Leading with Grace in the NBA: How Lauren Ware Creates Safe Spaces On & Off The Court

In this episode of Guilty Privilege, Amber Cabral sits down with Director of Production Management at the National Basketball Association (NBA), Lauren Ware, to talk about the importance of setting boundaries in the workplace, building relationships, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion authentically.

Tune in as Lauren shares insights on how she navigates being a woman of color in a male-dominated sports industry, how to enforce boundaries with grace, and the significance of fostering diverse perspectives in content creation. They also highlight the value of intentional conversations, genuine relationships, and a sense of wonder in exploring different cultures and identities. Both Amber and Lauren emphasize the need for meaningful DEI initiatives that go beyond tokenism and quotas, focusing on creating impactful change and amplifying underrepresented voices in the workplace and beyond.

Join Amber and Lauren in their discussion as they offer valuable insights on leveraging privilege to make a positive impact and fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect.

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KEY POINTS

On setting boundaries and creating a space for open dialogue
Lauren’s experience working in sports industry as a Black woman
On creating equity in a male-dominated field
The importance of empathy and active listening
DEI in NBA: Focus on intentionality and progress measurement
The pivotal role of diverse identities in storytelling
Lauren’s song recommendations
On seeking for help and building relationships
The importance of investing in self-care
Laren’s privilege that she refuses to feel guilty about

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QUOTES

“Boundary violation is an opportunity to have a conversation. it doesn't mean we have to have a fight.” — Lauren Ware

“Community is so important. Building relationships is important. Leaning on those relationships is important. Because you really do find that it impacts your life in a measurable, tangible, really wonderful way.” — Lauren Ware

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GUEST RESOURCES

Lauren Ware

LinkedIn | @laurenaware

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Amber Cabral

IG | @bamcabral

LinkedIn | @ambercabral

Facebook | @amber.cabral

Twitter | @BamCabral

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Watch Amber’s TED TALK episode here.

Grab a copy of Amber’s books at Amazon!

Allies and Advocates: Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Culture

Say More About That: ...And Other Ways to Speak Up, Push Back, and Advocate for Yourself and Others -

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Guilty Privilege is produced by EPYC Media Network

Reviews

Wow! I couldn’t get enough of this. Wished it were longer. The conversation is real, authentic and can absolutely be life changing if you soak the info in. Just finished listening to the episode with Tieko Nejon on emotional intelligence and Amber asked the best questions. Tieko answered so thoughtfully and broke it allll the way down for us. Kudos to both of you. I am sharing this podcast with so many people.

Nataliegouche

Guilty Privilege

Amber has a genuine ability to bring out the authentic aspects of topics that many of us must want to sit down and have a conversation about! Refreshing, compelling and yes, entertaining — can’t wait for each episode to drop and I even feel more equipped to expand on these topics in my own circle!

Themindofandre

Guilty Privilege

Just finished the first episode (whispers: via YouTube) and I was NOT ready for the conversation to end. So I came on over to the apple podcast streets to subscribe and listen again on my commute to work. While this is not the work I’m exclusively dedicated to, I want to increase awareness around equity so I can be more intentional in my practice personally and professionally. This conversation is an absolute resource that I have the PRIVILEGE (time) to tap into and I look forward to digging into new episodes every week.

Shada_

Guilty Privilege

This podcast provides a path to self-awareness in the most refreshing and engaging way. The conversations are so yummy (yes, yummy!) and they make me feel like I’m sitting on the sofa with Amber and her guests.

Ansmith1908

Guilty Privilege

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