Elevate Your DEI Efforts with These 4 Courses

Over the last few years, organizations have made strides in their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. But many are still on the ground floor in terms of what’s required — and what’s possible.

Every employee and leader has an opportunity to build on the progress that has been made and take it a step further this year.

To help you on your journey, be sure to check out the four LinkedIn Learning courses listed below. Whether you’re an executive or an individual contributor, a longtime team member or a company newbie, or a member of a historically excluded group or an ally, there’s something in these courses for you.

You’ll learn from the LinkedIn global head of HR and the global head of diversity, as well as LinkedIn Learning instructors with a variety of lived experiences, about how to create more inclusive teams and workplaces for yourself and others.

1. Foundations of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, with Dereca Blackmon

“There are so many words swirling around in our environments,” says instructor Dereca Blackmon (she/they), “and it can be confusing to figure out what they even mean or, more importantly, how to achieve them in our organizations.” As cofounder and president of Inclusion Design Group, Dereca has spent over 25 years training 75,000 participants on how to create an inclusive organizational culture. Her course makes that wisdom actionable for everyone in the organization, including employees, managers, and leaders across HR, L&D, and talent acquisition. 

What you’ll learn: Every aspect of DEI calls for a different set of best practices. If, for example, you want to foster a more inclusive environment, Dereca recommends investing in mentorship and sponsorship, which she points to as two of the most successful interventions for practicing inclusion. If, on the other hand, you want to make belonging a priority, she’ll provide ideas on how to interrupt microaggressions. Wherever you want to focus, Dereca offers clear actions you can take to drive change.

Sneak peek: One of the most pernicious forms of bias, Dereca says, is “like me” bias, the tendency for our brain to prefer people with the same background, personality, or professional traits as our own. It’s pervasive, but it’s also possible to change — especially if you use her list of reflection questions to challenge how you approach recruiting and hiring.

2. Advancing a DIBs Strategy in Your Organization, with Rosanna Durruthy and Teuila Hanson

“This is a course meant to help you bring your skills together in a strategic way, create opportunities for you to act immediately, and plan for bigger changes,” says Rosanna Durruthy, the LinkedIn vice president of global diversity, inclusion, and belonging. She and Teuila Hanson, the chief people officer at LinkedIn, team up as co-instructors to help you drive tangible impact around diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

What you’ll learn: As a senior leader, you’ll see how to connect your team’s work to the broader DEI strategy. As a people manager, you’ll explore how to ensure everyone in the room has a voice. As an individual contributor, you’ll examine what the diverse needs of your teammates and customers are. No matter where you sit in the organization, learn practical steps to assess your organization’s readiness to implement a DEI strategy, empower employee resource group (ERG) programs, activate allyship, and more. 

Sneak peek: Check yourself: Are you evaluating performance and career advancement on relevant factors, like quality of work? Use Teuila’s “3 S’s” — structure, standards, and sponsor — to apply an equity lens to every talent decision.

3. Moving DEI from Intention to Impact, with Ruchika Tulshyan

For instructor Ruchika Tulshyan, author of Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work and CEO of Candour, inclusiveness is the most important trait leaders need today. “There’s a difference between good intentions,” she says, “and the impact [we have], and when we focus on the impact, that’s a real opportunity to be inclusive to everyone.” This course shows you how to personally help create an inclusive environment in your workplace. 

What you’ll learn: The course not only helps you see what you do know but importantly helps you understand what you do not know. What perspectives are you missing? What do you need to learn? To bridge the gap between good intentions and good impact, Ruchika created the BRIDGE framework, which you’ll walk through in her course and be able to apply immediately. Here’s what it looks like: Be uncomfortable. Reflect on what you don’t know. Invite feedback. Defensiveness doesn’t help. Grow from mistakes. Expect change takes time.

Sneak peek: If you’re worried about making mistakes while trying to foster inclusion and equity work, you’re not alone. Ruchika encourages us to be OK with making mistakes — and when we do make them (because we will), to be accountable, apologize, and learn from them. Bring your growth mindset. Bring your vulnerability. Bring your discomfort. They’re all welcome in this work. 

4. Getting a Seat at the Table and Making It Count, with Dr. Shirley Davis

As leaders work to create a more diverse, welcoming, and inclusive culture, “workers must be prepared to take their seat and make it count,” says Shirley Davis, CEO of SDS Global Enterprises and author of The Seat: How to Get Invited to the Table When You’re Over-performing but Undervalued. This course prepares you to claim your seat, keep it, and make it count.

What you’ll learn: Positioning yourself for whatever seat you want to occupy starts with understanding how to overcome common organizational barriers and self-imposed limitations. With Shirley as your coach, you’ll start to break through these challenges while getting clarity into your “why” and your value and while learning how to build a personal board of advisors, champions, and mentors who can share in and celebrate your success.

Sneak peek: One way to make your seat count, Shirley says, is to “reach back into the organization and bring others along.” You can make a difference as a coach, mentor, or advocate for hard-working, talented individuals who may not be getting the recognition they deserve. 

Final thoughts: Start taking action today

DEI is an ongoing effort — one that takes thousands of steps, both big and small, from every individual. The call for every leader and every employee is to find those steps you can take every day to create an impact.

How? Rosanna Durruthy encourages us to “lead with inspiration” and to ask, “Based on what I’ve learned, what’s one way I can infuse equity into what I’m already doing in my work? Think about your immediate sphere of influence and carry the energy forward.”

The courses listed here are just the tip of the iceberg — LinkedIn Learning offers 475+ DEI-related courses in seven languages.