Join Erin Sember-Chase and Toral Patel from the Department of Inclusion and Belonging for a monthly podcast series where they unpack various topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at work. During each episode's interview, they provide a platform for campus colleagues in various roles to share their lived experiences, thoughts, and ideas around how we can create cultures of belonging, especially in our workplaces. You can listen to this podcast on your phone, at your desk, on your way to work, while you are taking a break, even while you get ready for bed!
Do you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast? Have someone we should highlight for their awesome work around campus? Feel free to send us an email at ie-academy@cornell.edu.
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Season 5 Transcripts
For transcripts of previous episodes, please visit the Episode Archive page.
Episode 65: Connecting Past to Present: A Conversation About "Any Person, Many Stories" Exhibition
What began as a vision in 2020 grew into a collection of stories that unravel many of the untold truths of Cornell's history. On this episode of the podcast, Erin and Toral invite Melina Ivanchikova and Rob Vanderlan from the Center for Teaching Innovation to share their digital exhibition "Any Person, Many Stories--Histories of Exclusion and Inclusion at Cornell." The pair discuss the impetus for the project and how understanding Cornell's past can actually help increase a sense of belonging throughout the community today.
Visit blogs.cornell.edu/manystories/ to read the stories from the collection.
Episode 64: Maximize Your Employee Experience
Erin and Toral continue their conversation about employee engagement as they diver deeper into the challenges that new hires face with their guest Cassie Pierre Joseph (she/her/hers), the director for employee engagement at Cornell. Cassie reflects on her journey upon arriving at the university and how her current role serves as a crucial resource for new employees across campus. She offers advice in helping new hires get acclimated to the environment and encourages listeners to seek support in order to maximize their experience at Cornell.
Episode 63: Unpacking Your Bags and the Data: Retention at Cornell
In this episode, Erin and Toral are joined by Maria Wolff (she/her/hers), senior consultant for Talent Retention at Cornell, to unpack recent declines in employee retention at the university and in higher education. After exploring the top reasons why people are leaving Cornell, Maria shares ways to focus on creating and supporting an environment that purposefully and proactively retains its employees. She shares how engaging with the entire "employee experience" contributes to workplace belonging and strives to make Cornell a desirable employer for all.
Episode 62: Supercharge Your Career Path
Radhika Nayak (she/her/hers) began her journey at Cornell by learning to navigate the university and her professional path on her own. In this episode, she joins Erin and Toral in her new role as a career development specialist, serving as a resource to guide staff to fruitful and fulfilling careers. While aiming to increase employee retention and a sense of belonging, Radhika shares the tools needed to supercharge a career at Cornell and stay satisfied with professional life.
Visit the "Career Success Center" for additional resources.
Episode 61: Keys to Unlocking Employee Investment and Inclusion
A reunion of friends opens up a conversation that digs deeper than nostalgia. Longtime Cornell employees, Anu Lyons and Ben Ortiz join Erin and Toral to dive into their shared past, discovering what exactly has contributed to them changing professional roles yet staying with the same employer for so long. From tapping into the local community, receiving support from mentors, and being transparent about work wants, needs, and goals, Anu and Ben reveal some essential keys for unlocking employee investment, inclusion, and belonging.
Episode 60: CNGs Mini-Series, Part III: Cultivating Belonging
Erin and Toral wrap up the "CNGs Mini-Series" with a conversation about the complexity of experiences and identities within the CNGs. Steph Cowling-Rich (she/her/hers) of the Women of Color CNG and Debra Howell (she/her/hers) of the Veterans CNG speak of the intricate and unique challenges that members of their CNGs face and how these groups help to find and foster throughlines that employees can use to connect across Cornell. Steph and Debra discuss how listeners can help cultivate a sense of belonging in both their personal and professional lives.
For more information on Colleague Network Groups at Cornell, please visit: https://hr.cornell.edu/colleague-network-groups
Episode 59: CNGs Mini-Series, Part II: Abandon Your Assumptions
In part two of the "CNGs Mini-Series," Erin and Toral speak with Ashlee Cherry (she/her/hers) of the Disability CNG and Ten Van Winkle (she/they) of the Young Professionals CNG. Ashlee and Ten invite listeners to honor and acknowledge the unique experiences and identities that exist within the CNGs while leaving behind all assumptions. Their conversation also ponders the ever-evolving world of work and the importance of fixing the fallacies of the workplace machine rather than focusing on changing its individual gears.
For more information on Colleague Network Groups at Cornell, please visit: https://hr.cornell.edu/colleague-network-groups
Episode 58: CNGs Mini-Series, Part I: "Bringing Your Whole Self"
Tune into part one of the three-part mini-series that will feature members of Cornell's six Colleague Network Groups (CNGs). In this first episode, Erin and Toral talk with Crissi Dalfonzo (she/her/hers) and Victor Younger (he/him/his) about their experiences working at Cornell and participating in the LGBTQ+ Colleague Network Group and Men of Color Colleague Network Group. Crissi and Victor share their thoughts around workplace belonging and how CNGs help staff and faculty find community through creating a culture where employees can comfortably bring their whole selves to the workplace.
For more information on Colleague Network Groups at Cornell, please visit: https://hr.cornell.edu/colleague-network-groups
Episode 57: New Season, New Co-Host
Toral Patel and Bert Odom-Reed kick off season five by welcoming back Erin Sember-Chase (she/her/hers), who will be stepping into her new role as co-host of the IE Podcast. Erin shares a little about her professional journey and discusses the importance of creating inclusive spaces across Cornell's campus for staff, students, and faculty. She also teases the new season's theme, "What is inclusion and belonging...really?" Follow upcoming episodes that will explore with fellow Cornellians what it really means and looks like to be included and to feel a sense of belonging.