UNLOCKING DIVERSITY: How to Create Inclusive Cultures in a World of Differences

by Seconde Nimenya

A timely and thought-provoking book that challenges assumptions and the status quo on the topics of race, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and our communities. In Unlocking Diversity, author, inspirational speaker, and diversity and inclusion advocate Seconde Nimenya shares reflections with organizational leaders and individuals on how to create inclusive cultures in a world of differences. From race relations and overcoming unconscious bias to driving business growth in a multicultural market, this book will spark your mind on how to raise your awareness and move from being unconscious of diversity issues to advocating for equity and inclusion. Nimenya explains the importance of cultural integration and how to achieve cultural synergies, she shares her black experience, redefines the true meaning of privilege, and much more to inspire you to rise above differences, find a common purpose, and solve local, national, and global challenges. Drawing from her life experiences as an immigrant navigating racial differences, and her years of working with various organizations and diverse communities, Nimenya provides fresh perspectives on what it means to be an inclusive leader in your personal and professional life. She invites all of us to explore our diversity stories and to approach each individual and situation with an open mind and a dose of cultural humility rather than putting people in boxes. Having an inclusive mindset is the best way to disrupt both unconscious and conscious biases, create more belonging, and harness the power of diversity in order to live, learn, and lead better in a world of differences. As Seconde Nimenya writes, “Whether you’re gay or straight, black or white, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, or Muslim, Democrat or Republican, human beings at their very core are yearning for the same to be accepted for who they are.”

158 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 22, 2020

About the author

Seconde Nimenya is the author of five books and the founder and chief diversity trainer at Common Purpose Training Services®. She has spent more than a decade as a thought leader on diversity and inclusion in a world of differences. Through her leadership development programs, she advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, education, and communities. Seconde speaks at various conferences and seminars, inspiring and empowering her audiences to use their life experiences to better themselves and others. She works with business owners and organizational leaders who want to build inclusive workplaces and communities where everyone feels accepted for who they are and what they bring to the world to make it a better place for all.

With more than fifteen years of experience as a professional in the field of global diversity and empowerment, Seconde brings practical insights and perspectives into discussions of various cultural and ethnic groups that form the basis of our contemporary global society. In addition to her work on diversity, she provides specialized work in the areas of leadership resilience and character-building.

Seconde Nimenya immigrated to North America in the 1990s, starting out as an immigrant in Canada, where she lived more than ten years before moving to the United States. In the United States, she furthered her education and earned her MBA. She blends her varied educational and cultural backgrounds to create dynamic presentations, using a unique approach that is both inspiring and empowering.

Seconde is a TEDx speaker, and her talk on race and other identity constructs, “We Are Not All That Different,” has been hailed by many viewers as the most inspirational talk of our time. She has received recognition for her contributions to the work on diversity and inclusion leadership, including being the recipient of the 2017 Seeds of Hope Award and the 2019 Bold and Resilient Woman Award, both recognizing her work in bridging the gaps between diverse, multicultural communities, and inspiring people with her personal and professional insights.