EP 81: Beyond Optics: Leadership and Meaningful Inclusion with Sand Chang, PhD

The Unburdened Leader

Inclusion.

It’s a word that evokes strong emotions and reactions for many people. Some see it as a polarizing issue that elicits extreme rhetoric, while others recognize the need for us to confront discomfort and take responsibility for the impact of our leadership.

We have to consider what inclusion means to us, what it feels like, and how it shows up in our work and personal lives.

Because all too often, inclusion is reduced to a performative, box-checking act, instead of an opportunity to invest time, resources, and effort towards sustainable building inclusivity.

In a world that values efficiency and productivity, embracing inclusion can be uncomfortable. It requires introspection, cultural change, and a departure from traditional notions of power.

Inclusion is inconvenient because it compels us to think differently and confront our own biases. It also reveals how those in dominant cultures often prioritize their own inclusion, sometimes at the expense of others.

But true inclusion benefits everyone.

To foster true inclusion, leaders need to engage in deep work and shift their perspectives, beliefs, and actions. This transformation allows for the recognition and appreciation of all perspectives and contributions, ensuring that those in positions of privilege actively dismantle exclusionary systems.

Skilled leaders, like today’s guest, who guide individuals in this journey play a crucial role in creating a more inclusive society.

Dr. Sand Chang (they/them) is a Chinese American nonbinary psychologist, trainer, author, and DEI/organizational consultant with more than 20 years of experience. Through compassionate engagement, they partner with organizations and teams seeking meaningful structural and interpersonal change. Dr. Chang’s work is grounded in social justice, cultural awareness, and humility. Their areas of emphasis include trauma-informed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), LGBTQ populations, trans health, and body liberation related to racial justice, and eating disorders.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Stretching beyond diversity to inclusivity and why a seat at the table isn’t enough
• Why it’s essential to acknowledge the power differentials in our spaces and to do the work to deconstruct them
• How organizations can move beyond optics to doing the work to support true inclusion
• How urgency, perfectionism, shame, and fragility create barriers to progress
• How bias and exclusion in research impact how we understand mental and physical health, and the limitations of “evidence-based” practices
• Why people from privileged identities need to fight for marginalized people

Learn more about Dr. Sand Chang:

• Website
• Instagram: @heydrsand

Learn more about Rebecca:

• rebeccaching.com
• Work With Rebecca
• Sign up for the weekly Unburdened Leader Email

Resources:

• Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto, Tricia Hersey
• Sort Of
• Girls Just Want to Have Fun