James D. White - Anti-Racist Leadership: How to Transform Corporate Culture in a Race-Conscious World

As a woman of color, Ive worked to ensure that diversity and inclusion have been cornerstones of our culture at Honest since our founding in 2012. Embracing each persons unique heritage, celebrating diversity, and ensuring inclusivity inspires us to be better teammates, leaders, parents, and friends. James White has been an invaluable resource here at Honest, and were lucky to have his support and guidance as we continue to foster a truly equitable environment.

JESSICA ALBA , founder and Chief Creative Officer, the Honest Company

What a refreshing read! When a CEO tells you (in print) that he has never been promoted based on his potential, and when his millennial daughter is partnering with her dad in real time in the real world, you have a tool that touches every part of your personal and professional life. Anti-Racist Leadership gives you the steps to get started and be successful in your endeavors in our next normal.

JIM DONALD , Cochair and former CEO, Albertsons; former CEO, Starbucks

CEOs, please dont delegate the reading of this book. If you do, your organization will stay the same, and youll be saying We have a long way to go. If you read it and follow Whites detailed blueprint, youll be able to say Look how far weve come.

MICHAEL C. BUSH , CEO, Great Place to Work

James and Krista White have successfully provided something that fills the void so often left for those seeking actionable guidance in driving real DEI change. Anti-Racist Leadership is a masterful blend of tangible examples, straightforward frameworks, and double- and triple-clicks into the DEI why, how to, and what not to checklists. It delivers an incredibly human, digestible, and relevant set of learning moments that should be required education for any leader or company serious about the personal and organizational transformation necessary to move beyond DEI rhetoric and good intent.

DAMIEN HOOPER-CAMPBELL , Chief Diversity Officer, Zoom Video Communications

Anti-Racist Leadership is a powerful and thought-provoking read for every leader who cares about company culture and inclusive leadership. It is necessary reading for every business leader in America today.

RON SHAICH , founder and former Chairman and CEO, Panera Bread

Anti-Racist Leadership is unique and a must-read because White provides specific, tactical advice that leaders can execute immediately to drive lasting change.

SHERYL OLOUGHLIN , cofounder, J.E.D.I. (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Collaborative; cofounder and Board Chair, Women on Boards Project; former CEO, REBBL and Clif Bar & Company; and cofounder and former CEO, Plum Organics

This book provides a detailed road map for current and future leaders who want to consciously work on creating an anti-racist workplace and society. It challenges leaders to examine their practices and encourages them to create a space of belonging, where everyone can find their purpose and achieve success without fear of being ostracized. I will use it as a guide for my work as a nonprofit leader and for young leaders entering the workplace. Thank you, James White, for providing the first introspective leadership book by a Black leader who made it to the top. You are a hero and a leader for so many!

CHERYL L. JONES , President and CEO, Girls Inc. of St. Louis

Transformation of growing businesses is a by-product of clarity of purpose, building processes that enable positive momentum, and holding leaders accountable. Ive been waiting for years for James D. White to share his insights on how to build growth businesses by incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion within the culture. The time has come.

MICHAEL C. HYTER , President and CEO, the Executive Leadership Council

The book is indeed provocative, but thats precisely whats needed as we look to advance the biggest growth opportunity in a generation. The counsel James White provides in this book draws on his lived experiences. He demonstrates how business leaders can create pathways and opportunities for more diverse leadership, a major milestone on the journey to a more inclusive and stronger economy. He offers comprehensive advice for corporate executives looking to get serious about creating an equitable and anti-racist company culture.

DARYL BREWSTER , CEO, Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP)

I encourage everyone to read Anti-Racist Leadership , written by our very own Board Chair, James D. White. This important book will help leaders build a truly equitable work environment. All of us at Honest are lucky to learn from James and have his support and guidance as we continue to foster a truly diverse and inclusive environment, every day.

NICK VLAHOS , CEO, the Honest Company

In a world where we need to drive real change in DEI practices in every company and at every level, all leaders need this book in order to learn how to eliminate racismovert, subtle, and systemic. James Whites executive skills and integrity have always stood out, and Anti-Racist Leadership is the first practical guide written by someone who has lived both the experience of feeling racism and the experience of removing it. There is so much to do, and this is a marvelous addition to the lexicon on DEI for everyone.

BRACKEN P. DARRELL , President and CEO, Logitech International

Replete with concrete examples from his own experience as a CEO and that of many other leaders, Whites book should be read and absorbed by anyone serious about making real progress on diversity and inclusion.

JOAN C. WILLIAMS , Distinguished Professor of Law and founding Director, Center for WorkLife Law, UC Hastings Law

HOW TO TRANSFORM CORPORATE CULTURE IN A RACE-CONSCIOUS WORLD

James D. White

withKrista White

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW PRESS
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

HBR Press Quantity Sales Discounts

Harvard Business Review Press titles are available at significant quantity discounts when purchased in bulk for client gifts, sales promotions, and premiums. Special editions, including books with corporate logos, customized covers, and letters from the company or CEO printed in the front matter, as well as excerpts of existing books, can also be created in large quantities for special needs.

For details and discount information for both print and ebook formats, contact .

Copyright 2022 James D. White

The Hill We Climb Copyright 2021 by Amanda Gorman. Reprinted by permission of the author.

All rights reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior permission of the publisher. Requests for permission should be directed to , or mailed to Permissions, Harvard Business School Publishing, 60 Harvard Way, Boston, Massachusetts 02163.

The web addresses referenced in this book were live and correct at the time of the books publication but may be subject to change.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: White, James D., 1960 author.

Title: Anti-racist leadership : how to transform corporate culture in a race-conscious world / James D. White.

Description: Boston, MA : Harvard Business Review Press, [2022] | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021043261 (print) | LCCN 2021043262 (ebook) | ISBN 9781647821975 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781647821982 (ebook)