Diversity Straight Up Corridor Media Group

Today’s guest on Diversity Straight Up is Lisha Coffey, President of Travero, a subsidiary of Alliant Energy that is providing freight solutions to keep customers moving.
Anthony and Sarika talk with Lisha about pride month and the issues that the State of Iowa is grappling with therein, about the nuances of "tokenism" and the differences between being identified as a female leader versus just a leader, the group tackle a question from a listener, and everyone takes a turn with the famous Diversity Thumb Ball!
Learn more about Travero at travero.com.
Learn more about our sponsor, Alliant Energy, at alliantenergy.com.
This season of Diversity Straight Up is sponsored by ACT, Alliant Energy, and Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust.
This is Diversity Straight Up, hosted by Sarika Bhakta and Anthony Arrington, the monthly podcast where the duo dig into the topics of equity, diversity, inclusion and engagement (EDI&E) through authentic and challenging conversations with C-suite leaders. Expect frank questions and honest answers, and real-life lessons on how to leverage diversity as an asset, rather than see it as a liability.
This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.
This episode was produced by the L.A.S. Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit LASMediaGroup.com.

Today’s guest on Diversity Straight Up is Okpara Rice, Chief Executive Officer of Tanager Place, the nonprofit providing services to children and families that inspire, empower, and heal.
Anthony and Sarika talk with Okpara about how they're approaching gun violence in the world today, how our collective approach to mental health has changed since the pandemic, how Okpara's background and childhood led him to this line of work, the group tackle a question from a listener, and everyone takes a turn with the famous Diversity Thumb Ball!
Learn more about Tanager Place by visiting tanagerplace.org
This season of Diversity Straight Up is sponsored by ACT, Alliant Energy, and Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust.
This is Diversity Straight Up, hosted by Sarika Bhakta and Anthony Arrington, the monthly podcast where the duo dig into the topics of equity, diversity, inclusion and engagement (EDI&E) through authentic and challenging conversations with C-suite leaders. Expect frank questions and honest answers, and real-life lessons on how to leverage diversity as an asset, rather than see it as a liability.
This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.
This episode was produced by the L.A.S. Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit LASMediaGroup.com.

Today’s guest on Diversity Straight Up is Katie Castillo-Wilson, Founder and CEO of Tap On It, a mobile database development company based in Davenport, Iowa.
Anthony and Sarika talk with Katie about the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, her unique personal journey in discovering and claiming her cultural background, what it means for a business founder to "claim the race", how she has navigated multiple rounds of capital fundraising (including through a major company pivot brought about by the pandemic), and everyone takes a turn with the famous Diversity Thumb Ball!
Learn more about Tap On It by visiting taponit.com. To learn more about Katie, you can visit her LinkedIn here: linkedin.com/in/kwilsonqc/
This season of Diversity Straight Up is sponsored by ACT, Alliant Energy, and Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust.
This is Diversity Straight Up, hosted by Sarika Bhakta and Anthony Arrington, the monthly podcast where the duo dig into the topics of equity, diversity, inclusion and engagement (EDI&E) through authentic and challenging conversations with C-suite leaders. Expect frank questions and honest answers, and real-life lessons on how to leverage diversity as an asset, rather than see it as a liability.
This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.
This episode was produced by the L.A.S. Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit LASMediaGroup.com.

Today’s guest on Diversity Straight Up is Tina Gridiron, Vice President of the ACT Center for Equity in Learning.
Anthony and Sarika talk with Tina about the education of black history in schools, what it’s like to be the woman who advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion in every job she’s had, and the role that standardized testing plays in access to higher education in today’s world. Tina also answers a listener question on accelerating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and everyone takes a turn with the famous Diversity Thumb Ball!
Learn more about Sacred Heart University, visit SacredHeart.edu. To learn more about Maurice, you can visit his LinkedIn here: linkedin.com/in/maurice-nelson/
This season of Diversity Straight Up is sponsored by ACT, Alliant Energy, and Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust.
This is Diversity Straight Up, hosted by Sarika Bhakta and Anthony Arrington, the monthly podcast where the duo dig into the topics of equity, diversity, inclusion and engagement (EDI&E) through authentic and challenging conversations with C-suite leaders. Expect frank questions and honest answers, and real-life lessons on how to leverage diversity as an asset, rather than see it as a liability.
This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.
This episode was produced by the L.A.S. Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit LASMediaGroup.com.

Today’s guest on Diversity Straight Up is Maurice Nelson, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer of Sacred Heart University.
Anthony and Sarika talk with Maurice about the unique work of serving as an advocate for social justice and DEI in a religious institution, how his "non-negotiable values" informed his position to take on the job, how they're dramatically increased enrollment in a short period of time, how he navigates a unique working relationship with his boss, and much more.
Learn more about Sacred Heart University, visit SacredHeart.edu. To learn more about Maurice, you can visit his LinkedIn here: linkedin.com/in/maurice-nelson/
This season of Diversity Straight Up is sponsored by ACT, Alliant Energy, and Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust.
This is Diversity Straight Up, hosted by Sarika Bhakta and Anthony Arrington, the monthly podcast where the duo dig into the topics of equity, diversity, inclusion and engagement (EDI&E) through authentic and challenging conversations with C-suite leaders. Expect frank questions and honest answers, and real-life lessons on how to leverage diversity as an asset, rather than see it as a liability.
This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.
This episode was produced by the L.A.S. Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit LASMediaGroup.com.

Today’s guest on Diversity Straight Up is Joe Enriquez Henry of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and Forward Latino.
Anthony and Sarika talk with Joe about how he and LULAC have navigated crisis, his experiences and accomplishments as a leader in the social justice space, and the group explores the current state of Puerto Rico's journey to become the 51st state. Additionally, Sarika shares how the mass protests in Iran are on her mind, and everyone takes a turn with the Diversity Thumb Ball!
Learn more about LULAC at IowaLatinos.org.
This season of Diversity Straight Up is sponsored by ACT, Alliant Energy, and Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust.
This is Diversity Straight Up, hosted by Sarika Bhakta and Anthony Arrington, the monthly podcast where the duo dig into the topics of equity, diversity, inclusion and engagement (EDI&E) through authentic and challenging conversations with C-suite leaders. Expect frank questions and honest answers, and real-life lessons on how to leverage diversity as an asset, rather than see it as a liability.
This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.
This episode was produced by the L.A.S. Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit LASMediaGroup.com.