Embracing Differences and Making a Difference

Breaking Barriers

About the Guest(s):

Michele Sullivan is a renowned speaker, author, and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Born with a rare form of dwarfism, Michele has overcome numerous challenges throughout her life and has become a strong advocate for equal opportunities for all. She had a successful career at Caterpillar, where she served as the Director of the Caterpillar Foundation, leading global philanthropic efforts. After retiring, Michele continued her work in the nonprofit sector and became involved with organizations such as the One Campaign, focusing on social impact and poverty alleviation. She is also the author of the book "Looking Up," where she shares her inspiring journey and encourages others to embrace their differences and make a positive impact in the world.

Episode Summary:

In this episode, host Nick Ford and co-host Joy discuss the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B) with guest Michele Sullivan. Michele shares her personal journey as a little person and how she found support and inspiration through organizations like Little People of America. She also talks about her career at Caterpillar and her role as the Director of the Caterpillar Foundation, where she focused on social impact and philanthropy. Michele emphasizes the need for collaboration and understanding in today's polarized world and encourages listeners to embrace their differences and work together to create positive change.

Key Takeaways:

• Embrace Differences: Michele highlights the importance of embracing differences and recognizing the value that each individual brings to the table. She encourages listeners to focus on collaboration and understanding rather than division.
• Three-Legged Stool: Michele introduces the concept of the three-legged stool, which represents the collaboration between the private sector, the nonprofit sector, and the public sector. She emphasizes the need for these sectors to work together to create exponential change and address societal challenges.
• Grassroots and Grass Tops: Michele discusses the importance of grassroots efforts and community involvement in creating change. She also highlights the significance of grass tops advocacy, which involves working with government and policy-making entities to drive systemic change.

Resources:

• Little People of America - Website
• Caterpillar Foundation - Website
• The One Campaign - Website

Send your DEI&B questions to [e-mail],

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