Are You Balancing Your Adaptability And Authenticity Correctly? | feat. Shonn Brown

Lisa Gardner chats with Shonn Evans Brown, Chief Compliance Officer Of Heidelberg Materials North America, about the benefits of balance between adaptability and authenticity in professional settings. 

Shonn emphasizes the importance of building genuine relationships, fostering trust, and engaging in meaningful conversations to bridge differences. She also highlights the challenges of being "othered" in professional spaces and advocates for aligning personal values with organizational missions. Addressing hiring and leadership practices, she urges a focus on diversity and innovation. Brown’s insights into personal and professional growth, authenticity, and strategic advocacy offer valuable perspectives on achieving inclusivity and navigating leadership challenges. 

Also in this episode:  

• Importance of Genuine Relationships: Shonn Evans Brown values authentic relationships and trust, gained through observing, listening, and being vulnerable, rather than just adapting to different environments. 

• Building Bridges Across Differences: She emphasizes finding commonalities to foster respect and meaningful conversations, even amidst disagreements, and sees this as crucial for successful advocacy for inclusion. 

• Experiences of Being "Othered": Brown highlights the significance of sharing experiences of exclusion with majority groups to build mutual understanding and trust. 

• Alignment with Organizational Values: She ensures that her professional roles align with her personal values and advises understanding an organization’s culture before advocating for change. 

• Broader Approach to Leadership: Brown advocates for inclusive hiring practices that look beyond familiar networks and focus on diverse recruitment and retention strategies. 

• Conversational Approach to Inclusion: She recommends engaging leaders in discussions about team diversity and its role in fostering innovation and success. 

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Shonn Brown, a strategic business leader with over two decades of trial law experience, joined Kimberly-Clark in 2019 as Chief Global Litigation Counsel. She has since transitioned to the inaugural legal advisor for global ESG and Sustainability matters. In this role, she focuses on addressing social and environmental challenges while aligning with Kimberly-Clark's commitments. Recognized by D CEO and the Dallas Business Journal for her leadership, Shonn is a zealous advocate for gender and racial equity, serving as Immediate Past Board Chair for the Texas Women’s Foundation. She is also a distinguished alumna of SMU Dedman School of Law and enjoys running and spending time with her three children. 

Lisa Gardner is a corporate real estate thought leader and co-founder of OMS Strategic Advisors, LLC, focusing on real estate, strategy, and workforce development. With over 25 years of experience, she drives profitability by optimizing human capital, leading diversity initiatives, and crafting corporate strategies. She has managed national accounts for Fortune 500 companies like Wal-Mart and AT&T, and revitalized multicultural marketing for JCPenney. Lisa serves on the Executive Board of SMU's Cox School of Business and contributes to DCEO Magazine. She is active in her community at Gateway Church and lives in Plano, Texas, with her husband and two children.