Spotlight Series: Danette Buie is Building Satisfying Careers and Inclusive Workplaces
This is #IncreaseDiversity, a weekly newsletter series + Increase Diversity Toolbox sharing best practices for employers who want to learn how to….well, increase diversity. To see previous editions, visit JenniferTardy.com. | IG: @IncreaseDiversity | Increase Diversity - YouTube
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Here at Team JTC, we love to highlight individuals and leaders working on creating inclusive workplaces or helping professionals develop enriching, fulfilling careers. One such individual is Dr. Danette Buie, the Founder, and CEO of Thrive Limitlessly and our Spotlight personality for September.
Danette (also known as Danni) is an impact-oriented leader with 10+ years of experience in compliance, program management, people operations, and education. As a diversity coach and the CEO of Thrive Limitlessly, Danette is helping individuals build satisfying careers and lives they love. She also helps organizations cultivate inclusive workspaces, where everyone can feel seen, heard, and valued.
Team JTC: How was your company founded and how did you get started in DEI work?
Danette: Thrive Limitlessly, LLC is a California-based boutique talent and diversity consulting firm focused on providing custom solutions for individuals to build satisfying careers they love and supporting organizations in cultivating inclusive workspaces where those same individuals can thrive. Since launching Thrive Limitlessly in 2015, I’ve helped career changers and culture makers not only survive but thrive in today’s ever-changing world by serving as a thought partner to help turn their ideas into actions.
I started in DEI during my time as an Educational Administrator. Before transitioning to Tech, I spent over 10 years working between K-12, community-based organizations, public policy, and higher education institutions. I am the first in my family to graduate college and pursue graduate studies, and as a result, I decided to focus my doctoral research on the persistence of underrepresented (first-generation, minority, and low-income) students in college and their participation in community-based organizations. Through my research, I found that I enjoyed studying social construction theory and its impact on reality and marginalized communities who are not members of dominant culture and society. This experience provided direct entry into DEI because I was able to connect the dots between theory, practice, and the implications of societal attitudes, behaviors, and norms in this space.
Team JTC: Tell us a little bit about who you are and why you are in this work.
Danette: I serve as a Diversity Coach, Talent Development Strategist, Life and Wellness Architect, and Systems Thinker and Leader. I am passionate about breaking down barriers for marginalized communities because I've also had to break down those same barriers, as a Black woman in corporate America (of course still breaking down these barriers present day). I am in this work because I live it every day as a minority, a woman, a first-generation college student, and many other identities. My work feels very natural because I've always strived to level the playing field and create equitable experiences for those who need it most. I call this navigating the hidden curriculum of the workplace.
Team JTC: Who are you serving through your work?
Danette: My DEI consulting clients are high-impact and mission-based organizations that are building culture at scale, and are often smaller organizations or tech start-ups with less than 1,000 employees. My coaching clients are high-achieving professionals from non-traditional backgrounds (education, government, and nonprofits) who are ready to make a transition into non-technical roles in tech and/or corporate. My clients are ready to do the work and are natural problem-solvers, open to change, and have a growth mindset.
Team JTC: How are you increasing representation?
Danette: I work with my clients to increase representation by assessing their workforce and workplace practices. That means taking a deeper look into equitable talent pipeline development, and evolving their attraction, assessment, and hiring practices with a focus on increasing representation of historically underrepresented communities/identities. This also includes developing tools that create an inclusive workplace by evaluating people processes and practices (e.g. pay equity, promotion, talent assessment, and bias mitigation) that focus on equity, transparency, and creating learning journeys that increase awareness, understanding, and action.
Team JTC: What products/services are you selling related to increasing diversity?
Danette: I have several consulting services related to increasing diversity, including a DE&I VIP Strategy Intensive which equips founders and teams with the strategic direction and expert insights they need to establish and hit their DE&I targets. They’ll get answers to their most pressing questions, gain a fresh perspective on their efforts, and walk away with actionable ideas and concepts that their team can run with. There's also the Climate and Culture Analysis, which is a three-month engagement designed for organizations that aim to develop long-term DEI initiatives but need some help getting off the ground. This service helps my clients to understand if there are complex challenges and disparities impacting their workplace and communities, and how to address these issues to build a more inclusive, engaged, and productive workplace.
Team JTC: How can people get in contact with you?
Danette: You can learn more at www.thrivelimitlessly.com or email at hi@thrivelimitlessly.com. I send out my Thrive with Coach Danni B newsletter a couple of times a month, filled with freebies, career tips, life and wellness resources, inspiring messages, success stories, and more. Also, don't forget to follow us on social media on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
