DEI in Israel with Momo Mahadav

Making Waves on Purpose

I skipped the queue for this episode which I recorded last week with Momo Mahadav from Maala, The Israeli Business for Social Responsibility organization.

I have known Momo for many years and admire him and his work, and that work has taken on a new importance in the last month. Momo shares how companies' efforts in building DEI programs and understanding have helped them during this tragic and difficult time.

We kept the conservation focused on the work rather than the conflict, but it is hard not to have in the back of one's mind knowing that the air raid sirens could go off at any moment and the truly tragic conditions in Gaza.

I found the idea of DEI efforts being efforts in what I would call peacebuilding (at the individual level) and the need for workplaces to be safe havens to be particularly interesting and challenged some of my thinking. I also think the simple idea of calling and checking in with people affected by the conflict, in Israel and beyond, is critical.

Momo offered what I think is good advice in any situation: “Be attentive, listen to the voices.”

P.S. If anyone has contact with a Palestinian CSR organization, I would love to feature what they are doing as well.