WIB-Chicago: The Brilliance of Diversity – Illuminated Power of DEI for Startups and Entrepreneurs

On February 28, 2024, WIB-Chicago hosted an event at Gallery Guichard, a space that was previously home to the first African American department store in the country. The event was sponsored by Gallery Guichard, Diversity Health NetWoRx, and 2Flo Ventures. The sponsors gave opening remarks and a brief history of the Gallery Guichard space and the surrounding neighborhood (Bronzeville).

The event started at 5:30 p.m., with the attendees enjoying the colorful and eclectic works of art while networking and socializing over drinks and dinner. Next, Ellita T. Williams-Bellamy (WIB-Chicago Co-Chair) moderated the discussion with three distinguished panelists: Melissa Hamilton, Robyn Malone, and Noelle Curtis. The event concluded with an engaging question-and-answer session with the audience. Many attendees stayed on and socialized after the event.

The purpose of the event was to:

• Celebrate the profound contributions of African-American pioneers in the life sciences and biotech arena, 
• To offer a unique convergence of celebration and empowerment, offering entrepreneurs and startups tangible insights on strategic planning, target population engagement, and capital-raising strategies dedicated to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and
• To provide an enriching experience where we honor the past and shape the future of a more inclusive and vibrant biotech landscape.

Robyn Malone emphasized the importance of language as a starting point to ensure our conversations surrounding DEI are not shut down, including asking thoughtful questions. She noted that linking DEI to the bottom line takes humanity out of it, and a better way to frame this includes realizing that consumers are now mindful of where companies stand and how they show up. She opined that it’s not sustainable for DEI to be just a buzzword and that the goal is to embed DEI into the culture of the company and brand. She noted that some of us exist in sandwich generations with very different worldviews and lots of opportunities to listen and learn. She added that when people feel heard and seen, they can bring their authentic self, and that is the actual definition of “inclusion”. She remarked that there is brilliance in the idea and aspiration of DEI.

Melissa Hamilton commented that instead of DEI being embedded across functions in corporations, it often stands alone. Currently, lots of organizations are trying to figure out where DEI fits, so there has been a push to include DEI initiates into the bottom line. She observed that because there is no universal definition of DEI, its impact and results are not always clear. She opined that there is an opportunity for more nuance, for example, in terms of defining the end consumer impact and impact on people in the organization, all of which makes it more holistic. She stated it is important to really anchor the DEI initiatives to what it means for the organization and get alignment from leadership. She asserted that inter- and multi-generational teams can disrupt thinking, with more opportunity to champion sustainable change and build the best leaders.

Noelle Curtis shared the importance of acting as a bridge to communicate with individuals across the spectrum, advocating for individuals who don’t have access. She emphasized the need for having conversations, being gentle with words, and communicating calmly. She believes DEI still has a discriminatory undertone to it. In sharing self-funding ideas for new founders, she noted that while DEI may get founders in the door, their idea is what is important and keeps them there. She discussed the need for understanding the audience in relation to funding, for example, VC vs private investor vs crowdfunding. ROI is important for investors, and there are lots of other aspects, all of which necessitate being mindful of language. It is important to show an understanding of the financial implications and space. She urged attendees to believe in their own brain power but also to be humble in terms of being open to receiving ideas from different people. She stated that intergenerational conversations provide a wealth of exposure, so it is important to be open to listening and use our own filters as needed. We should embrace diversity and face that we are diverse.

We are inspired by the interest surrounding the idea of intergenerational collaboration in terms of DEI and hope that our attendees enjoyed this insightful panel discussion. See you next time!

Submitted by Samia Tasmim