Rachel Song
Senior Director, Finance and Business Operations
Comcast
Leadership Insights to Action: An ongoing series – presented by Diversity First with contributor Jennifer Walker – spotlighting innovative leaders who are making meaningful, impactful, and sustainable change to elevate diversity, equity and belonging for the betterment of their organizations and beyond. Do you know such a leader who should be featured? Tell us!
What is an idea, practice, or innovation that you have led to accelerate diversity, equity & belonging at your organization or more broadly for industry? What was an unexpected challenge or opportunity that you encountered, and what did you learn?
I encourage leaders in my organization to embrace vulnerability and use it as a powerful instrument to build connection, trust, and community.
Vulnerability is a valuable leadership quality and a tool for cultural enhancement because showcasing vulnerability creates an open and safe environment where people are inspired to act authentically. That, in turn, fosters a sense of belonging and builds allyship which positions everyone to feel valued, welcome, and incentivized to collaborate.
Growing up, I was taught to swallow “hardship.” Therefore, I viewed vulnerability as a sign of weakness. Today, I see it quite differently. Vulnerability is a sign of courgae, not weakness. As I continue to develop as a leader, I find the use of vulnerability powerful. When you are open with others, there is a mirror effect; others are more likely to be open with you. Those moments of heart-to-heart connection build deep alliances, trusting relationships and open, honest communcation from which all meaningful collaboration blooms!
How have you put this philosophy into practice?
I lead by example by showing vulnerability and authenticity. I openly share my values, beliefs, mistakes, and emotions. When I speak on panels, I share personal stories even if they feature struggles or failures. I have received audience feedback that my stories resonate and inspire them. That feedback is deeply satisfying and rewarding.
When others show their vulnerability and share their authentic self, I embrace them with my whole heart, and show them my full support. I commend them for their vulnerability.
What is something that you wished that you would have known in your twenties?
I wish that I had a better understanding of risk and of fear when I was in my twenties. I wish I appreciated that the world is full of possibilities and options, and that it was up to me to explore and experiment through a lens of curiousity not constraints. The cost of failure is oftentimes less when you are younger. Rather than fearing failure, I could have perceived more opportunity and taken more risks and conducted more experiments.
What are you currently reading/listening to?
Essentialism by Greg McKeown. The book is about designing and taking control of your life. The same amount of energy, when directed purposefully, can bring you much closer to your goal. Know the right things you must do, reject everything else and direct your time and energy to create the biggest impact where it matters.
What do you see as the greatest opportunity ahead?
The greatest opportunity ahead for many organizations is aligning their DE&I goals with the organization’s business goals and embedding their DE&I efforts into the overall business strategy. As leaders, we must empower our DE&I teams and Employee Resource Groups to strategically partner with the business units and measure their success with specific business metrics. Ultimately identifying the link between inclusive practices and excellent financial performance is paramount to gaining broad support for the DE&I efforts. This will not only accelerate the path to realizing the full potential of DE&I but will also result in sustainability of DE&I practices.
What will be your legacy?
My legacy will be that I made positive impact on others, helping them better themselves or better their life, and that l lived the best of version of myself to inspire others, including my daughter.