A groundbreaking work challenging the false narrative that diversity equals a lack of qualifications by uncovering the impact of "competency checking, " a practice that unjustly scrutinizes Black people and other people of color, forcing them to repeatedly prove their worth, intelligence, and even their right to be in the workplace.
The advancement of Black and other people of color in the workplace is under attack as there is a turn away from the promise of the "racial reconciliation" of 2020. This period saw Black talent rise in the workplace from DEI managers to CEOs to junior-level hires. Yet, the post-2020 workplace is seeing an alarming retreat from creating workplaces and leadership that reflect the nation's diversity.
That retreat is characterized by underemployment, cracked glass cliffs, toxic work environments, and claims of "empty pipelines." More concerning, Black professionals and other people of color often face greater scrutiny than their peers regarding job applications, work experience, and qualifications to even be considered for employment or advancement. And that scrutiny has a name: Competency Checking.
Shari Dunn was born and raised in a working-class, blue-collar, African American neighborhood in one of the most segregated cities in the nation, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Growing up, she witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of racial discrimination on housing, health care, and employment for Black people. As part of the second wave of students bused to suburban schools, Shari understood that others had fought and died for her right to access education and opportunity.
Shari is a polymath: an award-winning journalist, attorney, CEO, educator, and more. She holds a BA in philosophy from Marquette University and a JD from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Residing in Portland, Oregon, Shari brings her diverse expertise to her work, making significant contributions across multiple fields.
