Diversity Rules Magazine

Class division has existed as long as people have, ex- plains inclusion consultant Christopher "CJ" Gross, and organiza ons and their employees should get comfortable talking about it. "The brain classifies people, places and things in sec- onds, and this is what we must understand," Gross said in a recent interview. In his book, What's Your Zip Code Story? Understand- ing and Overcoming Class Bias in the Workplace, he notes that recognizing the existence of zip code stories is a cri cal first step in establishing trust and building rela onships — both personally and profes- sionally. "If you're in the field of human resources or a busi- ness leader, it is cri cal to understand the zip code stories of employees because the only way you're going to tap into their talent, tap into their greatness and allow that to flow into your company … is to un- derstand their zip code stories," he said. In What's Your Zip Code Story?, Gross takes a deep dive into the ways in which where and how a person grew up can impact employment opportuni es and where the discussion regarding class bias fits into a company's DEI efforts. "The renewed focus on class, race, and equality in the workplace and beyond is making an indelible mark on society," Gross said. "This clarion call for change is sweeping inequality from every corner of the na on, including law enforcement, schools and businesses." What's Your Zip Code Story offers research-based solu ons for employees seeking professional growth and for business leaders seeking new ways to engage their teams. Gross provides strategies to help class- migrants — whether college students, recent gradu- ates or overlooked employees — climb the career la ce and transform themselves from undervalued employees into respected leaders. He also offers in- sights to help organiza ons understand the impact of diversity on a business's produc vity, turnover and revenue. What's Your Zip Code Story is a powerful book that expands the conversa on surrounding class bias, race and equity in the workplace, and offers effec- ve solu ons. "Each of us has our biases and cultural preferences, which makes it very hard for us to understand the perspec ves of others," Gross added. "It's me we talked about it." Author CJ Gross is a TEDx presenter, interna onal speaker and the founder of Ascension Worldwide, a firm dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity training and consul ng based in the Washington, D.C., area. Gross has 20 years of experience as an in- terna onal organiza onal development consultant specializing in leadership development and diversity and inclusion. He is a cer fied Social + Emo onal Intelligence coach, trainer, Keirsey Temperament professional, Intercultural Development Inventory Administrator and execu ve coach, with addi onal exper se in organiza onal media on. He also serves as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Master Faculty for the University of Maryland, Bal- more County, Center for Innova on and Business Management, Adjunct Faculty for the Community College of Bal more County and Adjunct Professor in the MBA program for St. Bonaventure University. Gross holds a B. A. degree in Organiza onal Manage- ment from Ashford University through the Forbes Entrepreneurship Scholarship and an M.A. degree in Strategic Leadership from St. Bonaventure Univer- sity. He has been featured by Bloomberg, the Wash- ington Post, the Washington Informer Newspaper, and other print, radio and television outlets. For more informa on, please visit h ps://cjgross- talks.com/ and h ps://ascensionworldwide.com/, or follow Gross on Twi er (@cjgrosstalks), Insta- gram (cjgrosstalks) and Facebook (ascensionworld- widemd). Diversity Rules Magazine| Mar 2023|11 Create a Workplace Culture Where Everyone Feels Championed Experts Share How

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