How to Inclusively Celebrate DEI Holidays & Heritage Months at Work

Bossed Up

What can your workplace do to celebrate holidays like Women’s History Month the “right” way? Whether you’re proud of how your organization shows support for marginalized groups in the workplace or feel like it could be doing more, my conversation with DEI educator and Ampersand Workspace founder Veronique Porter is just as (if not more) relevant today as when it first aired in May of 2023.

Veronique shares what her experience as a Black American woman, her education in international development and American studies and culture, and her work as a facilitator has taught her about the best way to approach this often fraught topic—a way to create company events and initiatives for heritage holidays that uphold both company and employee values and stand to make a real difference.

Learn how your organization can host outstanding and inclusive cultural events:

• Why workplace wokeness doesn’t detract from the financial bottom line (and actually does the opposite);
• The significance of spending money and resources on heritage events;
• Why it’s vital to give every employee the chance to get involved;
• The importance of getting clear on the company’s values before diving in.

Related Links:

• McKinsey: These Women Experience the Highest Levels of Microaggressions - https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/sustainable-inclusive-growth/chart-of-the-day/these-women-experience-the-highest-levels-of-workplace-microaggressions
• New York Times, “Google Calendar Deletes Women’s History Month and Other Cultural Events” - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/technology/google-black-history-womens-history.html
• The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-art-of-gathering-how-we-meet-and-why-it-matters-priya-parker/588739?ean=9781594634932&next=t
• The Bossed Up Sports Reference case study - https://www.bossedup.org/forteams
• Morgan Freeman on why he doesn't want a 'Black History Month' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpnpIhqSLto
• Episode 304, White Fragility, White Women's Tears, and Dismantling White Supremacy - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode304
• Connect with Veronique Porter on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/veroniqueporter/
• Learn more about Ampersand Workspace - https://ampersand-workspace.com/
• LEVEL UP: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/