ROE equips Wharton MBA students with the skills and knowledge to become advocates and allies of diversity and inclusion in their professional and personal lives

 

ROE is a student-led coalition whose vision is to make Wharton a pioneering institution that deliberately equips students to be leaders and advocates of inclusive organizational practices, enabling individuals to be recognized and valued as their whole selves.

 
 

Instagram

As a child, I had extreme stage fright. I almost never spoke in class or introduce myself to others. I even had to be forced on to the stage for my first dance performance. Later, in 6th grade drama class, my teacher Mrs. Marsh, asked us to stand up in front of the class and recite "Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost. Mrs. Marsh warned that after volunteers were exhausted she would start cold-calling. After some of my more enthusiastic classmates presented, I hesitantly raised my hand to go 7th. I recited the four stanzas from memory and still remember the applause from my fellow classmates. An immense burden was lifted off my shoulders and I had found a new confidence. I now enjoy speaking in public and, that same terrified dancer, is choreographing a dance for 40 classmates at Dance Studio! I'm grateful for people who continuously strive to include, support and embolden the quieter voices in the room, propelling them in front of the classroom and on to the stage. #humansofwharton #returnonequality #OneWharton @anant.shukla 📷: @anirudhbajaj
Earlier this year, my perspective on life and the unexpected, and what it means to be grateful for your every breath, changed completely. While getting ready for White Party, I received news that my 32-year old sister-in-law passed away unexpectedly. She was in perfect health. The news shook my entire family. A mother lost her daughter, my brother lost his soulmate and became a single father, and I lost the sister that I’ve wanted since I was 5 years old. I thought of my wedding last summer, when my sister-in-law pulled my nephews down the aisle in a decorated wagon and handed us our wedding rings. Appreciate others. Tell people you love them. Put things into perspective. Don’t allow yourself to be easily angered. Live today as if tomorrow is not promised. #HumansOfWharton #ReturnOnEquality #OneWharton @chantee08 @anirudhbajaj
When I came to the US as an undergraduate from the Philippines, I was struck by the stark differences in education resources. Comparing my well-groomed Chicago campus to the dilapidated facilities generally found in Philippine schools inspired me to launch GoFurther Careers, an education services start-up dedicated to improving education and career outcomes not only for Filipinos, but also for other international students. Most of my weekends were spent on calls or meeting with students to discuss career and higher education goals. I worked with my team to share career and essay preparation materials, advising students and young professionals on how to position themselves for job applications and master’s admissions abroad. I am a firm believer in giving back, especially with education. I see every success as lengthening and strengthening the “reciprocity chain”, with the hope that my mentees would come back to their home countries and improve them in their own way. To quote an old adage, “you reap what you sow”. I hope to use my Wharton experience and the knowledge I have gained from my amazing classes, colleagues, and clubs to further grow the seeds I have planted and contribute to the blossoming and growth of human capital in emerging economies and in the Philippines, a country with so much potential! #humansofwharton #returnonequality 📸 @anirudhbajaj
College was always an expectation in my family. It was seen as a way out of poverty and a path towards the American dream. However, college did not become a concrete goal for me until I was 12 and experienced homelessness. To keep us away from a homeless shelter, my parents moved us into a motel room. For months, I witnessed my mother rise at 4am and work long hours. Every day she laced up her shoes and did not complain. She always remained positive and inspired me to do well in school in order to make her proud. Even though I was young, I saw the contrast between people who had an education and those who did not. 15 years later, I still try to emulate my mother's immigrant work ethic. Because of her and other positive role models, I not only became the first in my family to graduate from college, I will be the first to graduate with a master's degree. However, I am one of the "lucky" ones who achieved her dream. Sometimes I can't help but think of all the others who never got a chance. #humansofwharton #wharton @yahhmin @anirudhbajaj
At Wharton, I became an entrepreneur, but this is not my first brush with entrepreneurship. I come from a long line of entrepreneur-minded individuals, and was inspired by both my father and grandfather who had their own ventures. Having entrepreneurship as part of my life growing up meant that I understood the dedication required build a business. I knew about the missed soccer games and orchestra recitals (spoiler alert: I didn't become Messi or Yo-Yo Ma). I knew about the plenty a company could bring, but also the harsher times of disintermediation by larger firms. I knew about the risks and rewards, especially when it takes a toll on your physical health. Despite knowing this, AND knowing that over 50% of Wharton companies fail, I wouldn't change a thing. I have had some of the best experiences of my life building @aavrani and would easily make the decision to go into business for myself again and again. #humansofwharton #returnonequality
Kicked off our small group dinner series with the @wharton_22s exploring the complex emotions around #metoo experiences and events. Keep an eye out for more SGDs and events during One Wharton Week (2/25 - 2/28)! #mywharton #onewharton
