC.org) for website for more tips & resources #Networking #CareerGrowth #BlackWomenLead #ProfessionalDevelopment #Mentorship

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A very insightful and relatable perspective. The load is quite heavy.

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Are you gearing up for conference season? Wanting to stand out from other conference goers and get your resume to the top of the stack? Consider registering for this session led by two amazing Talent Acquisition professionals!

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As someone who values inclusive financial planning, I know how important it is to address LGBTQ+ needs. Explore Citizens' financial planning tips tailored for LGBTQ+ individuals: http://spr.ly/6047gAa75. #CitizensColleague #MadeReady #Pride #CultureOfPride

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READING: "Pretty Lux Co, the first Black-owned and woman-owned candle-making studio in Middle Georgia founded by Anikitia Abram, MBA Finance, is igniting a love for science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) through the art of making luxury products." via People of Color In Tech https://lnkd.in/gU78Ksqm #stemlearning #luxury #consumergoods

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Despite the DEI myths being circulated, investing in women of color is the best economic decision an organization can make. Your ROI is golden and the innovation, creativity and energy that comes with a significant increase in your bottom line is unmatched. Goldman Sachs is getting it right and other organizations in the corporate and nonprofit space should take note. #diversityequityandinclusion #leadership #nonprofits #economy #corporatesocialresponsibility

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🏳️‍🌈 Happy Pride All 🏳️‍🌈 As a queer Black woman, Pride Month holds a special place in my heart and is my reality/history. It's a time to celebrate our identities, honor our history, and amplify the voices within our vibrant community. Pride isn't just about the festivities (although they are certainly fulfilling)—it's a call to action for each of us to champion inclusivity, equality, and respect in every space we occupy. To my fellow professionals and allies, here are a few ways we can make a meaningful impact: 1. Educate Yourself and Others: Understanding the experiences and challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community is crucial. Attend workshops, read diverse perspectives, and share this knowledge within your networks. 2. Advocate for Inclusive Policies: Ensure your workplace policies are inclusive and supportive of LGBTQIA+ individuals. This includes everything from anti-discrimination policies to benefits that recognize diverse family structures. 3. Support LGBTQIA+ Initiatives: Whether it's participating in Pride events, donating to LGBTQIA+ organizations, or mentoring queer youth, your support makes a difference. 4. Be Visible and Vocal: Use your platform to speak out against discrimination and to celebrate LGBTQIA+ achievements. Your voice can inspire others to take action. 5. Listen and Learn: Create spaces where LGBTQIA+ voices are heard and valued. Listen to their stories, understand their needs, and act on their feedback. Let’s commit to building a world where everyone, regardless of their identity, feels seen, valued, and respected. #PrideMonth #LGBTQ #Inclusion #Diversity #Equality #Allyship #BlackQueerPride

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"Unapologetically Leading: The Black Women's Mixtape" is more than a platform, it’s a vibe and a community where we celebrate the stories and journeys of Black women leaders. Through centering their narratives, we aim to inspire connections and uplift voices that are often overlooked or stereotypically defined. "Unapologetically Leading" amplifies Black women by giving them space to take center stage and own their narratives and how they are shown to the world. Why the play on the word mixtape? Because we hope to curate an authentic and transparent look at their experiences, perspectives, and insights, noting that each narrative will be different, similar to the diverse tracks on your favorite album/mixtape. Ultimately, "Unapologetically Leading: The Black Women's Mixtape" isn't just about sharing stories; it's about reclaiming agency, and redefining what it means to lead unapologetically as a Black woman in today's world. If you are interested in sharing your story either through writing a piece or by being interviewed fill out the form below and share it with your network 💜 EDIT: This will close tomorrow at noon. #BlackWomenLeaders #CenteringBlackVoices #RedefiningLeadership #Leadership #Storytelling

