Minette Norman is an award-winning author, speaker, leadership consultant, and former Silicon Valley software executive who spent decades leading global teams.
Minette knows that when groups embrace all aspects of human diversity, breakthroughs emerge, and innovation accelerates. Her most recent position before starting her consultancy was Vice President of Engineering Practice at Autodesk. Responsible for influencing more than 3,500 engineers around the globe, she focused on state-of-the-art engineering practices while nurturing a collaborative and inclusive culture.
A highly sought-after speaker, Minette has inspired audiences around the world to challenge the status quo and embrace a new model of leadership focused on human connection, empathy, and curiosity. Named one of the “Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business” by the San Francisco Business Times and as “Business Role Model of the Year” in the Women in IT/Silicon Valley Awards, Minette is a recognized leader with a unique perspective.
As the author of The Boldly Inclusive Leader and the co-author of The Psychological Safety Playbook, Minette is committed to helping leaders unleash the full potential of the people in their organizations. This one-on-one interview shares Minette’s background and experience writing The Boldly Inclusive Leader: Transform Your Workplace (and the World) by Valuing the Differences Within.
Tell us about The Boldly Inclusive Leader.
While today’s leaders recognize the irrefutable data that diverse and inclusive teams outperform homogeneous teams, leaders rarely have the skills to lead inclusively. I am committed to changing that.
To lead successfully in today’s workplace, leaders at all levels of an organization need to develop skills that have been traditionally undervalued, including empathy, curiosity, vulnerability, and the ability to create a psychologically safe workplace—this is boldly inclusive leadership.
In the book, I share some of the most important things I’ve learned over the decades I spent in the corporate world, such as:
· Every human being needs to feel they belong,
· Teams thrive when everyone feels safe enough to share their unique ideas and experiences,
· Innovation is a group activity,
· Empathy and compassion are leadership superpowers, and
· Leaders set the tone by what they say, do, reward, and tolerate
As a leader, you will learn to maximize your team's potential and appreciate that inclusive leadership is an ongoing journey. Although inclusive leadership takes commitment and practice, the rewards are enormous.
What inspired you to write The Boldly Inclusive Leader?
After a 30-year career in the software industry, with 20 years in leadership roles, I realized I had gotten a deep and rich education in leadership. I had read voraciously, taken classes, studied other leaders’ behavior, and learned by making mistakes along the way. I tried to be a role model when I led teams by connecting human-to-human, listening, being open to other perspectives, communicating clearly, and above all, by ensuring every team member felt valued for their unique talents and experiences.
Yet, along the way, I also realized how badly prepared most of us are to lead teams. Like many people who rose to positions of power, I got my start leading people because I was a good individual contributor, and I was thrown into a leadership position without preparation.
So, I wanted to distill my hard-earned knowledge into a book that opened eyes (and hearts) and inspired action. Rather than offering theories of leadership, I wanted to share real-world stories combined with practical ideas for changing how we lead.
Leading other human beings is one of the most crucial roles any of us can play as we determine whether or not each of our employees thrives, stagnates, or suffers. I believe people at every level of leadership need help to become the best leaders they can be and, in turn, bring out the best in their employees.
Ultimately, I wrote The Boldly Inclusive Leader to help others learn quickly what took me decades to understand.
What is one message you would like readers to remember?
Inclusion is a fundamental human requirement. We all need to be heard, seen, and valued.As a leader, you play a critical role—you have the power to create an inclusive team environment where a diverse group of people can thrive, innovate, and do their best work. Creating that environment takes work, but it doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Small changes in how you interact every day—whether in a hallway conversation, a staff meeting, or a company gathering—can have a huge impact.Why not be deliberate in creating an inclusive and inviting environment for everyone? You may end up transforming not only your workplace but also the world!
Purchasing the Book
The Boldly Inclusive Leader: Transform Your Workplace (and the World) by Valuing the Differences Within has received positive reviews from well-known experts, authors, and reviewers around the world. Founder and CEO of The Courageous Leadership Institute, Cindy Solomon writes, “Norman has masterfully gone beyond the conceptual and created a realistic and actionable blueprint every leader can employ in their day-to-day leadership practice.” In addition, author Maria Giudice writes, “A must-read for people who want to lead effectively in the 21st century."
The book is available for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook, Google Play, and other online bookstores. Readers are encouraged to purchase their copy today: https://a.co/d/3Jsdoox
To connect with Minette and learn more about her work, visit: https://www.minettenorman.com/. You can also find her on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.
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