How are our employees taking action to make LS&Co. a more diverse and inclusive workplace? Our DE&I Champions series sets out to answer exactly that. This month’s featured champion is Carly Yu, Marketing Director, Beyond Yoga. Carly shares why diversity matters to her as an individual and a leader, and she invites all of us to come to the table with an open mind and heart, ready to listen.
Q: Share something that we wouldn’t know about you just by looking at you.
A: I’m the proud mom of a NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) graduate! My daughter, Astrid, was born in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, a little over 2 months premature at only two pounds, nine ounces. She spent the first thirty-six days of her life in the NICU, and while that chapter of our lives was so challenging and scary, I am also so grateful for this experience. I discovered a different kind of strength and superpower I didn’t realize I had. It’s also provided me with a different lens to view the world; to witness my brave and strong little warrior blossom into such a curious, kind and thoughtful little person has been such an incredible journey. I’m in awe of her every day, and she is a constant source of inspiration for me.
Q: Why is DE&I important to you as a leader?
A: Growing up in a racially diverse immigrant community has provided me with such a rich experience, and it’s these unique inputs that have shaped me as a leader (and marketer) today. DE&I is so critical in creating a safe environment for the open exchange of ideas, empowering individuals to challenge and question when things don’t make sense and to truly reflect on our own personal journeys. This is what creates dynamic teams, and this is what makes our work so exciting!
Our diverse backgrounds, lived experiences and perspectives are something to celebrate — it’s what gives us texture, it’s how we spark innovation, and most importantly, it’s our authenticity.
Q: What is your call to action to your fellow LS&Co. employees and leaders?
A: Create space for diverse and marginalized voices. Come to the table with an open mind and an open heart. Most importantly: listen.
