Meet Paola Baglietto | Culture and DEIB Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Paola Baglietto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Paola, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
BUSINESS IDEA:

My passion for inclusion might have to do with my background. You could say that I’m a bridge, or better yet, a mutt! I was made like one. I’m pieces of everyone and everywhere. I’m an immigrant and white. I’m both Mexican and European (and now recently American). I’m privileged and a woman. I am educated, yet I grew up in a developing nation. And for the past 15 years, as I’ve endeavored to change patterns of oppression in education and create social mobility, I have realized the need to include the places where people spend most of their time: the workplace!

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) practices offer an incomplete answer to issues in today’s business arena. They help understand where oppression is rooted, but they often forget their target audience. I started Inclusive Culture, LLC because I wanted to ensure that no one was left behind and that we make DEI and culture a tangible business strategy.

I spent a decade building educational social mobility programs for at-risk young adults, I was able to research and experience what works and what doesn’t to truly engage students and exact lasting cultural change. Using my background in Human Resources, I found a way to apply these educational principles to the workforce. Inclusive Culture brings equality and inclusion to the workplace but also helps create business growth, innovation, belonging, retention and attraction.

In short, a mixture of life, work and experience inspired me to bring social change and amplify opportunities for everyone in a win-win scenario that is welcoming to all and blame free.

I’m inspired by the students that I’ve worked with. Some of them face what seems like insurmountable odds, yet they persevere and break barriers. They see the world through the lens of opportunity. In general, people who take risks and imagine life beyond the parameters that have been set in front of them are very inspiring to me. I strive to think outside the box every day and see the world as unfinished.

ONE PIECE OF CONVENTIONAL ADVICE I DISAGREE WITH

“Just move on” or “Don’t let it get to you”.

My friend noticed that I was having a really hard time letting go of something that had happened at work. It wasn’t that important, and I felt like I didn’t have the right to dwell in it. I felt I needed to move on, be a leader, not waste time. So I was actively trying to let it go but I was still upset. She gave me the best piece of advice I’ve had when dealing with setbacks: instead of saying ‘just move on” which is so arbitrary, why not say “just move on, tomorrow”. She explained “Why don’t you just enjoy the suffering and bask in all the glory of being upset today, give yourself a day to be cranky and disappointed, and tomorrow you can go back to finding solutions”. It worked like a charm. The fact that I was allowed to be upset gave me the freedom to let go and rebuild. I really recommend this! Instead of “just move on” I now say, “just move on, tomorrow!”

MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR BEHIND MY SUCCESS

An abundance mindset. If something doesn’t exist, then I endeavor to create it. If I look at a system, and find that it is broken, I do not point at it and complain that it is broken, instead, I look for ways to change, expand or replace it. It takes a lot of energy and passion, but it works. Anything that doesn’t exist, can exist, and anything that does exist, can be changed.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

I’m not a good example of this. I’ve always worked a lot. When I was 28, I had a full-time job plus an additional job and I was going to class at night for my first masters. I would come home at 10.00 pm every night at start work at 7.30am the next day. I don’t know how I did it. When I graduated, I said I would never study while working ever again, and two years later, I started my second masters. I still don’t know how I survived that either. I think I missed out on a lot of family time and fun. I wouldn’t change it for the world though. I’m now doing my doctorate, so it seems I haven’t learned anything. I would say, if you are passionate about your job, it makes it easier, because you are devoting time to something you believe in. However, I’m trying to do better and I’m more cognizant of time now. I still work very long days, but I’ve learnt to respect vacation time and create spaces where I drop everything and just relax.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am the founder of Inclusive Culture LLC, an organizational culture consulting firm rooted in offering businesses simple solutions to complex cultural problems. We specialize in helping organizations grow through culture. We decrease liability and enhance profits, retention, culture and innovation through auditing, strategic planning, in-depth training and community outreach/de-risking. We offer Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) guidance and certification.

We are doing this work because this country seems to be in dire need of bridges. Even in today’s disjointed and fractured America, we empathize with all points of view. Yes, ALL! That is the principle behind Inclusive Culture, LLC and our unique proposition. Whether the issue is economic disparities, arbitrary social norms, racism, institutionalized oppression, lack of access to opportunity, divisions in political viewpoints, rising mental health issues, inequities, social media addiction, work-life balance, prejudice, fear, we find common ground and strengthen organizational culture so teams can belong, innovate and thrive together.

I first started consulting when I was approached by organizations that needed help with culturally responsive programs. They knew I look at issues from an outsider’s perspective and I helped them troubleshoot and find common ground. It became a program in itself and a way of doing business. The biggest challenge in this work is to make sure that all the people involved are winning. We want individuals, teams and companies to thrive because of their cultural proficiency and to amplify opportunities for everyone.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would say Denver has a great food scene and it’s a great place to enjoy being outside. I would probably start at Red Rocks. You can go there in the morning and work out by running up and down the seats at the concert venue. Yes, I know it’s crazy, but it’s beautiful, the drive is scenic and it’s great exercise. Then, I recommend getting a burrito a Santiago’s. There are several locations around town. You can then stroll around RhiNo and look at some cool galleries and shops. Maybe have lunch around there or go down to Larimer street downtown. In the afternoon, I would go to the Clifford Still museum or the Botanical Gardens. The Gardens are a great place to sit down, enjoy nature and have a beer. If you don’t feel like paying for the ticket, then head to one of the breweries or beer gardens around town and enjoy the afternoon there. For dinner, some of my favorite places are Safta, Tavernetta and Sushi Den. I would add a stroll in Cherry Creek if it’s the winter, their holiday lights are great and a rooftop downtown for views.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol Dweck has changed my life. It outlines the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. I has allowed me to conceive myself not as an individual with certain strengths but as an individual with certain opportunities. I really recommend it to anyone who hasn’t heard about it.

Website: www.createinclusiveculture.com

Instagram: @createinclusiveculture

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pbaglietto/

Image Credits
Colorado Mountain College, Middlebury College, Battle Mountain High School.