Dr. Randal Pinkett, CEO of BCT Partners, a management consulting firm, and former winner of the TV show The Apprentice, told an audience at Perdue Farms that companies that are committed to embracing principals like passion, leadership, and risk-taking will ultimately be able to navigate the world of ever-evolving industries. The Leadership Master Class he led was part of ongoing opportunities Perdue provides associates for professional and personal development and aligns with a company strategy to foster a more diverse and inclusive workplace.
“We are not meant to see through each other, but to see each other through,” said Pinkett, an award-winning author of multiple books and an international public speaker whose areas of expertise include big data analytics, emerging technology, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). His Leadership Master Class spotlighted the value of teamwork, leadership qualities needed today, essentials for effective communication, and ownership and accountability.
“At Perdue, we are on a continuous journey to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce. Doing so is a business imperative,” said Gary Miller, VP of Human Resources. “Events like this Leadership Master Class with Dr. Pinkett create opportunities to share knowledge and promote inclusion and make us more self-aware and successful. We believe that the different points of view from our associate network strengthen our company and our communities.”
The master class was hosted by Perdue’s Groundbreaking Associate Inclusion Network, one of Perdue’s five Associate Resource Groups, with the mission to foster a sense of belonging for all associates of color at Perdue. GAIN was recognized with Diversity Impact Awards in just its first two years, while Perdue Farms was named a Forbes “Best Employer for Diversity” in 2019.
Pinkett offers 7 myths of racial equality based on his experiences as a Black businessman:
- It’s better to remain silent.
- White privilege doesn’t exist.
- If I focus my company’s efforts on black people in America, then it is to the exclusion of other groups.
- The source of the problem is racist community policing.
- Individuals are the problem.
- A plan that supports black issues but not black businesses is a good and complete plan.
- Being colorblind is the gold standard.
