The restaurant industry is one of the most diverse industries in America. According to today’s guest, Gerry Fernandez, it is one of the few career paths that can take you from the dish room to the board room.

That diversity is a key reason why it is imperative that senior leadership in the restaurant industry stop shying away from tough conversations about race, sexual orientation, and gender. Gerry is the President and Founder of the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance, and it is his life’s work to help restaurant leaders see the value in building a diverse, equitable culture for both employees and guests.

Listen to our conversation with Gerry for tips on improving your cultural fluency and learn how to approach uncomfortable conversations. Gerry makes the case for how diversity, equity, and inclusion can increase your bottom line.

• (01:05) - Building a diverse and inclusive culture
• (02:42) - The impact of race relations
• (06:09) - Cultural fluency
• (10:09) - Setting the stage for tough conversations
• (16:59) - Conversation guidelines
• (20:08) - Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance
• (21:40) - One person can make a change

Nothing in this podcast shall be deemed to create or grant any rights to any third parties. Listeners are encouraged to consider the applicability and suitability of the information provided for their own individual circumstances, and the National Restaurant Association, the Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance, and their affiliates cannot warrant the applicability of the information to any particular listener or party. This podcast is not intended to provide medical or legal advice. Given the rapidly evolving nature of the pandemic, guidance may change as our understanding of unique challenges that COVID-19 poses within each country, state, and locality.

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Podcast episode production by Dante32.