Ruchika Tulshyan creates a blueprint for how organizations can foster diversity, equity, and inclusion—taking action to address and prevent workplace bias while centering women of color
Few would disagree that inclusion is both the right thing to do and good for business. Then why are we so terrible at it? If we believe in the morality and the profitability of including people of diverse and underestimated backgrounds in the workplace, why don’t we do it?
Because we don’t realize that inclusion takes awareness, intention, and regular practice, explains Ruchika Tulshyan in her eye-opening new book Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work. Inclusion doesn’t just happen; we have to work at it. “How can we make meaningful progress to undo systems of harm?” Tulshyan asks. “The answer is active, deliberate action—inclusion on purpose.”
“I am convinced that inclusion is the most important leadership trait today,” she continues. “If we define leadership as the ability to influence and inspire others to action, we’ll notice that for far too long, we have lauded white male leaders for grooming, inspiring, and propelling the next generation of leaders like them. We need to change this paradigm urgently so that everyone with ambition, skill, and potential can succeed.”
Tulshyan centers the workplace experience of women of color, who are subject to both gender and racial bias. It is at the intersection of gender and race, she shows, that we discover the kind of inclusion policies that benefit all.
“As a woman of color and an executive, I know firsthand how important it is for companies to create opportunities for women of color to lead,” said Reema Batnagar, VP of People at Pixar Animation Studios. “Inclusion on Purpose shows how to build an inclusive workplace and culture through storytelling and practical frameworks. Whether you are a manager or you want to become one, this book is essential reading.”
Tulshyan presents inclusion best practices, showing how leaders and organizations can meaningfully promote inclusion and diversity. She debunks the idea of the “level playing field” and explains how leaders and organizations can use their privilege for good by identifying and exposing bias, knowing that they typically have less to lose in speaking up than a woman of color does. She explains why “leaning in” doesn’t work—and dismantling structural bias does; warns against hiring for “culture fit,” arguing for “culture add” instead; and emphasizes the importance of psychological safety in the workplace—you need to know that your organization has your back. With this important book, Tulshyan shows us how we can make progress toward inclusion and diversity—and we must start now.
“Inclusion doesn’t have to be expensive or take up too much time. You just need to be willing to do the work,” Tulshyan argues. “With practice, it can become a way of life.”
Inclusion on Purpose in the media:
- Tulshyan was listed on LinkedIn News’s Top Voices in Gender Equity.
Top Voices in Gender Equity: The 15 creators to follow
- An excerpt from the book was published in Fortune magazine, outlining the red flags of bad corporate culture.
4 warning signs of a psychologically unsafe culture for women of color
- Forbes reviewed the book, saying that leaders who read Inclusion on Purpose leaders “will recognize the importance of seeing others for who they are and will begin to appreciate what they experience.”
Ruchika Tulshyan Gives A New View For The “I” In DEI
- Quartz@Work featured an excerpt from Inclusion on Purpose about giving credit for work in a professional setting.
Giving credit matters. Here’s how to give it—and get it
- Tulshyan was quoted in a piece for TIME.com/Charter about training programs designed for people of color.
The Problem with Training Programs Targeting People of Color
- LinkedIn News featured the author in their Working Together series in an edition about workplace diversity.
A hope for 2022: Diversity in the workplace will become multi-dimensional
- Tulshyan was quoted in a piece in The Washington Post about pay equity.
A travel writer tweeted her salary and reignited a trend: ‘I just want people to get paid’
- Elevate Podcast interviewed Tulshyan for an episode on intentional empathy, elevating women of color at work, and creating a trusting, inclusive environment in the workplace.
Episode 294: Intentional Empathy, with Ruchika Tulshyan
- Publishing industry journal Publishers Weekly posted an op-ed “soapbox” article from the author.
How to Close the Racial Pay Gap in Publishing
- Tulshyan wrote several pieces for Harvard Business Review—one about career mistakes she has made, and what she learned from them; and a second about the usage of the term “microaggression.”
The Case for Making Terrible Career Choices
We Need to Retire the Term “Microaggressions”
- Ms. Magazine included Inclusion on Purpose in a round-up of their favorite reads for March.
March 2022 Reads for the Rest of Us
- Porchlight Books highlighted Inclusion on Purpose in their list of books to watch for March 2022.
Books to watch, March 2022
- The author was interviewed on the Real Talk podcast with Ryan Jespersen about imposter syndrome.
November 22, 2021 – COVID Vax for Kids 5+; Just Transition in Canada‘s Petro-City; Imposter Syndrome