Jennifer Willey, founder and CEO of Wet Cement and creator of the Fearless in Five series, brings a mission-driven approach to helping professionals unlock a fearless mindset and never hold themselves back. Drawing from her background as a media and tech executive as well as personal experience overcoming barriers, Jennifer encourages leaders to focus on building cultures where innovation thrives through genuine inclusivity.
Companies that are more diverse and inclusive not only fare better during economic crises, but also launch more new products and have a higher share of revenue generated by innovation. In today’s business climate, every advantage matters—so fostering an inclusive culture is essential for survival and growth.
Five Key Steps to Build an Innovative, Inclusive Culture
- Hear All Voices
Jennifer stresses the importance of ensuring everyone’s ideas are shared and valued in meetings and video conferences. She recommends using tools such as chat, interactive polling, nonverbal communication, and innovative technologies like Mentimeter to encourage participation from all team members. - Set a No Interruptions Rule
Research shows women are interrupted three times more often than men, and the rise in video conferencing has only amplified the problem. Jennifer suggests creating an “interruptions monitor”—someone who actively ensures conversations remain fair and everyone gets a chance to speak. - Be an Ally
Jennifer advises stepping in when you witness someone being marginalized, much like teaching children to be upstanders, not bystanders. Simple actions—such as inviting quieter team members to share their opinions—help build a culture where everyone feels encouraged to speak. To deepen understanding, leaders can use cutting-edge tools like virtual reality to gain new perspectives and empathize with others’ experiences. - Ditch the Double Bind
In Jennifer’s experience and research, men are often recognized as leaders for being clear, direct, and assertive, while women are expected to combine these qualities with warmth and prosocial behaviors. Failure to meet those standards can result in harmful labels. Jennifer urges teams to question their own standards and ensure women are not held to unfairly high or contradictory expectations compared to male colleagues. - Measure What You Treasure
Jennifer highlights that progress cannot happen without measurement. She encourages everyone to ask their company’s leadership about diversity and inclusion metrics—for hiring, promotions, pay equity, benefits, parental leave, and more. Tools like Gender Fair allow organizations and individuals to benchmark their progress and address gaps effectively.
Turning Inclusion into Innovation
Jennifer Willey’s practical guidance reflects her belief that every leader can cultivate a collaborative and innovative culture, even in uncertain times. By hearing every voice, enforcing respectful discourse, championing allyship, rejecting outdated double standards, and measuring the things that truly matter, organizations can unlock new levels of innovation—and ensure everyone, regardless of background, can contribute to future success.