Today we’d like to introduce you to Chisa Miller.
Chisa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It’s been quite a long and beautiful journey. Back in 2003, I was volunTOLD to attend a 3-day diversity workshop. I was NOT happy about it. Back then, we didn’t have smartphones, so that meant a lot of work to catch up on when I returned to the office. That class completely shifted my perspective on Diversity (back then, we didn’t have the I (inclusion) or the E (equity). I remember the end of the class, looking at the facilitators and saying to myself… “This is what I want to do.” At that time, it was very early in my career. I progressed in the gaming industry over the years, and when I became Director of Casino Operations, I just realized that I wasn’t truly happy. I needed a change, and I knew what I wanted to do. Here we are, 17 years later. I still teach that very class plus a whole catalog of DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging) focused courses. And all of these years later, I still love it. I left my party days in Vegas, met my husband, inherited my bonus baby, and gave birth to my son. Every single thing I teach has become foundational to my personal life and my professional life. I am a better human being today because of this journey.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh heck no! Business over the years has been both great and horrible. Lol! I’ve made more money than I ever have doing this work, but I also made the least amount of money doing this work. Economic shifts have always been scary because the first thing to go is typically training/education. Although I do think companies are more committed today than ever before. In the end, it was all worth it. The highs, of course, but even the lows. The struggle taught me to survive and never give up on what I am passionate about. This work isn’t about making money. I mean, I have a family, and we need to eat, but this work has more deeply been about creating a better world for future generations. I know… It sounds cliche, but every single day that I look at my sons, I just pray that the work I am doing will make things better for them in the future. I may not be moving mountains, but I like to think I’m creating ripple effects that will create small, lasting change.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Before we can begin the journey toward quality leadership, diversity, and inclusion, we believe in the importance of understanding a simple truth; we all exist as a small piece of a larger picture. We exist in a web of connections. We understand the choice we face every day between engaging in artful challenge or hitting our pause button and seeking to understand. With that said, we base our practice on respect and compassion for others, accepting them for who they are rather than who we want them to be.
Our approach is inspired by the tribes in Northern Natal in South Africa. It is there that the spirit of Ubunu lives. When these tribes greet each other, instead of our customary “hello,” they say “Sawa bona.” This translates to “I see you,” to which another replies, “sikhona,” meaning “I am here.” What we take away from the Zulu in Northern Natal is the immense impact we can have on others by simply acknowledging their presence.
At Chisa Marie Consulting, we emphasize the responsibility we have for treating others with dignity and respect. We recognize and celebrate the impact we can have when we are willing to bring each other into existence. Founded on the spirit of Ubuntu, we strive to see the humanness in others, bringing forth the realization we are so much more alike than we are different.
At Chisa Marie Consulting, we are real people who have real (sometimes hard and uncomfortable) conversations in hopes of sparking real change. When you work with us, you are choosing a dynamic team of movers and shakers on a mission to change the way we approach systems of thought no longer serving us today. Despite the increasing distractions we face in the fast-paced modern world, we believe in the power of truth and the power of people.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking.
“There is freedom waiting for you on the breezes of the sky, and you ask, “What if I fall?” Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?” ~ Erin Hanson
I have always loved this quote. It’s an inspiring reminder that you can so easily be held back by ALL of the “what ifs.’ It reminds me to stay in the mental space of what’s possible. It isn’t easy by any means! But throughout my journey, taking the leap has always proven to be valuable. Times where I’ve held back resulted in wasted time and money. I think when I got to the over-40 mark in life, I just had enough confidence to say, “Just do it!’ If there’s one thing I have learned, it is that I am resilient, and I always bounce back.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chisamarie.com
- Instagram: chisamarieconsulting
- Facebook: Chisa Marie Speaks
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chisa/
