Reviews
"For as much as we talk about diversity and inclusion in the workplace, it is so misunderstood. What's distinct about this book is the depth of conversation and action it can inspire." --Bärí A. Williams, tech industry legal and operations executive, start-up advisor, former lead counsel for Facebook, creator of Facebook's Supplier Diversity Program, "If you can read only one book on diversity and inclusion, it should be Women, Minorities, & Other Extraordinary People . Barbara Adams leaves no doubt about the destructiveness of discrimination and proposes creative, workable approaches to the difficult task of building and retaining a diverse, inclusive workforce. She compels readers to recognize and understand the urgency of dealing with hidden biases and corrects deep-rooted misconceptions that create impediments to a desirable work environment. This book offers a practical road map for reframing the thinking required to embrace the diversity and inclusion that make companies and organizations more successful. It is a must-read!" --Ambassador Ruth A. Davis (Ret.), named to The Economist's 2015 Global Diversity List as one of the Top 50 Diversity Figures in Public Life, "This book is fantastic for practitioners; it is simple, concise, and focused on action. Barbara articulates the problem, explains the science, shows best practices, and provides solutions. She lays out the research in a way that is easy to follow in order to set the tone for evidence-based practice. Plus, she makes it easy to review the book for quick tips by including summary points and potential actions for each chapter. The key to making lasting, meaningful change in equity, diversity, and inclusion is to take a comprehensive, strategic approach to systemic change, and Barbara's book provides readers with the foundation to initiate their strategic plan." --Tie Wang-Jones, dual PhD in Clinical Psychology and Industrial-Organizational Psychology; Global Matrix Leader, Diversity & Inclusion at IKEA Group, "Progress on diversity and inclusiveness can only be made if we also take a systems approach to understanding organizational behavior. Dr. Adams has written a true practitioner's handbook that clearly lays out the science that underpins diversity and inclusion best practices, while also addressing the emotions that drive the 'will' to change. Women, Minorities, & Other Extraordinary People skillfully reframes the journey ahead through an organizational lens, highlighting the importance of cultural norms, challenging misconceptions, and providing research and practical tools. The business case for diversity is more critical than ever, but it's not our only tool; as Dr. Adams establishes, 'if logic makes people think, emotions make people act.' This is a book for every practitioner's and leader's bookshelf." --Jennifer Brown, author of Inclusion: Diversity, the New Workplace, and the Will to Change, "Dr. Adams challenges many long-held hiring myths; that diverse talent simply isn't available; that diversity and inclusion issues and gaps can't be remedied. This book helps confront bias, reframes thinking, and provides companies with the framework and tools to implement an inclusion strategy that benefits employees, leaders, and shareholders." --PJ Moore, Senior Vice President at CGI, former Executive of Chase and IBM, "A stellar resource for understanding workforce diversity in the 21st century and a practical guide on how to maximize the full creativity and innovation of people from all different backgrounds." --Joseph P. Gaspero, CEO and Co-Founder at Center for Healthcare Innovation, "Dr. Adams compassionately 'cracks the code' for how to achieve inclusion through diversity as both business and moral imperative. Her book is a must-read for anyone who wants to make a positive difference and move the needle in the right direction toward rebuilding organizations that are equitable and inclusive. Through her masterful storytelling and impeccable research, Dr. Adams helps you to understand why it's important that everyone in your organization must be made to feel like they belong and belong uniquely." --Demetriouse Russell, founder at Venn Diagram Partners and former director at Harvard Business School Executive Education
