Today I was asked by two well-meaning white women at @USIIns to speak for free at a #DEI event for their clients. They came to the mtg with no ideas on what they wanted to cover during this conversation. 1/5
When I asked them if it was a free or paid engagement, they said they might have a budget but were "hoping for flexibility" (read - free) "because it might help get more business" 2/5
When I pushed them to share metrics on what kind of business their speakers get from the engagements, they had no data, only anecdotes that other speakers had gotten contracts from free-speaking engagements. 3/5
When I said no to free-engagements, they asked me if I knew of other #DEI practitioners who were "more flexible with their budgets" (read - know anyone that works for free). I said no, and that it's unprofessional to ask people for free work. 4/5
This happens to me and #DEI practitioners and #WOC daily. Even after we've jumped through every goddamn hurdle, we're seen as 'help' and gaslit to believe we're 'being helped'. 5/5
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