Building Trust And Unity Within Diversity with Drocella MugoreWara

Speaker: 00:00:02

FN Intro/Outro: Welcome to the freedom nation podcast with Jeff Kikel. On this show, Jeff shares his expertise in financial and retirement planning from a different perspective. Planning for Your Freedom Day, which is the first day that you wake up and have enough income or assets and do not have to go to work that day. Learn how to calculate what you need, how to generate income sources, and listen to interviews from others who've done it themselves. Get ready to experience your own Freedom Day.

Jeff Kikel: 00:00:36

Hey, everybody, it's Jeff here once again with the freedom nation podcast. And today, we are still a featured podcaster on podcast Podapalooza, and doing a ton of interviews here with some really interesting people. And one of our interesting guests for the day is Drocella MugoreWara. So hopefully I got that right. She is an expert in diversity. She helps CEOs kind of build that into their businesses. But she was also one of you. She was a person that worked in the corporate world for a long time. She's also an immigrant to the United States. They're an immigrant I don't know to the United States but but an immigrant. And so she started from nothing and built herself up. So I'm just so excited to hear her story today. Drocella Welcome to the show.

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:01:31

Thank you. Thank you, Jeff, for having me.

Jeff Kikel: 00:01:33

I am so glad to have you on. Well, let's get started with your story. Tell us how you got to where you are today.

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:01:39

I am originally from Rwanda, and came to America in 2009. As a refugee, because of persecution based on my ideas, I was separated from my children for two years. It didn't see my husband for a year, lost everything material I invested in for more than 40 years. So when I came to America, I started from scratch, no money, no friend, no nobody to rely on besides the welcoming community and having faith that I will see one time my family again. And I am grateful that America through family reunification, brought me my children, and they saw my husband again, my children are prospering in different sectors. My son made me a grava name. So I was a member of parliament, one time in the government and in Ronda, and I was hoping that when I come to America, I will transfer by degrees and skills and experiences. It didn't work that way. So my first job was $6.55 an hour at Goodwill Industries. And they you by the government policies which have to change, you don't have to refuse that position. So you have whatever they offer, you have to take it. And then I move that up from 650 $5.12. And in 2015, when the agency that welcomed me, which is bridge refugee services, wanted to director and executive director, I saw the position. But one day I did say I'm tired to apply for entry level position. I'm tired, I'm tired. Now I want a director and Bobe. So since I declared it streaming started to show up. And then when I went to the interview, I said that is three week past without calling. They said probably it's like other interviews, and then they called me for an interview. And then at the second interview, they say can you come on this date? And then later on I got an email say Hey, can we come? Can you come earlier than scheduled? me say? Probably they need to be baby probably.

Jeff Kikel: 00:03:51

I've got them over a barrel at this point. Yeah.

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:03:54

And then I said, Yes, I have a story. I have credibility. I understand the struggle refugee goes to a through abroad and in the country. So I accepted the position. And then I led the organization for six and half years. One good thing I'm very proud of, they never had a reserve fund. And when I left in June last year, they had $100,000 in the desert were you and then I did hire a development person because the refugee resettlement is a public and private partnership. And then June last year, I felt like hey, would be a call. I didn't have any retirement plan. Even if when I went there. They didn't have insured health insurance. I manage to have money so we can start on the health insurance plan of having 401 K for employees, but has it how do I retire I cannot just retire this way. And I needed him a bigger mission to work with refugees and immigrants, African Americans and police and I had this call to work with a diverse community community And when I hired a branding coach, we came up with my other firm name and diversity trust builder. So I am helping organization to bake diversity and increase constant trust within their teams so they can increase revenues and profitability up to 50%. So when I designed one o'clock how to dress for a government job? I said, No, no, no, I don't get any job in plan. And let's say I will create. Yeah. And then I said, I create. And then one of the chapters, I wrote in the book leaders with a heart, which you can find on Amazon, my chapters name is I'm no longer a victim, I am a creator. So I'm creating, I am helping. And then when we have a maker city event here, then people will say, what are you making. And I said, I'm making strong communities, I am making people who trust each other who can collaborate, who can learn from one another, where every skill, every talent, every perspective, is not left behind. Because I don't believe that every one of us is rich, and talented. And if we put all our gifts and talents and perspective, together, we can even lift, you know, the world and everybody we can fight the poverty we can find that you can find, fight any inequalities in our communities. And it is why I am shouting at those CEOs, and corporate business decision makers who are committed to championing diversity. So they can bake it within their policies, practices, so they can prosper while employees also are getting celebrated, valued and being seen and heard. You know,

