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Together Digital Power Lounge, Women in Digital with Power to ShareAuthor: Chief Empowerment Officer, Amy Vaughan
Digital is a demanding and competitive field. And women are still grossly underpaid & underrepresented. But we are not powerless; we have each other. Together Digital Power Lounge is your place to hear authentic conversations from women in digital who have power to share. Listen and learn from our amazing guests along with host Amy Vaughan, Owner and Chief Empowerment Officer of Together Digital. Together Digital is a diverse and collaborative community of women who work in digital who choose to share their knowledge, power, and connections. To learn more, visit www.togetherindigital.com. Language: en-us Genres: Business, Careers, Technology Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Beyond the Line with Sheryl Daija
Sunday, 8 February, 2026
This episode features Sheryl Daija, founder and CEO of Bridge, a global trade organization transforming how marketing, media, and technology industries approach inclusion. Sheryl's journey began in apartheid-era South Africa, profoundly shaping her lifelong commitment to equality. She leads Bridge in turning inclusion from a buzzword into a strategic business driver, creating IMAX (Inclusive Marketing Advantage Index) - the first operating system enabling executives to measure inclusion maturity across their business to unlock trust, relevance, and competitive advantage.Key Takeaways:From Moral to Business ImperativeBuilding WITH Culture, Not FOR CultureOperationalizing InclusionInclusion as Competitive AdvantageEveryone's ResponsibilityAI and Systemic BiasChapters:00:00:00 - Introduction to Sheryl Daija00:05:30 - From Apartheid to Activism00:12:15 - The Business Case for Inclusion00:18:45 - Uncomfortable Stretch and Real Progress00:24:30 - Introducing IMAX Framework00:32:10 - Building WITH Culture vs FOR Culture00:41:20 - The Unpaid DEI Labor Problem00:48:55 - What Keeps Leaders from Acting00:56:40 - The Walmart Juneteenth Ice Cream Moment01:04:15 - AI's Inclusion Crisis01:10:30 - Hope and Action Moving ForwardComparative Analysis:What Works: Integrated InclusionEmbedding inclusion in product development from the startMeasuring inclusion as a brand metric with clear KPIsBuilding diverse teams that represent communities you serveTying inclusion efforts directly to business outcomesApplying the same rigor to inclusion as other business practicesMaking inclusion everyone's responsibility across all rolesWhat Doesn't Work: Performative InclusionSurface-level diversity initiatives without structural changeFocusing only on hiring percentages and diverse slatesTreating inclusion as separate from core business strategyRelying on good intentions without behavioral changeAsking underrepresented employees to lead DEI as unpaid laborGoing silent on values during challenging political momentsGuest Info:Sheryl Daija Founder & CEO of Bridge - Former Chief Strategy Officer at Mobile Marketing Association. Sheryl grew up in apartheid-era South Africa and is now based in San Diego, leading the transformation of how marketing, media, and technology industries approach inclusion through measurable business strategies.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryldaija/ Website: http://www.wearebridge.com/Quotes:"You treasure what you measure. Inclusion needs to become a brand metric, something that is measurable and tied to business outcomes."- Sheryl Daija"Stretching beyond your comfort zone isn’t just about leadership—it’s about building a community where growth, courage, and connection empower everyone to make real change."- Amy VaughanLinks & Resources from This EpisodeWe mention a few great events and resources during the conversation. There’s a free live event in NYC on Thursday, February 12th called The System for Inclusive Growth Roadshow, with more cities coming in 2026. Register here: https://wearebridge.com/sig-roadshow We also talk about:BRIDGE26: https://wearebridge.com/bridge26 Project Forward: https://wearebridge.coSupport the show
