I was running… all over the #IMEX trade-show floor, around #Vegas and between casinos. Thank you @pixperience for capturing me in action. I look forward to recommending your services to clients and colleagues. #resourceevangelist
Let’s GROW 🌱ogether!
Let’s Talk Trash! How many times do you go to a tradeshow and see not a one Black, Indigenous, Asian and/or Latine business that is Women owned?
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What percentage of your tradeshow floor is allocated for Small Minority Enterprises, Businesses & Entrepreneurs?
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Well, I was pleasantly surprised at
@catersource when I saw three generations of Black Women holding it down at booth 623! I’m not sure if there were more.
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Chaka’s elevator pitch reminded me of my dream of starting a VC fund for service based businesses.
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Learn more about @flipsideeventcleanup and their story.
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To all the Mamas out here running businesses and cleaning up messes.
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Happy #bossmom day!
Let’s Grow 🌱ogether!
#eventprofs #events #cleanup #futureventurecapitalist
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🎵by Betty Wright- Cleanup Woman (I do not own the rights to this song)
My favorite thing about city tours is seeing the expansive convention centers that span for miles. At a whopping 600,000 sqft, the Tampa Convention Center did not disappoint.
I wouldn’t be who I am if I didn’t think about how these large spaces could be used for homeless shelters or affordable housing but that’s a conversation for another day.
I did ask about the very large binary gender symbols over the the restrooms and to my pleasant surprise I learned that groups are allowed to cover these images to create a non-binary space.
Following our tour with breakfast we enjoyed speakers Dorothea Bozicolona-volpe who spoke on personal branding and Nancy Snowden of MPI Academy talk about integrated wellness.
We ate lunch aboard The Starship (Ode to Norman Connors), shared beers while pedaling the Krakken and completed the evening with a delicious meal at the oldest and largest Spanish restaurant in the world.
Many thanks again to all the attendees, speakers, sponsors, MPI Staff and the MPI Foundation. May the J.E.D.I force be with us all and the dialogue continue accompanied by action!
Let’s Grow 🌱ogether!
@visittampabay #city #hispanicheritagemonth #eventprofs #events #equity #diversity #inclusion #data #growwithzomo
Thanks to @iglta for inviting me to moderate my first ever #thinktank on the topic of responsible tourism alongside Billy Kolber, Greg DeShields and Jamie Harrell.
This dialogue with leaders from @google @simpleview_inc @nyandcompany
@marriotthotels and more will result in
a common paper with best practices to further help leaders engage and implement Equity, Diversity & Inclusion objectives on every level beginning with self within teams and across organizations.
Professional development and Accountability continuously were addressed because too often people and companies alike measure their progress by their intent towards goodwill rather than their investment into managing impact of programs, initiatives and actions.
2021 is finishing up strong but no accolades, keynotes, magazine covers, webinars, etc will substitute for the measurable leadership buy-in which influences how our industry supports marginalized communities in regards to workplace culture, job creation, digital accessibility and environmental justice.
May this think tank become an annual working session to present challenges and solutions.
Let’s GROW 🌱ogether!
Strategically Yours
@growwithzomo
#lgbt #equity #diversity #inclusion #atlanta #eventprofs #tourism #disability #meetingsandevents #meetings #events #growwithzomo
A stranger renamed me when I was 20. I love the sound of Sha-ree-ga but secretly hoped ZOH would be easier to pronounce, it wasn’t. Most people add a “y” or literary markings to alter the sound to what they want to hear.
When corrected people respond differently. “Are you sure that’s how it’s said?” or “But my sister has a pet named Zoey or Zoë” It’s interesting the length people will go to spare their embarrassment with being incorrect.
Yet, I leverage the temporary discomfort as an icebreaker, one that has led to a countless number of conversations about names both domestic and global.
My family & closest friends call me Chiriga or Riga. It has African/Indigenous origins and means ‘Triumphant One’
Commonly and Professionally, I go by Zoe, an acronym for Zone of Energy.
Our names are our crowns, the bridge between our past, present and future. They need not be westernized to be acceptable. If you’re unfamiliar with how to pronounce a name commit to learning how. Never ever ever be dismissive of it because it’s unfamiliar for your native tongue.
