What Practicing DEI in the Workplace Really Means feat. Professor Mikki Hebl

Mikki Hebl, an industrial organizational psychologist and the Martha and Henry Malcolm Lovett Chair of Psychology – Professor of Management at Rice University, has been studying workplace discrimination and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for 30 years, well before DEI became the widely discussed topic it is today.

In March of this year, Mikki and Eden King, the Lynette S. Autrey Professor of Psychological Science at Rice, released a new book (Working Together: Practicing the Science of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion). In it, they outline the state-of-the-art science that makes the case for DEI and delve into effective strategies for individuals and organizations to foster more inclusive environments. 

Mikki chats with host Maya Pomroy ‘22 about her book, the subtleties of biases, and the importance of staying informed and aware of biases to make the world and workplaces fairer and more equitable for everyone. 

Episode Guide:

00:17 From Pardeeville to Rice University: Dr. Hebl's Academic Path

03:17 The Evolution of DEI

05:03 Unveiling Subtle Discrimination

08:32 Strategies Against Discrimination: Individual and Organizational Approaches

13:07 Her new book Working Together

16:37 How Current Political Climates Are Impacting DEI

20:11 Understanding The Psychological Resistance to DEI

25:44 College Admissions & DEI

29:53 Exploring the Impact of Quotas: How Much Do They Really Do?

37:19 The Importance of Tailoring DEI Initiatives to Organizational Needs

42:15 The Science and Impact of Diversity Training

50:41 Future Hopes for DEI Work and the Role of Science

Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

DEI spans beyond one group or issue; it's about shifting demographics

18:18: The book [Working Together] is to get people to think about what DEI really is. It's about protection in the workplace for people who are 40 and older. Well, it turns out the realistic, like, imperative of our world is that it's very much changing. We're getting older. Women are entering the workforce. Women should be entering the workforce more, in my opinion, but the reason they don't is because we don't have family-friendly policies that allow them to have paid childcare, have paid family leave. We're not enabling our families.

17:11: DEI is not going away. Whatever conversation, whatever words we want to use, DEI is here to stay, and it's here to stay because it is not this weaponized definition of just blacks or women who are getting rights that they shouldn't get. 

Why is diversity training important?

43:13: Why do we want diversity training? Because diversity training is teaching us: What are the norms in this organization? How should we be treating people? What I like to say is, it's very similar to safety training. So, if you wanted to go to an organization and you said, I don't want to do safety training," I don't want to learn how to wear my hard hat. We would laugh at you. We would say you have to know the rules. You gotta, like, tie off. You gotta do these things. We don't want you to lose your hand in the wood chipper, okay? And so, the same thing is true of diversity training. It's trying to protect people.

Show Links: 

• Working Together: Practicing the Science of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Transcript

Guest Profile:

• Dr. Mikki Hebl | Rice University
• Dr. Hebl’s Personal Website