Taryell Simmons, an equity, diversity and inclusion leader and podcast host, joins Niiamah Ashong on the Outlier's Edge Podcast to talk about finding his place across cultures. Raised between a Nigerian household and Black American culture, he shares how he came to see having both cultures as a gift. What emerged is his calling to create authentic human connection and brave spaces, and his decision, rooted in his daughter, to be a voice.
Episode at a glance
- Guest: Taryell Simmons, Equity, diversity and inclusion leader and podcast host
- Host: Niiamah Ashong, coach to outlier leaders
- Show: Outlier’s Edge Podcast, released December 1, 2022
- Format: conversation, 51 minutes
- Topics: Growing up between two cultures, Authentic human connection, Safe spaces and brave spaces, Holding space for honest dialogue, Representation for the next generation, How he creates himself as a leader
What Taryell brought to the conversation
Taryell Simmons says his most important title is Dad, and bringing his daughter, now six, into the world changed how he looks at life and how he creates. Born in New York and raised in Washington, DC by a father who immigrated from Nigeria, he grew up between Nigerian culture at home and Black American culture outside it, and later in life learned to embrace that as a gift. He does diversity, equity and inclusion work, went on to head equity, diversity and inclusion for an entire county, and started a podcast to normalize Black excellence in its many forms so young people can see what is possible for them. Niiamah Ashong describes the tremendous heart he brings to everything he does.
What emerged
The central thread is courage in connection. During lockdown, when no one at his workplace was talking about what was happening in the world, Taryell Simmons found the courage to hold space for his team to have an honest dialogue about what everyone was experiencing, which he calls the hardest thing he has ever had to do. That first conversation led to more sessions across a 20,000-person organization. Niiamah Ashong names it as showing up as a leader in a moment when people were searching for leadership, and Taryell Simmons roots it in his daughter: he decided he would be a voice and create the spaces that need to be created.
Questions this episode answers
How can growing up between two cultures become a leadership gift?
Taryell Simmons grew up between Nigerian culture at home and Black American culture outside it, without fully belonging to either. He came to see having both cultures as a gift that lets him see how connections create belonging, and he says both can be true at the same time.
What is the difference between a safe space and a brave space?
Taryell Simmons describes his calling as creating deep bonds between people so they feel seen, heard and valued. He wants to create not just safe spaces but brave spaces, where people can bring the things that are not so pretty, have breakthroughs and build trust with one another.
How can a leader open an honest conversation about race at work?
Taryell Simmons faced his own insecurity and fears and held space for his team to talk about what everyone was experiencing and when each person first learned about race, so they could understand each other. That conversation led to more sessions across a 20,000-person organization and to his role heading equity, diversity and inclusion for the whole county.
Why does representation matter for young people?
Taryell Simmons heard from the youth he spoke to that they had limiting beliefs about what they could be, based on the examples around them. He started his podcast to normalize Black excellence in its many forms, because, as he puts it, the next group of leaders can't be what they can't see.
How do you keep creating yourself as a leader?
Taryell Simmons says he is in a forever state of evolution because he is always learning and investing in becoming the best version of himself. He grounds himself in not living someone else's life, asking who he is now, who he is trying to become and how he wants to grow.
In their words
Celebrate the things that are uniquely different that make up this lovely tapestry of us being together in community.
Taryell Simmons
I am going to be a voice, I am going to create spaces, I'm no longer going to play small.
Taryell Simmons
They can't be what they can't see.
Taryell Simmons
Key moments
03:08 – The tremendous heart he brings
05:45 – Dad is his most important title
07:17 – Growing up between two cultures
13:29 – The gumbo metaphor for inclusion
16:41 – A calling to create human connection
18:45 – Leaning into vulnerability
22:25 – The hardest conversation he led
30:43 – Deciding to be a voice
36:56 – Why he started his podcast
45:15 – How he creates himself
About Niiamah Ashong
Niiamah Ashong is a coach to outlier leaders, host of the Outlier’s Edge Podcast, and founder of the Trailblazer Collective. He coaches leaders who are creating something only they can make: a company, a body of work or a movement. Make a difference with your difference.
Work with Niiamah: 1:1 with Niiamah | World of Difference
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