Company Culture and Diversity E22
Kicking off this episode of “Changing the Perception of Blindness,” host David Steinmetz shares insights from his 19-year journey at Arizona Industries for the Blind, underscoring the importance of challenging misconceptions about blindness and promotes inclusivity in the workforce.
Joined by Kindra Maples, president of Culture Crush Business, they delve into the evolving landscape of work culture, emphasizing the necessity of understanding individual needs and tailoring inclusive environments to diverse abilities. The conversation highlights the positive impact of remote work on accessibility and productivity while emphasizing the importance of personalized approaches to inclusion, recognizing the unique needs of individuals with disabilities in the workforce.
Throughout the episode, Steinmetz and Maples explore the shifting perception of blindness and disability in professional settings, advocating for a paradigm shift towards embracing diversity and promoting inclusivity. Their discussion underscores the value of recognizing and accommodating individual abilities, challenging traditional norms, and prioritizing inclusivity as a cornerstone of modern work culture.
As they navigate through these topics, they emphasize the ongoing need for dialogue, reflection, and action to create truly inclusive work environments that empower individuals of all abilities to thrive professionally and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
As an enterprise nonprofit organization, Arizona Industries for the blind is a role model for the business community. Emphasizing the importance of understanding team members’ needs and providing the right training, right technology and the right attitude that allows individuals who are blind to be successful in the workplace and in the community.
Listen to this episode to gain valuable insights on fostering inclusivity, challenging misconceptions, and navigating the evolving landscape of work culture to empower individuals of all abilities in the workforce.
At Culture Crush, culture isn’t just a corporate buzzword. It’s a key factor that can either boost your company or lead to its failure.
With deep cultural insights and years of expertise, we evaluate your company’s needs and connect you with the precise resources to cultivate a thriving culture.
We work with CEOs, founders, HR Directors, or Culture Leaders of companies or teams, who value company culture and understand its impact on their business success.
ASSESS: Gain insights into your company’s culture by identifying gaps and areas that need improvement through a comprehensive assessment.
PLAN: Kindra and her team will tailor a unique strategy for your company, connecting you with the right resources based on your specific needs.
THRIVE: Experience a transformed workplace where everyone flourishes, powered by the successful implementation of culture-enhancing strategies.
Your company culture plays a pivotal role in its success. Whether you’re trying to address high turnover and low productivity, or seeking to enhance an already positive environment, nurturing your culture is crucial.
As a leader, you may have tried team activities, incentives, and strategies to address this, but it’s not easy coming up with the right solution.
With Culture Crush you’ll learn how to transform your workplace into a place of unity, efficiency, and growth. Don’t just fix your company culture – transform it with Culture Crush.
Kindra Maples, Founder of Culture Crush Business LLC and dynamic host of the Culture Crush Business Podcast, brings a unique journey to the business world.
With a background in animal behavior and over 15 years in the zoo industry, Kindra transitioned her passion from training animals to empowering people. From polar bears to individuals, she seamlessly blends diverse experiences.
Kindra’s expertise spans various audiences, including animals, children, adults, veterans, and elders. Her skills encompass business relations, operations management, strategic planning, and team building. Dedicated to fostering growth, she is passionate about supporting leaders and cultivating exceptional company cultures.
In October 2020, Kindra launched the Culture Crush Business Podcast, channeling her experiences into a valuable resource. Celebrating its one-year mark, she established Culture Crush Business LLC in October 2021—a central hub for company culture resources, dedicated to enhancing workplace environments and supporting leaders.
Connect with Kindra on LinkedIn and follow Culture Crush on Facebook and Instagram.
About Your Host
As the manager of Community and Public Relations, David Steinmetz uses his expertise, education, and personal experiences to “change the perception of blindness.”
Diagnosed with RP, a blinding retinal disease, at the age of 19, David uses his personal story to drive change that leads to improved employment outcomes and community integration for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Mr. Steinmetz graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Economics. Additionally, Steinmetz has continued his education by graduating from the Business Management Training (BMT) program provided by Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia.
In 2008, David was the national recipient of the National Industries for the Blind Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement award. This prestigious award recognized Mr. Steinmetz for his career achievements and community service work.
David Steinmetz is a member of the Governors’ Council on Blindness & Visual Impairments, is a Board Member at the Arizona Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired (ACBVI) and serves his community through the Chandler Lions Club.
Connect with David on LinkedIn and Instagram.
About the Show
Changing the Perception of Blindness; One Conversation at a Time is dedicated to breaking down barriers, de-mystifying blindness and promoting real world solutions that empower people who are blind to live a full and inclusive life.
Host, David Steinmetz connects with organizations, industry professionals and thought leaders who are working to bridge the gap that creates a world accessible for all.
About Arizona Industries for the Blind
Arizona Industries for the Blind is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating employment opportunities for people who are blind. It’s employees, more than half of whom are blind, deliver a variety of products and services, including a full-service Warehousing and Distribution Center, confidential Digital Data Scan (DDS) services for private businesses and government and the operation of Base Supply Centers located at each of Arizona’s three military bases under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Labor’s AbilityOne program.
Follow AIFB on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Blake Steinecke grew up with perfect vision and at the age of 16 a condition called LHON caused him to go through severe central vision loss and become legally blind. This created many new challenges of relearning how to do school, navigating college, employment and more.
