What Does Inclusion Mean to You?
New Series with Wnet Inclusion Group Chairs
Interview with Kathryn Kmiotek, channel marketing strategist, BillGO
Part 1: Interview with Hispanic/Latino Inclusion Group Co-Chair Kathryn Kmiotek
Wnet: What does inclusion mean to you?
Kathy: Inclusion to me is being part of the decision-making process. Often combined with diversity and equity, inclusion is the equivalent of being “asked to dance” at a party. When you are asked to dance, not only invited to the party (diversity), you are being given the power to make a decision, to become part of the conversation that will drive that decision.
Inclusion is where your voice is heard, where your ideas and experiences are taken into consideration.
Wnet: What has been some of the value of having an employee resource group within your organization that is aligned with the inclusion group of Wnet? If your company does not have an ERG, where do you find value or how do you create it?
Kathy: At Global Payments, there were a variety of ERG groups. I had the privilege of being a part of Global Payments Women’s Network (GPWN) and the champion that launched the chapter in the Melville, New York, office. They did not have a Latino(a)/LatinX ERG, but did recognize Hispanic Heritage Month – which begins tomorrow, Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 – by highlighting team members during that time. There was great value in GPWN in a company as large as Global Payments. It exposed you to different team members in a variety of areas of the company, and you were able to interact with many that you would not normally as part of your job function. It was a way of creating a level of inclusion organizationally.
At BillGO, which is much smaller, there are no ERG groups. Much of the value is built into the culture of the organization and values it supports as its mission. They do this even at the executive leadership.
Wnet: What are some of the ways you see our Wnet Inclusion Groups (IG) broadening the networking and mentoring opportunities for our members and sponsors?