A Seat at the Table
or Part of the Meal, looks like a great business book. Any plans to release
similar books?
Yes, I plan to write aworkbook on the same
subject matter of diversity, equity and inclusion.
What will
readers get out of your book?
I’ve condensed data from
national studies and included personal stories detailing my workplace
experiences as well as others that I have interviewed for the book. Readers will also get tips on what they can
do to recruit diverse talent to their organizations at both the staff and board
of director levels.
What
inspired you when writing A Seat at the Table
or Part of the Meal?
I
was inspired to write this book after years of mentoring people of color and answering
the same questions that so many people have – Why are there so few women and so
few people of color in top management positions?
When
did you decide to become a writer?
I have always love to read and
I have been writing stories since I was a child. I began my career as a newspaper journalist
and published my first book in 2013, entitled “The Fourth Generation.” It is a historical novel.
When
writing A Seat at the Table
or Part of the Meal, did
anything stand out as particularly challenging?
The challenge was to get people
to be open and use this book as a platform to speak to the prejudicial issues
that they have faced during their careers.
I found it liberating, but I certainly understand that from some it’s a
risk, especially if they are working for the same company that they are
speaking about.
How did
you come up with ideas and concepts for A
Seat at the Table or Part of the Meal?
I’m from the South
and we often talk about being “dished” or being the meal. I don’t think it’s particularly unique to the
South, but it is true that if you don’t have a seat at the table, you may very
well find yourself as part of the meal, ie part of the discussion.
What do
you like to do when not writing?
When I’m not writing, I love
helping others to build their organizations or find their passions through my
company, Motivational Muse, LLC. I
provide executive coaching, board governance training and public speaking
services. My full-time job is as a CEO
for a nonprofit organization.
How can
readers discover more about you and your work?
You can find me on my
website: www.motivationalmuse.com, on
LinkedIn: Kimberly Bussey Lewis or on Twitter at KimberlyLewis5.