Dr. Ella Speaks

Hello All! 

     I hope this finds you well during this Thanksgiving season. As I reflect on 2022, I am filled with gratitude for the many opportunities I have had to connect with clients, colleagues and friends as I launched my first published book;  "The Necessary Journey: Making Real Progress on Equity and Inclusion".

     Over the last few weeks, I have traveled across the U.S, connected with industry peers and have engaged with global virtual audiences on the very topic that fuels my passion: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Through my book, I have had robust dialogue with organizations and leaders on DEI and the nuances of navigating the journey in their respective industries. Thanks to the many companies who shared their unique journey, I have been able to write a book that illuminates the purpose, pitfalls and progress of DEI for leaders across the globe.

     I am overwhelmed by the love and support my community and network have shown me in this venture and for that I want to say: Thank You!

     Remember, only 5% of best-sellers are from authors of color so your support matters a great deal! There are two ways that you can still support: 

1. If you have not yet, purchase a copy (or a few) of "The Necessary Journey: Making Real Progress on Equity and Inclusion" today!
2. Write a review on Goodreads or Amazon. Reviews are an important consideration for the status of a best seller!

Thank you again for all of your support!

With DEI in Mind,

Dr. Ella 

The Reviews Are In, Write Yours Today!

Launching The Necessary Journey 

     I was honored to have my launch event hosted by the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. It was a pleasure to connect with my colleague at PwC, Shannon Schuyler for an engaging and dynamic dialogue for the launch of The Necessary Journey. Thank you to all who were able to attend! 

The Five Stages of DEI Maturity

Check out my latest Harvard Business Review article on The Necessary Journey.

How To Move From Promises to Results 

Many organizations take big actions in the realm of DEI because of something they see another company do—such as publicly declaring themselves champions of people of color or setting an ambitious top-down DEI strategy across the firm. However, these grand stances usually fizzle out, leaving leaders frustrated and saying, “DEI work is too hard. It takes too long to see results.”

The fact is, DEI isn’t a short-term project, and a company making big moves before it has the right culture and structures in place is likely to fail, leaving marginalized employees and customers no better off and giving companies a reputation for hollow promises.

Academic research and the author’s experience working with firms on DEI strategy suggest that companies tend to follow predictable stages on their DEI journey. In this article, Georgetown professor and organizational psychologist Ella F. Washington describes the five stages: aware, compliant, tactical, integrated, and sustainable. She also includes questions for leadership teams to ask themselves. Understanding what stage your company is in can help you decide where to focus your energies most effectively and keep you from getting stuck

Service Spotlight: Bulk & Custom Options of the Necessary Journey

     95% of Best Selling Authors are White. Let’s change the narrative together. You can show your commitment to making real progress on equity and inclusion by sharing The Necessary Journey with your team, organization, or clients. Books can be purchased in bulk at a discount for use in training programs, sales campaigns, or gift-giving for company Holiday events. Books are available in bulk in hardcover, eBook, or audiobook format. 

     You can even customize books for your organization to reflect your brand on orders of 50 or more copies. Contact info@ellavatesolutions.com for more information.