Twenty-second International Conference on Knowledge, Culture, and Change in Organizations

Abstract

When unrealized or unchecked, unconscious bias—or stereotypes individuals form outside of their conscious awareness—can be harmful to the work environment and result in the loss of top talent. To cultivate a truly inclusive workplace culture, organizations must actively acknowledge and mitigate these unconscious attitudes and beliefs. With this in mind, I talk about Barbara and Karen Field’s concept of “racecraft,” help participants stop conflating culture with race and race with ethnicity, and offer solutions for racecraft with clear go-dos, further readings, and ideas to consider. Ultimately, the goal is to highlight how many of us inadvertently uphold racism and how we can stop. Participants will greatly elevate their thinking about DEI and have solidified ideas for how to implement change and transformation within their organizations. This knowledge will translate as increased productivity and profit, as well as higher recruitment and retention of clients and employees.