Jeff Kikel: 00:06:58

Here's the thing that I have to say about, you know, when, when we're getting matched up for the podcast interview, I'm like, Great, another diversity person. And it's all you know, it's all I think a lot of it's a sham. Today, quite frankly, it's a way for people to make money. You said one thing in what you were talking about there, that is different from every other diversity person I've ever heard. And that is, we want to bring people together. And we want to share, we want to share everybody's unique backgrounds and experiences and everything else and learn how to work together, instead of what a lot of these folks is like, we're just going to break everybody apart and keep everybody separate in these little groups. Well, you're never going to build trust that way.

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:07:40

Yeah, no. And this is one of my values are three, I stand and trust the community and championship. You see, when you name a team, everybody's champion each other, so you don't die by yourself. And this is how you win together.

Jeff Kikel: 00:07:54

That's exactly right. Well, oh, my God. And as a company, it's like, okay, we all come from diverse backgrounds. Everybody's had different experiences. Some people grew up poor, some people grew up rich. But we're all still in the same company, we're trying to pull forward. And you know, we're trying to pull as a team, instead of everybody's doing their own thing. And everybody, you know, this group is bad. And this group is good. And everything else. I love that. And I noticed the one

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:08:20

One of the other thing that Jeff Sorry. It's like going beyond the job description. Yeah. Because when you have a job description, you tailor your resume your cover letter that way. But I do encourage people to say, when you hire somebody, ask them, what else do you enjoy to do? What else? What other talent do you have? Because when they use the talent, they have you again and again. And they feel fulfilled in their own games, the ball? Yeah,

Jeff Kikel: 00:08:49

Well, and they get to do something that they love, if you didn't build that into their job they get to do so then if it's if you love what you do, it's not work that that. I think that just those simple little tweaks that you make inside of your message is amazing. And it's a breath of fresh air, our country is a better place, because you are here. So thank you for coming.

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:09:11

Thank you for having me.

Jeff Kikel: 00:09:14

So what's the typical engagement look like? If somebody engages you, as you know, as a coach or or consultant to come in? What's the typical engagement kind of look like?

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:09:25

So the typical engagement, I take them to a journey, okay. I see what with them where they are today. You know, what are the challenges in the why are they committed to diversity? And then we discuss where they want to go. And then I show them how they get there, using the diversity in action system framework. I'm baking. Yeah, nice. So I show them that is not enough to check the books you have to commit. And your commitment has to be known by the whole world and you to say how, because if I visit your website, your website is like your home, I have to see with my lens in my heart that I can feel welcome in this environment I can be contributing, I can feel valued, they can be seen, I can be celebrated. All that will be in the community made in the commitment, and then the belief they are showing to the world. And then I'd show them that that is not enough. You have also to define your matrix when he Where are you where you want to go? And how do you get there? And how you measure? What are you measuring? How would you measure their success and how you whatever the indicators you are using? And I teach you also how that is not enough, either. So you have to make sure that you have the stuff. You have the infrastructure here the financial resources, because some people, you put one person there, oh, we are pro diversity, we have a chief diversity officer, you know, part? Yes. But they don't know. You don't think about the infrastructure, how you adapt? How in the technology, how people for example, with disability, how will they access your technology? How people speaking different languages like me? How will you communicate with them? So that like I talked teach about language diversity or linguistic diversity? And then if you have that infrastructure, do we have a plan that a training plan for your employees, or your partners, even your clients, because you are all one team? And you have to look into the same direction, not just one doing this and this, so you have to have the same values? Are you okay with the values you develop together? And then if you have all this, now you deliver the results, you celebrate success and your people, and you evaluate, and then you continue the cycle. So this is the diversity in action system, I will share to show them how companies can use it. And then those people who say, Oh, we have committed but you don't know, where do you start? Yeah, just show it away?