“‘I wish I were white,’ I said to my mother. She looked at me in confusion. Then sadness filled her eyes as she processed what I had said. ‘Why?’ She didn’t understand why I would want to change my skin, to change how I looked. Growing up in Haiti, my mother was continuously surrounded by people who looked like her: teachers, doctors, celebrities, etc. There was never a question in her mind around if she could do something or be someone. My mother knew she was beautiful, and the world she lived in never tried to show her that she wasn’t. I, on the other hand, grew up in a society where I continuously questioned how I looked. I did not look like the people around me: doctors, politicians, fellow students, actresses on TV, etc. I did not see myself in most places, and when I did see myself, it wasn’t a version that I could relate to or that I wanted to emulate. So, I wanted to be white. My mother heard what I said, and she tried to help me see past the world around me to the value and beauty that I had, as I am. However, she could not truly understand how impactful representation is in how people see themselves because she had always seen herself. It took years for me to work through this mental block in order to see myself as I am, and not how this society sees me. The first time it clicked for me was in college because I was surrounded by other black women, who had found a way to embrace their full selves. They inspired me to do the same. What we see and whom we see can truly impact how we see ourselves and what we ultimately do with our lives. This is why equal representation in media matters. If you can see it, you may just start to believe it.” -Naeemah Philippeaux � #HumansofWharton #ReturnOnEquality
What an amazing weekend at the 45th annual Whitney M. Young Jr. Memorial gala. This year’s theme was “C.E.O. the culture: Create, Elevate, and Own the Culture”
See you tonight for the ROE X Food Club holiday collab!
Join ROE, AAMBA, and Net Impact Philadelphia on Tuesday night for a screening of academy- awarded nominated documentary 13th. This will be followed by a panel discussion with experts and opportunity for small group convos. Professionals from a range of industries will also be in attendance. Look out for Small Group Dinner signups to follow as well
"One of my most ridiculous encounters with the police happened when I was 18 and a freshman in college. One of my side ventures was to buy clothes and sneakers in SoHo and resell them to friends/classmates in Queens and Long Island. After one trip back from SoHo, I decided to meet my track teammates at a 7-11 on the border of Queens and Long Island to sell them some sneakers I had just bought. When I arrived, my teammates were waiting with some snacks from the store hanging around the car. I greeted them, walked in to get myself some food, and then noticed a yellow cab with two white guys in the front staring at me. I felt this was odd since yellow cabs don’t operate in Long Island and well… it had two white guys in it. I came out of the store and as soon as I handed my friend the sneakers, the guys hopped out with their guns drawn, two additional squad cars pulled into the lot to block our car in, and a van with a full camera crew hopped out as well. We were ordered to get on our knees, hands above our heads while the police officers had their guns drawn as they searched us and our car with no warrant – the entire time with the camera crew filming. We were on our knees for ten minutes while the cops conducted their search. Five minutes into their search, a crowd had gathered including my high school Spanish teacher who looked at us as though we were criminals. Once they realized the only sale was for sneakers, the camera crew packed up their stuff and left. After we got up and were uncuffed, the police just said “stay out of trouble, we could’ve arrested you for a clothing transaction outside of a business, but we’ll let you go with a warning” then drove off. As we stood there with the crowd still around us, I had never felt so embarrassed, scared, and humiliated. We drove back to my friend’s house in silence as we all contemplated on how helpless we were in that scenario. The cops had immediately assumed we were dangerous or doing illicit activities, when we were just doing the same thing many other teenagers did…hanging out with friends in a store parking lot. " #HumansofWharton #ReturnOnEquality
"After morning physical training, a black Soldier of mine told me he wanted to file a complaint for racial discrimination. During training, the white Sergeant Major of another unit told him to pull up his shorts, saying “You ain’t back on the block.” I had heard similar comments made in other contexts; my instinct told me this had to be a misunderstanding. Despite my instincts, I knew that I had to act if my soldier felt that there was racial discrimination, whether or not it was a misunderstanding. If there was even the perception that I would not stand up and fight on behalf of my men, regardless of their color, how could I possibly lead? In my experience in the Army, racism was extremely unusual. It was particularly rare in Combat Arms, like the Infantry unit where I served, because units have a strong identity that transcends race or background. This identity comes from working together under tough conditions toward shared goals. Because of this strong identity in Combat Arms, I was truly shocked when the black Soldier approached me complaining of racial discrimination. I decided there were two ways to approach this: one would be the formal complaint process, the other would be to talk to the Sergeant Major and figure out whether this was an incident of racism or a misunderstanding. I asked my Soldier what he wanted to do, and he decided to talk to the Sergeant Major, knowing that he could always file a formal complaint later if he so chose. My Soldier and I went to the Sergeant Major’s office and sat down to discuss what happened. The three of us had a frank discussion of the incident. The Sergeant Major explained that he did not mean for his comment to be construed in a racial light. He regretted that he had given offense, and he actually thanked us for choosing to bring the issue up to him in a direct and professional way. We all walked away feeling better about what had happened."
