9. Building Supportive Work Environments for Black Women with Lauren Dike

Artwork for podcast Live Stoked, Lead Stoked

Episode 9 • 14th March 2024 • Live Stoked, Lead Stoked • Sarah Bettman

In this episode we dive deep into a conversation with Lauren Dike about the importance of understanding and inclusion, particularly in the realm of diversity and inclusion (DI) work for black women. Lauren discusses her personal journey from a corporate background, through anxiety and isolation, to discovering a profound passion for DI and ultimately concentrating on the empowerment of black women. She shares her transition from corporate America to DI, her first DI role and the realizations that led her to pilot a novel program aimed at helping black women in Atlanta to heal their nervous systems, gain tools for stress management, and understand the impact of gendered racism.

Meet Lauren:

Lauren, the innovative founder of Harmonna Inclusive Wellbeing, where she merges Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) with mindfulness and nervous system regulation to transform workplace cultures. With a background as a D-1 NCAA athlete and professional bodybuilder, Lauren navigated the complexities of corporate America, confronting challenges of feeling 'othered' as a Black woman and a highly sensitive individual. Her journey led her from being a certified DEI consultant for organizations like NASA to pioneering Harmonna, driven by her personal healing journey through meditation and nervous system regulation. Lauren's work at Harmonna stands out for its holistic approach to DEI, tackling the root causes of workplace stress and disengagement by emphasizing internal well-being as the foundation for true inclusivity and empowerment. Today, she shares her insights on creating environments where every individual is empowered to thrive, showcasing her innovative strategies for sustainable workplace transformation.