Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

My business was first founded on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. I currently operate on the land of the Lenape people. I thank them for caring for the land and coastline since time immemorial. I pay respect to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all First Nations peoples.

My eyes opened …

I grew up in Australia, of Irish Celtic heritage. When I was a 22-year-old law student, I fell badly, leading to a six month period confined to hospital and then bed. Wanting to turn my pain into purpose, I emailed pro bono legal centres to ask if I could volunteer. The Indigenous Law Centre at UNSW responded to my email.

I edited the Centre’s Indigenous Law Review from bed, writing briefs of First Nations land rights cases, reviewing matters dealing with police brutality and cultural appropriation. I remember the exact moment I stared out the window in ontological shock — blood boiling and heart breaking as the realisation cracked open inside me that First Nations people in Australia were set up to fail, that the pain I was experiencing from my injuries was temporary and completely different from stolen lands, stolen children, stolen culture. In other words, structural oppression was animating the bones of my own nation, in this way and in many ways.

This alone was privilege. Why did I have such a rosy view of a lucky country, founded on principles of mateship, equality, and a fair-go? Lucky and fair for whom? 

I redirected my focus from corporate law to human rights and actively contributed for fifteen years. I focused on the safety of marginalised women and children as a volunteer, then as a full-time lawyer/researcher, and then on the side after I started coaching. Even though I’ve had this professional experience, as a coach, I am sure that I have still inadvertently harmed in my coaching through unconscious bias, a privileged world-view and a rescuer complex.

To do better …

I commit to continuing to peel back layers of bias inside myself, to better ensure that women of marginalised identities feel safe to work with me regardless of race, sexual orientation, age, ableness of body, and intersectionality of identities. I endeavour to increase representation in my programs, with a focus on BIPOC.

I offer a limited number of scholarships in each group journey for women who identify as a racially marginalised identity and who are experiencing financial difficulty. If this is you, please share your context with me, and if I believe that re.love can support your love-goals, I will work to find a solution within my capacity.

Many women of colour, queer women, different bodies and ages spanning over 5 decades have worked with me, and I can do better in checking with them about whether my work and groups are indeed positive experiences for them. I can do better to communicate publicly that all women know that they are welcome.

I commit to approaching my work and clients with a spirit of curiosity, asking questions and listening without defensiveness; when I make mistakes, receiving feedback with openness, to course-correct as appropriate, and to champion the self-sovereignty of each woman who signs up to work with me.

I am a solopreneur. When I hire contractors, I commit to continuing to hire contractors of diverse backgrounds at a fair wage, including women of colour.

I commit to continue to looking to teachers, coaches, experts, mentors and guides with identities different from mine. My main mentor and teacher in the healing arts is of Cherokee heritage. I am beyond lucky to have a mentee relationship of almost twenty years with Cobble Cobble woman Professor Megan Davis, the Director of the Indigenous Law Centre, whose generosity of spirit in nudging me when I unwittingly harm or over-step through unexamined privilege — with her characteristic humour, forgiveness, and resilience — firmly reinforces my view that I am lucky to get to relate with those with identities different from my own.

I support the constitutional reforms set out in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and will continue to raise awareness about necessary structural change.

I am committed to continuing to do better. To this end, you are welcome to contact me on hello @ ezziespencer.com with your feedback.

Best wishes,

Ezzie