As American school children, we learned it by heart, and recited it every day.
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America..."
But how often did we then, and do we now, think about the meaning behind the words? "...one nation. Under God. Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Indivisible
What does it mean to be indivisible? It's a question Denise Hamilton explores with intelligence, empathy and disarming approachability in her groundbreaking debut as an author.
"Indivisible: How to Forge Our Differences into a Stronger Future" grabs you by the throat on page one of the Prologue, and doesn't let you go.
Through deft storytelling, research and personal reflection, Hamilton challenges us to re-think what it means to build diversity and inclusion in a polarized world where the words and the concepts are increasingly demonized.
It's Not About a Checklist
Hamilton is a nationally recognized workplace culture and DEI expert, and CEO of WatchHerWork, a digital learning platform for professional women.
She has helped hundreds of companies recognize that meeting their DEI goals, if they still have them, is not about a checklist.
It's about helping organizations figure out what their guiding principles are -- and whether they choose to act on them.
It's about maximizing the gifts of everyone involved so that they and the organization can thrive.
Beyond the Workplace
What's so powerful about Hamilton's approach is that it applies far beyond the workplace into every aspect of our relationships, both professional and personal.
The book is chock full of examples that allow you to see yourself in a given scenario, and then challenges you to re-examine your beliefs.
It reveals the power within each of us to enact positive change, and gives us the tools to do so.
Denise is a return guest who first shared her thoughtful perspective with the OVM community shortly after we launched.
We couldn't be more proud to have Denise back to share her powerful new book.
It's exactly what we need to help unify our fractured world.