faces

 Photographs by Ruthie Brownfield 

Cultivating understanding, connection, and equity

Iris inclusion provides inspiration, training, and consulting to support organizations in their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

Our approach is grounded in social science, providing deep understanding and evidence-based solutions to help your organization live its DEI values. When everyone thrives, teams collaborate better and organizations perform at their highest levels. Our keynotes, workshops, leadership trainings, and eLearning offerings are designed to not only build awareness, but to also create behavior and system change. 

Most recent clients 

Michael Baran

At Iris Inclusion, we know that we can all do better. We can connect more authentically and empathetically with others. We can consider a diversity of perspectives and people in our actions and decisions. We can lead more inclusively so that everyone feels respected and valued while organizations thrive. And we can intentionally design structures and processes for more equitable outcomes for all.

 

Iris Inclusion was founded by Dr. Michael Baran, award-winning author, speaker, social scientist, and DEI practitioner. The firm is named after the small iris farm Dr. Baran lives on with his family. As the resilient flowers grow year after year, they connect people to one another as they are passed among friends and family. Our name takes inspiration from this process, as we work to facilitate deep human to human connection and growth, cultivating inclusion and equity for everyone.

Michael Baran

Iris Inclusion in the News

  • Why Some Minority Workers Say Staying Remote Is Best for Their Careers
  • We Need to Retire the Term “Microaggressions”
  • White Men Are Feeling Left Out Of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. Why Should We Care and What Should We Do?
  • Dare to Lead

New Video Toolkit!

In this video toolkit, senior DEI experts from Iris Inclusion discuss frequently asked questions, such as:

  • Why is everyone being encouraged to put pronouns on email signatures?
  • I'm a straight white man. Why should I care about DEI?
  • How can I be more inclusive around people with disabilities?
  • Why do people keep saying I have privilige because I am white? My family came from nothing.

The Video Toolkit library has 24 questions to choose from. Videos can be provided to employees to increase deep understanding and awareness. They can also be used to spark important conversations. Each video comes with Discussion Questions that internal facilitators or managers can use to lead conversations.

“[Dr. Baran's talk] was my favorite session of the entire conference. Effective, clear, thought-provoking, informative, engaging, challenging. It was wonderful!”

Attendee
SHRM, INCLUSION CONFERENCE

Second Edition is Here!

In this award-winning book, Dr. Michael Baran and his co-author Dr. Tiffany Jana reframe and tackle one of the biggest threats to workplace inclusion – Subtle Acts of Exclusion (microaggressions). The updated and expanded second edition was released on September 19, 2023!

Understanding Subtle Acts of Exclusion (SAE) will allow your organization to:

  • foster authentic connections and true inclusion
  • speak up about subtle acts of exclusion when they happen
  • create a culture of openness, kindness, and accountability at your organization

Subtle Acts of Exclusion
 Second Edition is Here!

We’d love to partner with you! No matter where you are in your DEI journey, we’re here to support your progress. Reach out to set up a free 30-minute call so we can learn about you and strategize together.