Inspiring Workers to Take Action in the Movement Towards Social Justice

BY Maddie Connors | December 25, 2022

In the summer of 2020, in the face of ongoing racial injustice, Hoai Scott’s mission began to change. “I dedicated my life to changing narratives. And I fully intended to retire early from the corporate world in order to do this work full-time. And that all changed with George Floyd’s murder,” said Scott, the SVP of HR for the filmed-entertainment division of NBCUniversal. Scott decided to use her passion for social justice within her company to create an anti-racist workplace. 

In a fireside chat about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, part of From Day One’s recent conference in Los Angeles, Scott first addressed her personal ties to diversity. She was a refugee from Vietnam in 1975 and experienced both the warmth and isolation of the immigrant experience. Married to a Black man and being the mother of a biracial son, she had many worrying conversations with her son about police brutality. As anti-Asian crimes and inequality were mounting during Covid, Scott began to share her story in the workplace. “All of a sudden, I was talking about this, and our employees’ eyes were opened. We’ve never really talked openly about racism before at work.” These conversations created compassion, and Scott’s coworkers were eager to be part of the solution. 

Inclusivity needs to be a universal value throughout the company, Scott told moderator Alison Brower, Los Angeles bureau chief for Insider. She emphasized the need for a top-down effort, which has been achieved at her workplace through an inclusion committee. “This group has five pillars of work: culture and belonging, workplace practices, business practices, and partnerships, as well as creative partners and storytelling because we are a film organization,” said Scott. “And the final piece is around social transformation, which is how to create equity and justice in our local communities.” With a concerted effort, Scott explained that employees feel proud that their company has a meaningful culture outside of HR. 

Scott also spoke enthusiastically about the company’s work with second-chance hiring, a program that gives formerly incarcerated people employment opportunities. NBCUniversal has hired 17 formerly incarcerated people as interns, which have become full-time roles. “The stereotype is that formerly incarcerated people are dangerous and threatening. Untouchable. And what we’re trying to change the narrative to hard-working, organized, an important contributor.” Scott said that the program has been an opportunity to help people reimagine their future, many of which have been affected by systemic racism and unemployment. 

Storytelling can also be a powerful tool in uplifting marginalized voices, Scott argues. In recent years, NBCUniversal has been committed to telling stories about marginalized communities. “We have a very good history of telling these stories.” Over the years, Universal films like Straight Outta Compton, Brokeback Mountain, and more recently the gay romantic comedy Bros, have showcased diverse perspectives for communities that don’t often populate the silver screen. 

Finally, Scott expressed that inclusive workplaces give companies a competitive advantage. Diverse teams offer top-level creativity and innovation, she asserted. “When you allow an opportunity for people to really come and thrive, they’re going to give you their best work.” One of the ways to ensure these employees’ success is through feedback to develop their skills. “And so, when you give feedback, it really is an act of equity. It's an act of justice.”

Scott concluded that, with support from leadership, inclusivity measures can be integrated every day. “There are so many practical day-to-day ways to implement DEI. And I think we have to because employees expect it right there, holding us accountable for it. And so, we keep the work going, and we make it a priority.”

Maddie Connors is a comedian and writer based in Los Angeles who has written for the New York Times, Vanity Fair, and W magazine. She currently hosts a stand-up show called Icons Only at the Elysian theater and her stand-up has been featured in the Los Angeles Times.  

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