“So dad is never coming back?” “Not anytime soon my dear,” my mother responded to me as I wondered when I would be able to see my dad again. I was only 7 years old in my native Guinea when my father, a doctor, was accused by the government of having treated, and therefore supported, Alpha Conde, who is now President of Guinea, but was then an opposition leader. Unable to find any other work, my dad was forced into exile, and our lives turned upside down. We moved to a smaller house in the city, living off my mother’s income, and most sadly, as a divided family. This trauma not only shaped me into the strong woman I am today, but it also left me with scars that I couldn’t imagine beginning to fade until I stepped foot at Wharton. I almost never shared my story until I found, in my SLF family, classmates and friends that made me feel at home. As I was sharing my story, my SLF family comforted me as they listened and shared my pain. When I concluded with this statement: “This is why I hate politics and anything that is even close to it,” many investigated with follow-up questions. One, who is now a good friend, even went as far as to challenge my conviction by telling me that the only way I could protect myself and others from going through the same injustices is to get involved and prevent them from happening. “You need to get over your fear and for that you can take baby steps. I think you should run for Cluster president.” I looked at her like she was crazy, but then I did run. It was the first time I ever ran for anything and it was a transformational experience. I still have zero political ambitions, but at least my perspective has changed. This is just one example of how Wharton gave me friends who accepted me like family and who push me to overcome the experiences that held me back.
(1/2) "Out of college, I landed a job at one of the world's largest investors in private equity on an all-male investment team. After meeting with other firms and working through countless investments, I began to realize that my all-male investment team was actually the industry standard. While still managing my day job, I then proposed an internal study tracking the impact of gender-diverse investment teams and returns over time. A few senior female mentors were very supportive and helped me assemble a team. Together, we found that investment teams with at least one senior woman tended to have better performing funds. While the data wasn't conclusive or statistically significant, I was still excited to present the findings to senior management and propose collecting more data on gender (and more broadly, diversity) going forward. After a lot of preparation, I arrived early to the meeting with a stack of carefully reviewed presentations. Before I could even open my mouth, a top-level executive loudly declared, "I'm not sure why we're having this meeting. I mean this issue [of gender inequality in private equity] is simply one that will go away over time because people will quit caring." The moment was shocking, such that even my senior female mentors stammered to find a response. My cheeks flushed red and I regretted having ever proposed the study.
(1/2) “The girl from everywhere and nowhere.” That’s what I’d branded myself to a captive audience of brand new Cluster 2 classmates during a pre-term 60 second lecture. So, I guess I shouldn’t have been too surprised when a couple of months later, a classmate asked me in passing whether I identify more closely with Brazilian or American culture. I think she was expecting a simple answer, judging by the fact that she asked this mid-bike ride in Cartagena. The truth is, more often than not, I find myself caught in between two different cultural identities, never fully one or the other, always on the outside looking in. I’ve struggled a lot with what this means. This feeling of being “caught in between.” In moments of confidence it means highlighting my ability to move seamlessly between cultures and connect people who normally wouldn’t find common ground. But in moments of self-doubt it means feeling like I’m not able to connect with people on a deeper level, like there’s always something I’m missing, or something about me that doesn’t get fully understood. Some have tried to explain this phenomenon, giving it catchy names like “third culture kids” or “cultural chameleon,” but at the end of the day, I think what I’m seeking is a feeling of belonging and being understood.
"Back in college, I was highly involved in the Black students’ association. During one of our group meetings, a member discussed some of her experiences as a Nigerian student living in the US. She talked about how challenging it was for her to transition from being in the majority in Nigeria to being in the minority in the US. She disclosed how difficult it was to feel like a “foreigner” even among people who “looked like” her. Added to that, she described several encounters in the US that “felt like racism” but she was not sure if that was the appropriate term. Her disclosure spurred a larger discussion on race, ethnicity, and nationality including how those of us who shared a “Black identity” could be sub-divided into our different privileges. For example, while I had always identified myself as Black, this experience made me become more aware of my identity as also an African American woman whose American identity and phenotype were privileged in this context. Since then, I have tried to incorporate the experiences of international students and workers more explicitly into my research on the value of including multiple identities at work and when teaching my Leading Diversity in Organizations course at Wharton. I think it is important to help international students and workers better acclimate to living and working in the United States where engaging effectively across differences may seem difficult. Fostering a more inclusive culture for all including our international students is not only beneficial to our collective learning, but also our capacity to innovate here at Wharton and in organizations more broadly."