Strategically Yours,
@growwithzomo
#linkedin #names #culture #vocabulary
#pronounciation #equity #diversity #inclusion
Did you receive the Grow with Zomo August newsletter? If not, subscribe by visiting my website or link in bio.
I’ll never spam your email. My goal is to build community, share educational content, upcoming events, opportunities and resources.
The first newsletter is an intro to my new endeavor as an Inclusive Hospitality Strategist & Consultant. From Insight to Implementation, I work with organizations to develop their Equity, Diversity & Inclusion strategies.
My approach is to counsel not cancel those willing to examine self, society and systems to GROW.
There is information about a hospitality survey by Equimetrics, where I’m seeking participants to provide insight into their company’s training, leadership buy-in and commitment to supplier diversity.
Learn about the Inclusive Language Challenge by @mindstandt, an assessment company using AI to help improve communication across teams. Qualified registrants receive a complimentary language report and 45 minute consultation.
Add Thursday’s at 11am EST to your calendar and join the conversation about Organizational EDI Strategy. The shared insight, questions and solutions are used to influence recommendations for new standards, practices, policies and procedures across the global events ecosystem.
Filled with ways we can connect and collaborate. Be sure to subscribe and Let’s Grow 🌱ogether!
Strategically Yours,
#growwithzomo
#eventprofs #events #meetings #hospitality #inclusion #diversity #equity #socialequityresponse #diversity #culture #belonging
Join me on #Clubhouse! Thursday, August 5th @ 11am EDT.
Insight to Implementation - Organizational EDI Strategy
If you’re a hospitality, meetings, events and tourism professional seeking information how to support your organization/company develop an Equity, Diversity & Inclusion strategy then let’s talk and GROW 🌱ogether!
#equity #diversity #inclusion #eventprofs #events #meetings #tourism
Last week at @catersource #miami was a vibe, @sobebooths made it 🔥!
@chef_jolie_lowcountryquisine @thechefleilani @chrisevansevents
#360photobooth #memories #itsavibe #chefs #thespecialevent
Intentional efforts towards Diversity, Equity & Inclusion are shining through!
My first @catersource was productive!
I met my virtual husband, prince charming, @meetingstoday co-author, and mentor Greg DeShields in person for the first time after almost 2 years of working together and 4 years after I reading about his work with @discover_phl in a @skiftnews article.
I met @mrsquickert of @allseated - an accomplice in the work towards creating a more inclusive, diversely represented and equitable industry. She authentically led a panel discussion that held space for honest dialogue shared by @chef_jolie_lowcountryquisine @bybriangreen @faustoblue and Suzy McMerty-Shands
I listened to Amanda Ma @innovatemkg share pointers on implementing DE&I processes into hiring, planning, procuring and developing an inclusive work environment.
I connected with organizational and staff trainers from @billhansenluxurycatering & @culturewiseusa
Overtime the conversations about DE&I have become less shallow and more focused on strategy.
I’m now inspired to do more speaking engagements at industry events. Share those applications, dates and topics you want me to address.
Let’s Grow 🌱ogether!
#chef #catering #miami #hospitality #diversityandinclusion #diversity #equity #inclusion #representationmatters #culture
#IExhaleBy Traveling. A journey from ATL to MBJ on @southwestair
How will you exhale this summer? Event professionals, visit @blackinevents to share what you do for self care between events.
@swapcard @eventwell #socio #twine #tiktok #reel #pickup #dropoff #blacktravelfeed #travelingwhileblack #toastedlifegallery #blacktravelalliance
You missed it! The discussion was 🔥! Lucky for you we’re back next week.
The best part is I’ll be live from #jamaica and I think I just signed up to launch the @blackinevents #exhale campaign from @riuhotels #ochorios or #ochie as my friend and colleague @stutteringchef says with his affirming voice.
Who doesn’t need to EXHALE…
In my mind, Im there already.
(See the location and link in bio)
See you next Thursday, July 8 at 2pm EST!
Emotional Intelligence meet Critical Race Theory. #tonimorrison
“There is no such things as race,” said Morrison. "Racism is a construct; a social construct. And it has benefits. Money can be made off of it. People who don’t like themselves can feel better because of it. It can describe certain kinds of behavior that are wrong or misleading. So [racism] has a social function. But race can only be defined as a human being.”
#Toni Morrison
#profoundneurosis
#criticalracetheory
