Ashley Ladd on rest, conversations and the future of DEI.
Photo of Ashley Ladd smiling and looking at the camera. She is wearing a Black T-shirt and a red/orange blazer. The corporate offices of HubSpot can be seen in the background. Courtesy of Ashley Ladd.
I have the privilege of analyzing the intersection of anti-racism and equity and belonging work in the workplace from a distance. A necessary part of my work is staying in dialogue with those embedded in the work – day in, day out. In a new series of the newsletter, I'll interview leaders in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging on their perspectives on the future of the workplace.
Today, I'm joined by Ashley Ladd, Manager of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at HubSpot, a global tech company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. I've had the personal pleasure of working with HubSpot through her over the past year and I'm grateful for how she champions other leaders of color.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work this past year?
For me, this past year has definitely been the most challenging professional year I’ve ever had but also the most rewarding. From the racial injustice and police brutality to the turbulent political climate it made showing up as a black woman and D&I professional incredibly difficult at times. Through all of that, I had the opportunity to work on creating and implementing our Black Lives Matter Action Plan which encompassed a four pillar strategy aimed at generating impact for the Black community. It’s been one of the fulfilling moments in my career and to work alongside so many incredibly dedicated people at such a pivotal time is something I’ll always carry with me.
Your organization just participated in a week-long practice of rest. What came up for your during your time off?
The week of rest reminded me that carving out time to rest and recharge is a priority for my mental health and a necessity for cultivating great work. We shouldn’t just rest when we need it but before we ever do. I’m a planner and love to have a schedule and know what’s coming next so I spent the week doing the opposite - waking up without an alarm, deciding on my next activity or adventure in the moment and trying to remain present. It was such a welcome change to the daily routine and structure I live by. I was able to come back to work not only rested but with a clear mind and an even stronger energy for my work.
I’ve had the pleasure of participating in a couple of conversations with the HubSpot community through your work! How do you view conversations as a form of fostering equity and belonging?
It’s been such a pleasure having you in conversation at HubSpot! I view the events and conversations we host as an opportunity to amplify the voices of folks doing great work in our communities and bringing awareness to that for our employees at HubSpot but also as a way to ignite conversation, awareness, education and a sense of representation. Being able to hold space for conversations around racial inequality, social justice, mental health and more has allowed our employees to show up authentically, share their own experiences and learn and build empathy for others. Our hope is that the conversation doesn’t end when the event is over but that everyone leaves with something they didn’t expect - knowledge, empathy, inspiration, hope.
How has your understanding of DEI evolved over the past year?
This past year has reinforced that DEI work is incredibly nuanced. We work hard every day to be proactive, to get ahead of the next big issue while also troubleshooting and breaking down some of the systemic barriers that exist in our companies and communities, but over the course of the last year, I’ve realized that you’re never going to make everyone happy. Most of this work doesn’t have a clear cut answer or solution but it’s everyone's job to recognize it, work through it and help move us towards justice and change.
Where are you hoping to see the DEI landscape grow in the future?
I hope that DEI becomes less of an additive factor and more deeply ingrained in everything we do at work and beyond. That this work is something that doesn’t just fall on the shoulders of a few but something that everyone feels responsible for. There’s no lightswitch for this work, we can’t just turn it off at the end of the day, we must always push forward intentionally and with a strong sense of accountability for ourselves and those around us. I’m optimistic about the direction of the DEI landscape and know there is so much more to be uncovered, dismantled and celebrated.
Ashley Ladd is a Manager of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at HubSpot, a global tech company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. She oversees events, programming, and strategy for HubSpot’s Employee Resource Groups which include, Women@HubSpot, People of Color at HubSpot, the LGBTQ+ Alliance, and BLACKhub. She currently sits on the Board of Trustees for her Alma Mater, St. Lawrence University and lives in Canton, MA with her husband Adam and dog Arnold.