Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Dr Sylvana Storey of Global Organizational Integrators Is Helping To Change Our World
Be your authentic self — Don’t change whom you are to serve anyone’s purpose. Your true self will always rise like cream to the top. No need to fit in. You can adapt without loosing your sense of self.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sylvana Storey.
Sylvana Storey is CEO & Founder of Global Organizational Integrators — Driving change in Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging. The company provide solutions to firms in strategic change planning, global leadership development, employee and stakeholder engagement, organizational strategy & culture, diversity & inclusion and talent management. Sylvana also studied an MBA at Durham University Business School.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
During the 1990s when working and researching on a culture change programme with one of the largest British companies, I had a ‘lightbulb’ moment where I realised that stakeholders were more important than shareholders. Without engaged employees and third parties, there would be no companies!
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
Interviewing and coaching CEOs and ‘C’ suite executives, appreciating how lonely it is at the top and how insecure some leaders are.
Being told that I was too Black to work in a White Middle Class Organization and losing out to competitive contracts because they did not think that a person of colour would be credible.
Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
When a person said they would help, I would send a meeting request or email as a starting point for further discussion. The person would not reply and I would automatically take that as a rejection or lack of honour. I’ve since learnt that persistence is the name of the game as you never know what that person is currently facing. Perhaps they simply received your request at an unfortuitous time.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
Bringing attention to the plight of Women in Colour in organizations where they are often overlooked for promotion, or not supported/sponsored, not paid at the same level as their White counterparts and suffer daily microaggressions. As well as, helping to instigate change through a general focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion matters at a structural (systems & process), cognitive (innovation, problem solving & decision making) and behavioural level (culture, communications, politics and conflict).
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
I have encouraged several people of colour to take specific actions to advance their career. One specific instance, I encourage a woman to write and self-publish her book and guided her through the structure of it.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
Stop talking and start doing by shaking up internal systems and processes so that bias is reduced
Put in place mandatory policies for DEI pertaining to Women of Colour
Actively put sponsorship programmes in place for Women of Colour
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Leaders should lead with purpose and by example not lead by what is trending. They should have values that they hold fast to and principles that they stand for. Particularly so, when it comes to issues that influence and impact change in our society. E.g. Climate Change; Black Lives Matter
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why.
Don’t take things personally — It’s very rarely about ‘you’ and more about ‘them’ or, what you trigger in them.
Persist and follow your gut — you are the architect of your dream. Don’t allow others to dent or shatter your dream.
Know and stand up for your values — they guide and root you during the not so good times.
Be your authentic self — Don’t change whom you are to serve anyone’s purpose. Your true self will always rise like cream to the top. No need to fit in. You can adapt without loosing your sense of self.
Manage the financial side of your business — know all the financial aspects of running a business from cashflow, to balance sheets to ROI etc. It is your responsibility and if you don’t know, ask for advice! Better to look like a fool than to be a fool. Without financial acumen and more so financial support, you have no business. Don’t spend what you don’t have, rather, be creative or seek financial support if you must.
If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
That all be given an equal chance regardless of their beginnings of life. Can you please give us your favourite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that
was relevant to you in your life?
“It always seems impossible until it is done.” Nelson Mandela.
“There is a crack in everything that’s how light gets through”. Leonard Cohen
“Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space — invite one to stay. “Maya
Angelou
“The harder I practise, the luckier I get” — Gary Player
I offer four quotes that continuously inspire me to keep going. Either, in the face of adversity when you have no strength and are plagued with doubt, or, in the face of success when complacency might set in.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
Twitter: @SylvanaStorey
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvanastorey1/
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Dr Sylvana Storey of Global Organizational Integrators Is Helping… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.