20. Embracing Diversity and Inclusivity in Networking with Emily Purry

About the Guest(s):

Emily Purry is a seasoned corporate trainer, keynote speaker, and consultant with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). As the lead at Purry Consultants, Emily leverages her personal experiences to educate and advocate for people with disabilities in corporate environments. Her expertise extends to providing corporate training from a perspective of empathy and understanding. Emily, who is legally blind, is also an athlete with a passion for sports, including soccer, track, javelin throwing, and surfing.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Well Connected with Ricky and Fletch, we welcome the insightful Emily Purry of Purry Consultants. Emily brings her wealth of experience as a corporate trainer and consultant focusing on the critical DEI space. The conversation delves deep into how Emily has harnessed networking to fuel her business’s growth and how she’s shattering barriers within corporate training.

Starting with an engaging icebreaker, Emily recounts her athletic journey and her aspirations for Olympic surfing. We then transition into a meaningful discussion on the challenges of networking with a visual impairment. Emily shares personal stories and offers practical advice for making networking events more inclusive for individuals with disabilities. She emphasizes the humanity behind interactions and the importance of treating people with autonomy and respect, regardless of their abilities.

Key Takeaways:

• Networking can be a challenging experience for individuals with disabilities, and it’s vital to create inclusive environments.
• Greet and address the person first before noting any accompanying service animal or mobility device they may have.
• Ask all guests if there is anything that can be done to make the event more successful for them, allowing for an opportunity to request accommodations.
• Businesses and events should consider all forms of accessibility, including physical and digital spaces, to accommodate a wide range of disabilities.
• The way people with disabilities are treated not only affects their direct experiences but can influence the perceptions and actions of their entire network.

Notable Quotes:

• “Address the human. That’s the biggest thing.”
• “Just observe and move forward and be respectful and do your best to learn and understand and grow around folks with disabilities.”
• “We’re humans. We want to be independent. We want to be autonomous. We want to be business owners. We want to be respected as business owners.”

Resources:

• Emily’s consulting company: Purry Consultants (website not explicitly mentioned)
• Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube (specific handles not provided)

Tune in to the full episode to gain a deeper understanding of making connections and networking in an inclusive manner. Emily Purry’s insights remind us how integral awareness and accommodation are to fostering a more accepting professional environment. Be sure to follow the show for more enlightening discussions with industry leaders and experts.

#BNI #DEI #DEIA #SOCIALNETWORKING #NETWORKING #PROFESSIONALNETWORKING #REFERRALS #SALES