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As a longtime supporter of SHRM This situation with dropping Equity from its DEI strategy has been very taxing to me. I’m literally losing sleep about it I don’t agree with every decision SHRM makes or every stand that they take however, it is an organization that gave me a Black Woman who prioritizes equitable outcomes every day the support I needed to forge a successful path in HR when NO ONE ELSE was checking for me. In effect it gave me the power and platform to bring along others who look like me. In other words push for equitable outcomes for all. I recognize not everyone feels that way or had my experience with SHRM but I’m fine with that and we can still exist together. These are my thoughts: * I don’t agree with dropping the equity but honestly it doesn’t matter what you call it if you are doing the work. I’m not saying SHRM is doing the work, I’m saying that I am. Are you? * Don’t punish the state and local chapters. Many of them do good work and personally touch diverse HR people every day. * No organization gives you permission to be equitable. Many of you work in or with organizations every day that are not equitable. If you’ve been doing the work, you will continue with or without any organization’s blessing or strategy. * For those of you not Black or Brown who are so bothered by this - take a look at your own circles of influence and work. Who are you supporting and raising up for equitable outcomes because your posts, group pictures and podcast guests don’t show or support diversity. (Don’t come at me with the diversity of thought or any of those other phrases because it is always intersected by race and if you are doing the work this is not for you) * Doing equity work does not require vitriol and hate. You don’t have to take on civility as your thing but my goodness giving such hate for something you don’t like is not the same as doing the work to break down systems and support true change. Good HR people don't depend on one organization to give them everything that they need to be good. You should be getting learning and resources from many places. That creates the good within you and manifests itself through your everyday actions to say what you mean, and do what you say. We can sometimes get so caught up in our need to say something or call out something that we think needs to be denounced that we lose sight of our individual power and responsibility. That is where the real change lies. I will close with this, as a fellow Linkedinder said, “t's not that I'm for SHRM- 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈'𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐑 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬.” I feel that deeply. Thanks for those words Stephanie! Ps Do not be disrespectful in these comments. It will not be tolerated. I suggest you put that energy into fighting for equity. Thank you kindly. #ilovehr #goodhr #humanresources

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Is The Time Right? Will the world be able to hear this poignant and brilliant message? Being rendered invisible and constantly questioned is the fate of Black women in leadership. That is for the average performer. High fliers and creative change makers like Nwamaka Agbo, MPA would face more direct aggression as she represents a threat to the ways things are meant to be. The not for profit sector is unexceptional but performs this violence in specific ways. Koritha Mitchell in her Know Your Place aggression offers theoretical perspectives. In the Levers of Change project, we provide root cause analysis and an action agenda to tackle this including by empowering change agents, producing conceptual frameworks and building movements. Black women leaders should take comfort that we are not alone and have a community to draw on. • Theresa M. Robinson, ABD Lisa Hurley Tara Jaye Frank De-Dee Loftin Davis Cathy-Mae Karelse, PhD Anne Elaine Price Gwendolyn Hampton VanSant

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🌟 Reflecting on Juneteenth: Embracing Learning, Growth, and Equity 🌟 Today, as we commemorate Juneteenth, we honor the profound significance of freedom and reflect on its enduring pursuit. Juneteenth marks the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, a milestone that not only celebrates liberation but also underscores the ongoing journey towards justice and equality. In the realm of #Learning&Development, Juneteenth serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of education, understanding, and inclusivity. As #L&Dprofessionals, we have the unique opportunity to foster environments where an individual's voice is heard, valued, and empowered. We must continually strive to educate ourselves and our organizations about the diverse histories and experiences that shape our world. This Juneteenth, let us commit to integrating principles of equity and inclusion into our #L&Dstrategies. By championing #diverseperspectives, providing equitable learning opportunities, and cultivating #inclusiveworkplaces, we contribute to a more just society and empower individuals to thrive. Together, let's amplify Black voices, support initiatives that promote equity in education and professional development, and reaffirm our commitment to building a future where every person has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed. Happy Juneteenth! 🎉✊🏽 #Juneteenth #LearningAndDevelopment #Equity #Inclusion #ReflectAndAct

