What Does Inclusion Mean to You? 

New Series with Wnet Inclusion Group Chairs

     Interview with Wnet DEI Content Chair Melyssa Barrett, CEO, Jali Enterprises

Part 4: Interview with Black/African American Inclusion Group Member Melyssa Barrett

Wnet: What does inclusion mean to you, especially as we honor Black History Month? 
Melyssa: From the time I was a little girl, my father always told me that I could achieve whatever I wanted in life. He showed me what success looked like to him and the obstacles he had to navigate to achieve them. To me, inclusion means everyone is valued and appreciated, given equitable access to contribute, succeed and thrive in every aspect of their lives. We need to hear different sides of a story to understand the powerful impact and influence we can make in people’s lives. An African proverb states, “Until the Lion tells his side of the story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the Hunter.” Make sure your stories are told and be sure to explore the stories of others.

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?
Melyssa: Having worked 30 years at Visa, I think the value of an Employee Resource Group (ERG) is a precursor to the integration of inclusion into every aspect of the business.

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