#50: Founder & Executive Director, Ann Kowal Smith, Stops By To Discuss An Innovative Approach Towards Fostering Workplace Collaboration & Inclusion

1st Floor Conversations

Welcome to Episode 50! In this episode, we are joined by Ann Kowal Smith. Ann is the Founder & Executive Director of Books@Work, a 9-year-old non-profit, which developed and deploys one of the most innovative strategies in the marketplace for facilitating workplace discussions that foster collaboration, development, and integration.
During her impressive career, Ann tried on multiple hats including; a decade as a corporate attorney, five years at McKinsey & Company, and as Principal at a management consulting firm called Heidrick & Struggles.
It was her academic, volunteer, and professional experience that lead her to a unique discovery - the majority of Americans are undereducated relative to potential. And she was right. Nearly a decade later, Books@Work is thriving helping organizations build culture, workplace inclusion, and more.
We discuss all of that, as well as, the following:

• What models are working in organizations as it pertains to building culture?
• How do fast-growth companies or companies going through mergers approach diversity & inclusion?
• When creating an inclusive and integration workplace what is more important, building listening skills or effective communication skills?
• When you reflect on the early stages of your career, how has the state of work evolved from the standpoint of building culture? Are there any trends that stand out more than others?

Interested to Learn More?
Check Out Ann Kowal Smith & her organization at https://www.booksatwork.org/
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