We had the good fortune of connecting with Dwinita Mosby Tyler and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Dwinita, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My process began with realizing that I needed a bigger and different platform to do my work. I have led in some wonderful large organizations in my career, but I felt constrained in my ability to leverage the power of my voice. I was speaking through organizational values instead of my own. As a speaker and facilitator of the complex topics of equity, inclusion and diversity, I knew that I would have to form my own business to amplify the topic in my own way. That is how I started The Equity Project.
When I started the organization I had a unique opportunity to build a system of equity. I looked at everything I saw as inequity in previous organizations that I worked in and committed to create a system free of those inequities. I looked at compensation, culture and resiliency-factors and built them right into our business strategy. Wherever I saw societal inequities, I sought to solve for them in the way that I built The Equity Project.
I wasn’t sure if the business would take off, but I was fully committed to making it work. I started by announcing on social media that I was launching The Equity Project – a consulting firm designed to support organizations in their journey to advance equity, inclusion and diversity. In three days, I had my first client inquiry. From there, the rest is history. Six years later we have worked with over 300 unique clients across the globe.
What should our readers know about your business?
The Equity Project is a consulting firm that provides support to organizations across the globe who are actively advancing equity, inclusion and diversity strategies. We provide everything from keynotes, workshops, organizational assessments, plan design and implementation and more. We have a unique philosophy in our work in that we call people “in.” Philosophically, we believe in “spaces filled with grace.” These are spaces where we have direct and difficult conversations where we can fail, screw up, maybe not know the right words to say, but people don’t ever have to worry about being judged or critiqued in the process.
Doing this kind of work in a polarized society hasn’t been easy, but the polarization has created the business demand. Organizations, inherently, want to do something…they often don’t know how. We never skip over the elephant in the room – fear. People are afraid of this topic area; particularly when it involves conversations of race. The Equity Project works to normalize the conversation so it isn’t as intimidating. This “calling in” process results in better movement in operationalizing the principles of equity, inclusion and diversity. People aren’t just talking about it. They are putting their commitments into strategic actions.
I have learned along the way that people are confused about what equity, inclusion and diversity really means. They are also afraid to acknowledge that confusion. Because I grew up in the 1960’s in the segregated South, I am able to leverage storytelling to crystalize the definitions better. We discuss equity, inclusion and diversity from the context of social movements. It helps people understand what movements like the Civil Rights Movement or the Gay Rights Movement actually sought to do.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If it was fall season, we’d head to Estes Park. You simply must experience the mating ritual of elk. I’ll just leave that right there. It is a sight to behold (not the mating; just the ritual).
Denver is rich in artistic and cultural history. I would do a museum and gallery tour – Denver Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Clyfford Still and First Friday Art Walks on Sante Fe Drive, to name a few.
I would also make a stop at Red Rocks. It is breathtaking (literally) and a must see for any visitor.
I would also take a trip down Welton Street in the historic Five Points Community. I believe it is important for visitors to understand the richness and stories of the Black history of Denver.
I am vegan so I force my friends to love my food choices even though they aren’t vegan! I would absolutely take my visitors to my favorite spot, Watercourse Foods. Great food and extraordinary service.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Rev. Dr. Timothy Tyler, was instrumental in my starting my business. When I was most afraid about the financial implications of starting a business; the fear that I wouldn’t make as much money as I did in the job I was leaving, he said “why is that organization your benchmark for success?” Those simple words changed everything and I never looked back.
I want to thank my late father, John Mosby, for inspiring me through his actions. He had a 10th grade education and was one of the smartest men I ever met. He had a deep love for community. He taught me that giving to others was a requirement of leadership. He taught me not to be afraid of or constrained by differences. He instilled in me that I was good enough and belonged in the many rooms that I would eventually enter.
I want to thank the City and County of Denver, former Mayor’s Wellington Webb and Mayor Michael Hancock for allowing me an experience as a City leader that I will always be grateful for. As the leader of the Office of Human Resources for the City and County of Denver, I gained a unique and important perspective about government, community and the people in both. It was the job where I think I grew most as a leader. It was the job that gave the greatest appreciation for the power of systems and systems change and the most proximity to the communities that I love so much.
Website: www.theequityprojectllc.com
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