Exclusive interview with Ashley Kincade, SVP, Head of Culture, Trade School
"Brave Conversations Help to Promote Inclusiveness"
Posted on 03-02-2022, Read Time: 5 Min
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True advocacy and mentorship is dynamic and requires women in senior leadership roles to advocate for other women out loud - in all agency meetings and in speaking their names in rooms full of opportunities, says Ashley Kincade, SVP, Head of Culture, Trade School. |
In an exclusive interview with HR.com, Ashley talks about her career journey, promoting inclusion in the workplace and much more.
Excerpts from the interview:
Excerpts from the interview:
Q. Tell us about your career journey
Ashley: My Human Resources career journey began as a freshman at Spelman College, searching for a summer internship. At that time, I was fortunate enough to secure an internship with INROADS and was introduced to the world of Human Resources through several summer-long rotations through an organization's HR department. Before that internship, I didn’t even know what HR was. After that internship, and with the support of the amazing mentors and internship leaders I met along the way, HR became not only my career but my passion. I loved how a career in HR married all of the things I loved and was interested in - law, the written word, and its interpretation, reaching and teaching others, and being a central part of creating an organization’s culture. To this day, that is what draws me to the profession and the organizations I’ve worked with over the years - strong organizational cultures and the opportunities within that have allowed me to affect meaningful change and create spaces where people feel seen and heard.Q. Why do we need more women in organizational leadership roles?
Ashley: It’s not a coincidence that time and time again studies show that as an organization’s gender diversity increases, their profits increase as well. Women leaders make things happen and they make those things happen not only for a company’s bottom line but for the organization holistically. They engage with the business and its people in a way that highlights the true strength of women leaders - deep connection, diverse perspectives and experiences, and transformational intelligence.Q. How can women support other women in their organizations?
Ashley: Women are transformational within an organization when they mentor and advocate for other women. And not just in quiet private meetings and structured mentoring programs. True advocacy and mentorship are dynamic and require women in senior leadership roles to advocate for other women out loud - in all agency meetings and in speaking their names in rooms full of opportunities.Q. What strategies can work well to promote inclusion in the workplace?
Ashley: I’ve found brave conversations help to promote inclusiveness. When leaders construct safe spaces within their culture for individuals to share their perspectives it gives a clear signal that the culture supports them and they can belong as they are. It makes the connection that what’s important to the employees is important to the organization.Q. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
Ashley: Be brave and remember that when you raise your voice, change happens.Error: No such template "/CustomCode/topleader/category"!
