Creating a coffee bar and working in retail all boils down to practicing hospitality. We want to practice this on behalf of our guests and our staff but without taking a critical look at how and who we welcome in, we are not really showing hospitality. We need to look at our thoughts, behaviors, and actions critically in order to grow in any area of life and it is in that spirit that we are going to be exploring diversity today with one of our industry’s most accomplished and impactful thought leaders on equity, diversity, and inclusion, Phyllis Johnson!
Phyllis Johnson is the co-founder and president of BD Imports, an award-winning social enterprise focused on responsible sourcing of specialty coffees. The company is the recipient of numerous awards including, Responsible Business of the Yearand Diverse Supplier of the Year.A pioneer of the women in coffee empowerment movement, Phyllis led the conversation at the United Nations to secure initial funding and work  to support women in coffee initiatives. She has consulted for the United Nations International Trade Centre, leading the formation of the International Women’s Coffee Alliance chapters in east Africa. She has had the pleasure of sharing her perspective and the value of working with women entrepreneurs  at the World Trade Organizations and United Nations. Her work has been the subject case studies taught at Oxford University and Harvard Business School.
Phyllis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and a Master’s in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the Harvard Kennedy School,  Barbara Jordan Award for Women’s Leadership. Her work was recognized by a 2019 Maggie Awardfor Roast Magazine article, Strong Black Coffee, Why Aren’t African Americans More Prominent in The Coffee Industry.
Phyllis has served on numerous boards including the Specialty Coffee Association, the International Women’s Coffee Alliance, Coffee Quality Institute, and the National Coffee Association
In this episode we will be encouraged, challenged, and equipped with insights to take the first steps in making diversity a reality in the shop or anywhere we have influence.
Among may things, we discuss:
- The power of self examination
- Getting over the fear found in discussing diversity
- The business benefits of a diverse shop culture
- Avoiding tokenization
- Unconscious bias and blind spots
- First steps to take and the scale of our action
Links:
Related Episodes:
159: Addressing Unconscious Bias w/ Lauren Lathrop
116: Understanding Gentrification w/ Dr. Stacey Sutton
139: Founder Friday w/ Phil Sipka, Kusanya Cafe
165 : The Art of Deep Listening w/ Oscar Trimboli
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