My PLN and Inclusion

Inclusion in Business

Inclusion is a word we hear a lot growing up. However, what does it really entail? Well, from my reading of One Without the Other I came to understand it as a concept of equal access and participation (Moore, 2017). This concept in Business (my current program) can be complicated, as it can be an environment of exclusivity especially with social class (which I can say from experience). However, with time and the help of online communication, this industry has progressed in terms of diversity and inclusivity. Nowadays we have access to free business seminars through applications like Zoom, Facebook Live, and YouTube which allows individuals access without the worry of costs, location, qualification, etc. This allows any interested individual access to things, which before these applications, wouldn’t have had access to. This can also break a barrier in terms of language or inability of hearing, as at times, closed captioning is available. We also can see this progress in inclusivity from many other applications such as accessible communication with email and easily made connections through Instagram and LinkedIn. Not only has the business world expanded with Inclusion and Diversity, but it is now a contributing factor in the rating of businesses! As we evolve and begin to become a more accepting and understanding society, businesses as well, have begun to understand this importance.

* How diverse is your existing PLN?

In my PLN I like to think it is diverse however, when really looking at it, those who make up my PLN all fit into a similar category. I’m not saying there isn’t much diversity, I’m just noting that those I interact with and learn from the most, share similarities in terms of social class, location, sexuality. This isn’t regarding my extended PLN as online and in the classroom, I try to connect as much as I can (hard at times when socializing can be tiring haha), but I think this week taking time to really reflect has led me to want to be honest with myself. Without this initial realization, I will never be able to grow my PLN and with time and exploring on and off-campus I will be able to genuinely diversify and expand my PLN.

* In your PLN, are you learning from a variety of voices, or are you the loudest in the room?

I have quite a few voices I learn from especially being on campus and having a business-minded Mother (who is someone who somehow has a bigger personality and voice than me), but I at times can be the person who takes voice. Being that I am this loud and at times overbearing person, when thrown into conversation, when I have a point I can add, I do. This makes for more of a combination of the two in my opinion because I am always open to learning from any person that comes my way, but I just happen to be someone who must also give input when with others.

* Do you participate in a silo of information sharing (similar themes or wide range of interests)?

I think I have a wide range of interests; however, these things do seem to intersect in suspecting but also unsuspecting ways! So, although there is a wide range, they end up connecting and forming this link between ideas. I don’t ever want to hold myself back in terms of learning therefore, I try to expand my knowledge as much as possible and find joy in connecting these different things.

* How can you use a diverse PLN to broaden your views of inclusion?

Inclusion for some is better described as integration as we saw in The Evolution of Inclusion: The past and future of education by Shelley Moore. Therefore, by diversifying our PLN and not just integrating diversity and instead including it through participation and collaboration, you can not only expand your ideas of inclusion but genuinely create a diverse PLN. Think about if you’re PLN was made up of only like-minded individuals who came from the same background /experiences. You would end up gaining perspective from a not really varied group, leading to a basic and almost one-sided thought. However, by including anyone, anywhere, into these thought processes and gaining their perspectives you can begin to build such an expanded idea of inclusion or simply anything!

* In your professional setting of choice, do you think inclusion is actively embraced?

I think nowadays Inclusion is at the forefront of most businesses, I mean inclusivity is a huge part of how customers choose a brand/business. If you hear that a company embraces segregation, more times than not (I hope), you’re most likely not going to give them your business and instead go to their competitors who have a brand you can consciously agree with. Inclusivity and Diversity are now guidelines for businesses, try looking up a business and then putting in [Company name] Inclusivity and Diversity report and see what comes up! You’d be surprised how poor some companies are but also surprised by how well others are doing. I think remembering this is important for me personally because as I begin this journey in this business world, I hope to never lose focus on what really matters. I find myself at times being wrapped up in the importance of “success” or “profiting” however, it’s the way we get there that genuinely matters/counts.

* What is the learning outcome of your PLN and how are you ensuring your exposure to diversity and inclusion?

I guess the learning outcome for my PLN is really to be well-rounded in any aspect possible. I try not to allow anything to ever stop my learning and surround myself with any individual who comes my way which thus doesn’t restrict my PLN (in terms of diversity or Inclusion). However, as said previously, I do have a lack of diversity. This means something in my PLN isn’t working and I’ve come to realize that I need to connect more. I find myself getting sucked into schoolwork that I forget the importance of collaborating and connecting with others. It’s not a purposeful act of not connecting but simply the fact I forgot TO connect. My PLN currently lacks due to my own error in the ways I socialize thus completely stopping my PLNs growth and outcome.  

* How has your thinking about inclusion and PLN evolved after reviewing the videos and readings?

My ideas around Inclusion have definitely expanded through this week’s videos and readings which has greatly evolved my PLN. Inclusion was a fairly broad idea in my mind and not something I sat down to evaluate because for me it was something I already understood, which I now know to be false. Inclusion was this concept I loosely understood and followed however, with this broad sense guiding my PLN how was I ever going to reach inevitable inclusion? I am super glad we expanded on this idea of inclusion as now I can use it as a guiding tool in my networking and focus on surrounding myself with others who also consider the importance of inclusion!

Moore, S. (2017). One without the other: Stories of unity through diversity and inclusion. ProQuest Ebook Central https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca

Moore, Shelley. The Evolution of Inclusion: The Past and Future of Education. 1 Oct. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQgXBhPh5Zo.