Jeff Kikel: 00:12:07

Yeah, well, and it's a very simple to follow system. You know, okay, we're going to commit to this, we're going to build the infrastructure, and then we're going to spend the time teaching, do you, there's so much of just getting to know people and building relationships inside that system? Is there is there anything in there that kind of helps people kind of understand where everybody comes from understanding their their backgrounds? And

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:12:33

Okay, so I stand from trust. Yeah, community and championship. So, the community, you have to have communion, people have to have a way of talking to know each other. And that and then this will come this is the book, I like to recommend people the business, okay, bye, enjoy. Bad rich. And she she, for example, shows how you can even kids like because of you a word. So every employee is rewarded will do something good. You name his check. Everybody knows the screen knows that today, just ever did this one, Jeff did this one. And then it's not just for only people. And then also you can even define the alphabet. What is the happy diversity alphabet within your organization? What are the triggering words? What you have learned? You have to unlearn what experience how do you communicate? You know, those are the things you should put together because you have those people with different background and culture and have to understand each other. I was telling somebody earlier that there was a one immigrant they did ask her if she came for good. And she said, Why should I come for bad? Just the wording, or you change the wording? Yeah, yes. So these are the things you should know, hey, Drusilla is from Africa. And she speaks five languages. And I tell people sometimes they say what is your accent is from but I don't I never asked anyone about the accent because I don't believe that we all have an accent. Yeah. And I say our accents are our assets. So it means you have to capitalize on everybody's business. And then when I talk about language, and linguistic diversity, people do not have just to be afraid, because you can build like language line. Yeah, you can access all the languages in the world just by hitting a target and language line also can incentivize people who want to learn other languages. Now the global economy requires you know, many people have now vegans from Asia from everywhere, working without borders. So this is how organizations are so should say, if they're a seller comes in my office, and I don't speak Hello Which How can know? If he doesn't build bring God for me? Yeah, you know, you never know if I don't bring God with an organization, I can bring the innovation that never happened before, you know, but you have to be open to that. So creating the space for conversation, safe spaces, that is past of the plant.

Jeff Kikel: 00:15:22

I love it. I think the world of you I mean, it's just, it's refreshing. I will just say it's very refreshing to see somebody have a different approach to bringing people together instead of breaking people apart, which is what we seem to do in today's world. Thank you, everyone that and I wish you amazing amounts of success doing it because we will be a better place with with more more of you than there is of other people that are doing

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:15:50

Things the anchor to get that together, we are permitted.

Jeff Kikel: 00:15:54

And we make Yeah, we make we we are a nation of immigrants. So very few of us. Very few of us started here, we all came in some way, shape or form. And that's what makes us the country that we are today. Yeah, so let's transition to the Fast Five questions. You ready? Okay. I am ready. This one upgrade pretty easy for you. Because you've done this a couple times in your life. But you wake up in the morning business is totally gone. You have 500 bucks in your pocket a laptop computer a place to live and food and clothing. What are you going to do first?

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:16:26

I would pause. Okay, pray, pray, and then define what I am good at. And think about who has my money.

Jeff Kikel: 00:16:39

I love that depository know that who's got my money part. I'm so used to that. That's fantastic.

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:16:46

It's like now they told me I'm overqualified several times. And I said why do I qualify for I had a speaker I shared a story and people I did this, but this is why now I have to get yours.

