Check Your Blind Spots

Writer

Brianna Radicioni

Brianna DiPietro Radicioni is the Associate Director of Content Strategy at Babson College. Her career includes public relations and strategic communications planning for corporations, nonprofit organizations, startups, and thought leaders. She is a proud alumna of Babson.

| September 13, 2019

A new bus rolled through campus this week—one focused on the importance of diversity and inclusion.

On a nationwide “Check Your Blind Spots” mobile tour, CEO Action came to Babson for an all-day, immersive community experience on Tuesday, September 10, 2019.

Realizing Unconscious Biases

“Experts tell us that our unconscious mind makes the majority of our decisions,” says CEO Action’s website. “It creates blind spots or unconscious biases that can narrow your vision of others and potentially influence your behaviors.”

Designed to give people the opportunity to learn about and explore ways to mitigate unconscious biases, the mobile tour engaged Babson participants in a variety of everyday scenarios, using virtual reality, gamification, and touchscreen experiences.

Everyone also got the chance to sign the I Act On Pledge to help drive inclusive behavior.

Babson alumnus Tim Ryan ’88, chairman of PwC, helped launched this movement across leading executives. It is now the largest CEO-driven business committed to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace with more than 750 CEO signatories.

President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD joined the cause by signing the CEO Pledge, and committed to building a productive, diverse, and inclusive workplace at Babson.

“While celebrating Babson’s Centennial, and recognition as the best entrepreneurship school for the 23^rd consecutive time, over 300 students, staff, and faculty participated in the “Check Your Blind Spots” bus tour experience,” said Sadie Burton-Goss, the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Babson. “It exceeded all expectations and will support the launching of campus-wide training starting this fall. Our campus leaders led by example by being the first to experience the tour.”

“We were reminded that we all have biases we may not be consciously aware of,” added Burton-Goss. “This was a great way to kick off the new school year and actively demonstrate Babson’s commitment to continuously build an inclusive community, a powerful sense of belonging, and valuing diversity of all kinds.”