BUILDING BRIDGES: HARNESSING A CRITICAL LEADERSHIP SKILL FOR A DIVERSE WORLD.

The author, who is a bi‐racial woman with a father from India, and a mother from Mississippi, describes her work as Founder and Chief Change Agent of Flying Elephant, an umbrella organization for four social ventures. By observing her parents when she was growing up, "I learned how to build bridges myself, even in the most extreme situations." She discusses a diversity, equity, and inclusion/DEI framework that she uses with top executives of various organizations. She explains that "the first step in the bridge‐building process is for the organization to lay a foundation for its DEI goals." These address "three organizational layers: people, practices, and operations." Rather than explain each of the further layers in this framework, the article focuses on "your starting point as an individual." Further explanation is provided under the following headings, which in her words are: Learn how to identify your unique position, Pinpoint privileges that society affords your identities, Recognize how your background changes your perspective, Appreciate how the social experience of others influences them, and Develop strategies for elevating others for the benefit of all. You will be "fully celebrating identity and taking concrete steps as a leader to make the world around you more equitable." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]