Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Heather Sanders.
Hi Dr. Sanders, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
As a young girl, I imagined being a lawyer then a judge, and then a TV judge, (lol). I imagined advocating for people and helping them find justice, even if that’s not how I articulated it as a pip-squeak. Although I didn’t become an attorney, I never lost my desire to work toward my idea of “fairness.” Whatever I did—wherever I landed—I was an advocate. And, I decided that although I could have settled into one of a few careers, I just wanted to help people do people better.
At 19 years old, while at Tennessee State University, I became the marketing assistant at Scarritt Bennett Center, a former Methodist college for women. It was the first time I had been exposed to an organization that intentionally engaged community members in anti-racism and women’s empowerment education, dialogue, and programming. That experience let me know this type of work was possible…necessary…viable.
As a researcher, I wanted to explore institutional violence and how organizations support or allow identity-based harms, particularly antiblackness in workspaces.
In 2012, my husband, Brian, and I found A Sanders Company, a People + Culture firm specializing in equity-based organizational development and thought partnership; harm-reduction policy and strategy development, executive training and coaching; institutional and interpersonal intervention and meditation; research and data analysis; DEIBJ content and curricula creation; public speaking and forum facilitation.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Although I was clear about what I wanted to do, I didn’t know that much value had been placed on this type of consulting work. It wasn’t until July of 2017 that I was able to work solely for myself. Unfortunately, I believe the success of our business happened as a result of George Floyd’s death.
Organizations began making public commitment statements to pay more attention to and educate themselves about racism in America. While some orgs shifted this responsibility to traditionally trained human resources professionals, many others sought the expertise of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) consultants to provide a framework for a more purposeful approach.
This work is both rewarding and exhausting. Most times I feel energized…hopeful. Other times, I feel depleted and hopeless. As many are aware, there are concerted efforts by politicians and extremists to misrepresent and remove DEI and antiracism education from public and private institutions. There is always a fear that fear and the right to comfort will continue to be centered rather than awareness and capacity building and, eventually, healing.
My family, my husband (Brian) and children (Kennedy, Brody, and Khloé), keep me grounded, driven…fed. Although I was clear about what I wanted to do, I didn’t know that much value had been placed on this type of consulting work. It wasn’t until July of 2017 that I was able to work solely for myself. Unfortunately, I believe the success of our business happened as a result of George Floyd’s death.
Organizations began making public commitment statements to pay more attention to and educate themselves about racism in America. While some orgs shifted this responsibility to traditionally trained human resources professionals, many others sought the expertise of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) consultants to provide a framework for a more purposeful approach.
This work is both rewarding and exhausting. Most times I feel energized…hopeful. Other times, I feel depleted and hopeless. As many are aware, there are concerted efforts by politicians and extremists to misrepresent and/or remove DEI and antiracism education from public and private institutions. There is always a fear that fear and the right to comfort will continue to be centered rather than awareness and capacity building and, eventually, healing.
My family, my husband (Brian) and children (Kennedy, Brody, and Khloé), keep me grounded, driven…fed. Our family has written and published beautiful works of art (children’s books and music) that reflect our eternal connection and hope for the world we’d like to experience.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
With more than 50 years of diversity, equity, and inclusion experience, our professionals bring a wealth of insight and experience to community- and agency-based strategic initiatives on local, national, and global platforms.
A Sanders Company® helps organizations and their leaders experience growth by way of industry-relevant organizational leadership development, culture resetting, and change management support, validated by our modeling of customized equity, diversity, and inclusion-based strategies. ASC’s expertise includes developing and analyzing DEI assessments, developing communication plans that inspire internal and external stakeholder engagement, and launching integrative transition management plans that realize diversity priorities.
Our services include:
DEI, Employee Engagement Policies and Programs Development
Education Plan Creation
Organizational Research, Assessment, and Analysis
Organizational Design & Development
Leadership and Staff Training and Development
Change & Transition Management and Training
DEI Project Management
Executive Coaching
A Sanders Company® is based in Nashville, TN, and is a Black- and woman-owned business.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
You can’t make maximum impact without making connections. Making connections almost requires vulnerability.
There have been so many life-shifting moments that happened because of a micro-moment decision to be transparent.
Contact Info:
- Website: asanderscompany.com
- Instagram: @asanderscompany
- Facebook: facebook.com/asandersco
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-r-sanders
