Social entrepreneur Deanna Singh has devoted her career to helping marginalized communities use their power by building or breaking systems to create positive change. Her consulting and coaching company, Uplifting Impact, helps businesses improve diversity, equity and inclusion. Along with hosting a podcast of the same name, Singh speaks about DEI to 50,000 people annually. She also runs Birth Coach Milwaukee, a company that aims to reduce health disparities among pregnant and birthing women.
I’m at my happiest when I get the opportunity to witness other people thrive. There’s no greater feeling than watching someone living in their purpose and using their power. That’s what motivates me at my core and where I get my energy: Knowing that the work I do could help someone be better positioned to thrive.
I got into equity, diversity and inclusion work because I have a theory of change about the world. I think the solutions for all the big problems we have already exist. It’s not because of a lack of money, knowledge or resources that we have not seen those solutions come to fruition. It’s because we have not given people the platforms to be able to bring those solutions forward. Instead, we’ve tied up the power so tightly that those solutions can’t come through. Systems and structures often block the ability of people in marginalized communities to use their voice. I think of EDI as breaking those walls down.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
When you create a platform for inclusion, you’ll see people who otherwise might not have been able to move up in their organization take on different roles. They’ll show up in ways that completely transform the organization, because they feel safe to bring their ideas forward. Maybe they’ll open our eyes to a population of talented people, or introduce a new way to think about something. Those moments are so awesome, and I see them again and again.
When I think about creating more inclusive workplaces, I feel strongly there will be a moment when someone raises their hand with an idea to cure cancer, because they’re in a place that values their voice and their contributions. People are able to move mountains when they realize they have power and they can use it. It’s not about giving people power; it’s about removing the obstacles so they can access that power.
– Deanna Singh
A fresh perspective on … PRIVILEGE
Many of us see privilege as something some have and others don’t. But we’re all privileged in different contexts. I’m privileged as a cisgender woman, but I face challenges because I’m Black. We waste a lot of time denying privilege. It’s important to recognize where we are privileged and think about how we can use that privilege for others.
