Overcoming Bias and Disrupting Institutionalized Racism: From Neutrality to Action with Vernā Myers
Overcoming Bias and Disrupting Institutionalized Racism: From Neutrality to Action
The brutal Killing of George Floyd by police and the Black Lives Movement have not only shined a light on police brutality and racial injustice in the United States, but also racial inequities and anti-blackness operating in all aspects of our society. The entertainment and marketing industries are no exception. What should our response be in light of these disturbing and painful revelations? Vernā Myers will discuss how we can recognize and take an active stance against the conscious and unconscious biases and systems of power and privilege that maintain racial disparities. She will challenge us to see this time as an opportunity to actively reimagine a new, more inclusive, and equitable world – one where Black people and other marginalized groups are truly included and we can all experience the creative power of difference.
About the Speaker:
Vernā Myers is an inclusion strategist, cultural innovator, thought leader, and social commentator. A Harvard-trained lawyer and founder of The Vernā Myers Company, Vernā was recently made VP, Inclusion Strategy at Netflix. In this newly created role, she will help devise and implement strategies that integrate cultural diversity, inclusion and equity into all aspects of Netflix’s operations worldwide. Vernā is the author of Moving Diversity Forward: How to Go From Well-Meaning to Well-Doing and What If I Say the Wrong Thing? 25 Habits for Culturally Effective People. Her inspiring TED talk, “How to Overcome Our Biases? Walk Boldly Toward Them,” has been viewed almost 3 million times.
