A Sweet Illustration of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
Each year, people in Turkey commemorate Prophet Noah by recreating the meal he made with the last remaining ingredients on his ark, sharing it with their neighbors, loved ones, and sometimes even strangers, during a period of gratitude.
Whenever I visit my family, even if it is not the season, my mother cooks Aşure because she knows how much I love it. This year, I was fortunate to be in Turkey during Aşure time. I loved trying different versions from our neighbors and others in the community. Aşure is a dessert that combines chickpeas, dried apricots, beans, figs, wheat, raisins, salt, and sugar and many more ingredients.
While cooking Aşure, I reflected on how we often discuss inclusion, equaity,and diversity belonging. Isn't Aşure the perfect metaphor for this? Ingredients that normally wouldn’t be considered together, or would seem strange to think of fitting together in a meal, come together in harmony without losing their unique identities, creating a magnificent dessert.
Working in an environment that accepts each person as they are and values their uniqueness makes them even more productive. A leader who knows each team member well and utilizes their unique qualities where the team needs them most, and appreciates them as a whole, achieves perfect balance and extraordinary results.
What do you think? 🌟
#DEIB #Diversity #Inclusion #Aşure #Leadership #Teamwork