Jeff Kikel: 00:16:56

You are a parliamentarian. I mean, you're probably infinitely more qualified than half the people we have sitting in Washington today. So yeah, what is the biggest business mistake you've ever made?

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:17:09

The biggest business mistake I made is to embark on my speaking business without defining my vision, mission. And values I should have started from there. Yeah. Even if I felt good about speaking, I just weren't in the business of speaking without having my bigger vision where I want to the

Jeff Kikel: 00:17:34

Very good AI and a great answer on that. What's a good book that you'd recommend for our audience? I know you showed their chair, the ones

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:17:40

Okay, this is the one on stem the giant business and by the seven habits of highly effective people is one of the best. And someone Who Moved My Cheese over my cheese. Are you able to always look where you're choosing

Jeff Kikel: 00:17:55

That is again, one of the greatest ever? Yeah. I love his books, because one, they're a story and two, it's, you know, it's a weekend read at the most you can probably live the day. I love that. Yeah, what's a good tool that you use in your business everyday, you might recommend.

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:18:12

So the tool I'm using in my business now is my UBS branded solution. And many people are struggling because when you have your, your unique branded solution, and this is why you do things differently, you do things uniquely, and you can teach different ways and then it's easier not to the PowerPoint saw when it's you created it and you know, in the out and disabled subtitle you can present from the heart.

Jeff Kikel: 00:18:45

Yeah. Well in you own that. I mean, that's yeah, I mean, it was something I was a book that I read. And it was kind of right at the point in time where I was selling a business and I was kind of figuring out what I was going to do when I grew up. That was probably one of the greatest things that ever happened to me was looking at, okay, take what's your take this unique thing that you do and branded into something that you Oh, you know, and I didn't totally control it the Freedom Day? Yes, it is mine. I graded it. I don't share it with anybody besides the clients. And that's Yeah, yeah. It's that makes it unique to you. And you're not a commodity at that point. Yeah, yeah. Okay, final question. And I just am gonna love your answer already on this one. What is your definition of freedom?

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:19:34

My definition of freedom is doing the thing I enjoy when I want to do it. And with whom I want to do it.

Jeff Kikel: 00:19:44

Love it. Love it. Beautiful. Now, Giselle, if somebody is interested in learning more about you connecting with you, what's the best way?

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:19:53

The best way is? I am currently LinkedIn. Okay, so Stella Maga Rivera D D Ay ay ay ay. And my email is just stella@drucilla.com. And my website is just drucilla.com. There

Jeff Kikel: 00:20:09

can be no other drusillas in the world. You own the URL.

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:20:15

Yeah, yeah, I got that.

Jeff Kikel: 00:20:17

I love it. I love it. Yeah, yes, yes. Yes, you are a joy to have on the show. Thank you so much for your time today. And we really, truly appreciate it. And

Drocella MugoreWara: 00:20:27

I appreciate you because the freedom when I talk about diversity, and I want to help people to get out of trauma, and poverty poety Yes, and our use this diversity unique branded system. So I can show people how we can overcome those things.

Jeff Kikel: 00:20:46

I love it. Fantastic. Well, thank you for being on Route. Folks. Thank you for joining us. I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I did. If you have the opportunity, please stop right now. Hit that little up like button, hit the five star review, whatever it is. So let us know that you're out there. Give us a comment if you if you want to share your side of things. And certainly we'll share those with Drusilla. And if you like this, make sure you subscribe to the channel because we do these shows twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays. And we want to make sure that you are informed of every single one of these people just like yourself that we had on the show today. So thanks a lot and we will see you guys back here the very next time.

Jeff Kikel: 00:21:34

FN Intro/Outro: Thank you for listening to the Freedom Nation podcast. You can find this on Apple podcasts and all the major channels wherever you're listening. Please subscribe to the channel and leave a rating and review. If you have friends and family that could benefit from their own Freedom Day. Please share with them. Finally, join freedom nation by following us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.