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Want to talk to talk to others about your illness or diagnosis? Check out this story from Fidelity's Learning Center on how to have conversations with friends, family and children. #FidelityAssociate

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Wow! Accurate. It's the emotional labor. That piece. It's exhausting. How do we continue to advocate while managing our mental, emotional, and physical energy? It's not easy and there are ways to protect ourselves. Part of the work that I do in this space encompasses energy and well-being. Make sure you have solid habits in place to protect and generate the energy you need to move in this world. #highperformancehabits #highperformance #Inclusion #DEI #cantstopwontstop #advocacy

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Hello LinkedIn fam Sooooo, I’ve conducted extensive research on Black women in the workplace. Racial and gender bias is more prevalent than many realize, and despite my best efforts to be selective with my work environments, I’ve still faced these biases. I naively thought I could escape them, but reality proved otherwise. The bias wasn’t as overt as “get to the back of the bus” or “women are better seen, not heard,” but it was there—and it hurt. It hurt me and it hurt those I love. These experiences have shown me firsthand the urgent need for supportive, trauma-informed workplaces. ✨ Why Trauma-Informed Practices? ✨ • Personal Connection: My own journey through the professional world has underscored the importance of understanding and addressing these challenges. • Professional Expertise: My research and practical work have given me a deep insight into how trauma and bias impact organizational behavior and leadership. • Community Impact: I’m committed to creating environments where everyone feels valued and supported. To help organizations transition into these supportive practices, I’ve developed the Trauma-Informed Practice (TIP) screening service and roadmap. This introductory product uses a five-point implementation assessment tool to measure an organization’s capacity for sustainable informed infrastructure. Based on this assessment, we provide a detailed roadmap outlining step-by-step practices to move forward. I believe that by integrating trauma-informed practices, we can create healthier, more productive, and more inclusive workplaces. I’ll share the specific details about my own experience with racial and gender bias soon because I believe it is important to speak specifically about these issues instead of with generalizations, as organizations and people can hide behind generalizations. If you’re interested in learning more or partnering with me on this journey, let’s connect! Together, we can make a difference. #TraumaInformed #WorkplaceWellness #Leadership #MentalHealth #CommunitySupport #BlackWomenLead #RacialBias #GenderBias

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Driving Sustainability and Long-term Focus: Our Vision remains steadfast: to build a sustainable and generational company that thrives into the decades ahead. 🔹 Our People & 'ELX BLACK OPS': We believe in creating pathways from recruitment to retirement. Our 'ELX BLACK OPS' initiative is a testament to this belief, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. 🔹 Customer Obsessed: We are dedicated to providing world-class equipment and unparalleled service to deliver exceptional value for our partners' supply chains. Our customer-centric approach ensures we meet and exceed expectations, driving mutual success. 🔹 Leading Technology: Embracing cutting-edge technology is at the core of our strategy. We aim to not only advance our business but also contribute to a more sustainable future for the entire industry. Our focus on innovation helps us stay ahead of the curve, ensuring a brighter tomorrow. Every day, we strive to be better than we were yesterday, continuously evolving and improving to meet the challenges of the future.

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Yesterday, on Black Women's Equal Pay Day, SHRM announced that it would remove Equity from DEI and instead focus on Inclusion. As a professional organization for HR practitioners, SHRM should be leading from the front, yet this decision seems tone-deaf and regressive. Announcing this shift on Black Women's Equal Pay Day demonstrates a lack of awareness, confirms that SHRM is out of touch, and exemplifies how established institutions can fall behind when they fail to embrace innovation and evolving perspectives on workplace equity. Removing "Equity" from the acronym, even while claiming it remains a priority, sends a problematic message and appears to prioritize pandering to those resistant to DEI initiatives rather than advancing meaningful progress. It contributes to HR's often-criticized reputation for superficial changes that don't address core issues. So, what should we do when these institutions fail to meet the people's needs? We can look to history for clues. The power belongs to the people. And our new HR SaaS product launching soon will aid in returning it there and issue in a whole new world....of work. #shrm #HR #innovation #startup

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