AllysCuriosity Over Certainty: Authentic Leadership & Inclusive Culture with Nancy Di Dia
What if the fastest path to belonging in the workplace is replacing certainty with curiosity? In this episode of I Know I Belong When, executive coach and longtime DEI/IDEA leader Nancy J. Di Dia invites us into the moments that shaped her leadership—when she stood up in a global town hall, when clinical trial data met human reality, and when a listening culture turned inclusive culture from aspiration into practice. Designed for workplace leaders, HR, DEI teams, and managers, this conversation provides clear, usable language for belonging and practical steps to create belonging at work—in-person and across remote/hybrid teams. We frame belonging as the outcome of inclusive, equitable, human-centered innovation—so you can move beyond buzzwords toward a measurable people experience.
Watch the full episode :
Must-hear insights & key moments
Curiosity over certainty as a leadership operating system—why authentic leadership starts with questions that invite participation and workplace belonging.
The ‘town hall’ pivot: Nancy’s courageous ask about same-sex domestic partner coverage—and the turning point of being invited to the Chairman’s National Diversity Council.
Strategic inclusion in clinical trials: how patient voice, representation, and social determinants move data from abstract to actionable—linking belonging and outcomes.
Belonging vs inclusion: inclusion opens the door; belonging ensures people know they’re invited, seen, heard, and needed.
The menu for a healthy culture: a quick win (listening to be changed), a main dish (bringing allies, not just detractors), and a pairing (behavior + metric for sustainability).
Navigating non‑belonging: dress codes, unspoken norms, and meeting dynamics—and how graceful disruption creates openings without burning bridges.
Practical phrases and synonyms of belonging leaders can use in meetings, 1:1s, and ERGs—meeting the surge in searches like ‘another word for belong’ and ‘love and belonging needs.
Nancy’s words of wisdom:
“When curiosity replaces certainty.”
“It’s much better to be a curious leader than a delegating leader.”
“Catalyst leaders invite people and create that sense of belonging.”
“Listening to understand—to be changed by what you’ve heard.”
“That was the moment of truth where I felt seen and heard.”
“Our role as CDOs was to shine the light… to ensure their reach was much more inclusive.”
“It’s a choice.”
“A forced dress code was the antithesis of belonging.”
Why this episode matters
Leaders are searching for practical language and tools—‘sense of belonging at work,’ ‘how to create a sense of belonging at work,’ ‘belonging in remote teams.’ Nancy’s first‑person story and coaching practice translate those needs into everyday leadership behaviors: build belonging by asking better questions, designing meetings that invite voices, and measuring what sustains (not just what launches). You’ll leave with phrases that turn intent into action, and a clear path to human‑centered innovation that elevates the people experience.
Listen if you are
A CHRO, DEI/IDEA leader, or team manager ready to operationalize inclusive culture.
An ERG lead seeking shared language for workplace belonging and remote/hybrid inclusion.
A strategist looking to connect love & belonging needs (Maslow) with modern org design.