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Episode 81: Diversity Is More Than Skin Deep
In this episode, Vanessa talks diversity with Dan Rector, business resilience advisor with her company, Asfalis Advisors. In addition to being content coordinator for the Business Resilience DECODED podcast, Dan helps organizations prepare for the unexpected. Prior to joining Asfalis, he served six years on active duty in the Coast Guard and worked full-time for the National Guard helping agencies and schools prepare for incidents involving chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. Dan was the first military veteran to join the Asfalis team. Highlights of the episode:
- Dan and Vanessa discuss how there is more to diversity than shape, size, and color.
- Dan shares lessons he learned in the military about how to forge people from different races, genders, and backgrounds into effective teams.
- Vanessa asks Dan about how working for a woman-owned minority business has changed his perspective around diversity issues.
Dan sums up a key takeaway: “If you have 10 people that are all different shapes, sizes, and colors, but they all came from the same background and think the same way, then you are not as diverse as you think.” This prompts Vanessa to give him “a virtual round of applause.”
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Dan Rector, guest
Dan Rector is a business resilience advisor with Asfalis Advisors and the content coordinator for the Business Resilience DECODED podcast. A Certified Emergency Manager, Dan spent six years on active service with the Coast Guard and later worked with the Connecticut Army National Guard helping agencies and schools prepare for CBRN incidents, those involving chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons. He has a Masters degree in Emergency Management and is working toward his doctorate in Homeland Security.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-rector-ms-cem-871188203
- Asfalis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asfalis
- Asfalis Advisors: https://www.asfalisadvisors.com/
- email: drector@asfalisadvisors.com
Vanessa Mathews, host
Vanessa Mathews is the founder and chief resilience officer of Asfalis Advisors, where they are focused on protecting the legacy of the leaders they serve through business resilience. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Mathews developed global crisis management and business continuity programs for government and private sector organizations to include Lowe’s Companies, Gulfstream Aerospace, and the Department of Homeland Security.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-vaughn-mathews-mba-cbcp-70916b4b/
- Book Mathews as a speaker: https://www.asfalisadvisors.com/public-speaking/
- Asfalis Advisors: https://www.asfalisadvisors.com/
Jon Seals, producer
Jon Seals is the editor in chief at Disaster Recovery Journal, the leading magazine/event in business continuity. Seals is an award-winning journalist with a background in publication design, business media, content management, sports journalism, social media, and podcasting.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonseals/
- Disaster Recovery Journal: https://drj.com/