(1/2) “A couple of months ago, I received something from Amazon that I didn’t order: baby milk formula. My immediate reaction was panicked. I thought the internet knew I was pregnant before I did! This inference felt reasonable--in Legal Studies class we had just talked about how Target knew some shoppers were pregnant before they did, and marketed accordingly. If Target could know this, then surely Amazon could too. Ethics aside, I was personally overwhelmed by thinking about how an unexpected pregnancy would alter my carefully crafted life plan. What if I was pregnant? My desire to establish myself at work before my husband and I decided to have children was ruined. I would start work after business school only to have a child a month later – impossible. How could I work long hours with a baby at home? To me, this simply couldn’t happen. With these thoughts assailing us, my husband and I agonized about whether Amazon was right.
(1/3) "I got interested in entrepreneurship as a postdoc scientist who was chosen to take two extensive courses on innovation commercialization and learned about the entire process of getting a medical product from the laboratory bench to the bedside. This was a rare opportunity for a hard-core scientist to be exposed to the business and entrepreneurial aspects of scientific discoveries, and I was absolutely fascinated! After those courses, I was motivated to sign up for an online Coursera course on Social Entrepreneurship from Wharton in 2012 where I detailed a venture idea about empowering caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD), a disease area I researched during my PhD and postdoctoral training. Fast forward a few years, I found myself applying to Wharton for my MBA in Health Care Management, with one of my major goals being to start my own company to holistically support caregivers for people with ADRD. I started working on my company, named Nimbus Care Hub, from my very first semester—refining my business model, carefully building a team and finding the right Advisors. I got into the Venture Initiation Program (VIP) in my first year and then further worked on the idea over the summer while interning at Novartis. I came back for my second year at Wharton mentally ready to execute on the business plan for Nimbus. I pitched Nimbus for the first time at the Wharton Women’s Summit 2017 with two very talented friends, Swati Patel and Jennifer Mao Jones. Nimbus was voted the “Best Startup Business” at the conference and it was an amazing feeling to get this honor. Nowadays I often find myself asking what it means to be an entrepreneur and the definition that I have come up with is that an entrepreneur is someone who has a vision and is resourceful and gets things done to make her vision a reality. However, in addition to being an entrepreneur, I see myself as a daughter, mother, wife, friend and student and I want to take this opportunity to share with you one of my days this week where I find myself balancing all these different roles.
(1/2) "Growing up in a household in which my mother out-earned my father, gender equality in the workplace was something I did not think about frequently. Moreover, sexism was addressed in my pre-collegiate schooling – but as with racism and other forms of prejudice – folded into a narrative that portrayed injustice as an issue of the past. It was not until I saw a senior partner make an advance on a female colleague of mine during my first year in the workforce that I truly understood things were different for women. Over the course of my professional career, I have witnessed several instances of overt harassment and discrimination. However, only recently have I begun to notice more subtle forms of sexism that are pervasive yet completely unacknowledged. I have learned that the most dangerous aspect of hegemony is that its primary functional mechanism is not overt subjugation, but rather the creation and propagation of social norms; hierarchical reinforcement that is blind to the naked eye through its embeddedness in what is considered ‘normal’.
(1/2) I was born and raised in Kyrgyzstan and moved to the US just last year to pursue my MBA degree. While living in Kyrgyzstan, a lot of times I felt unfit in my own country with its highly patriarchal system of values and certain gender and age specific social expectations. As a girl and later as a woman, I was expected to achieve certain milestones at certain ages: to be able to cook and clean the household by 10 or 11 years old , to get married by 22 or 23, to become a mother before I turned 25. Although I actually enjoyed achieving some of these goals (getting married to my husband and having children for example), I absolutely didn’t want to deal with others (like being a stay at home mom, or a cook). As a result, having become a career-driven woman whose partner has chosen to be a stay-at-home dad, I found myself feeling socially misunderstood and professionally demotivated in the only country I’ve ever lived in. I couldn’t bear raising my children in the society, which unfortunately in majority condoned bride kidnapping and allowed its parliament to discuss the possibility of polygamy, so I’ve decided to move my family to United States. Wanting to find a career in a more impactful industry, while still being able to apply my financial skills, I came to business school. It’s not easy to move countries when you’re an adult, but it is twice as hard when you move directly into a top business school.

Twitter