The strategy at Tufts includes the full spectrum of ethnicities, national origins, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities, beliefs, religions and faiths, cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, neurotypes, and abilities. Monroe’s background spans higher education, non-profits, corporate sectors, arts and creative industries, as well as social responsibility, humanitarian and philanthropy initiatives. The PIE caught up with Monroe to discuss what inspires him, the defining moments of his career, and more.

Introduce yourself in three words or phrases

Cross sector global thought leader, inclusive excellence strategist and passion for innovation and collective impact

Tell me about a defining moment in your career

This moment happened early in my life. I was raised by my mother, grandmother and great grandmother at different times. Being raised by three generations of Black women informed who I am as a Black man in society and ultimately my approach to leadership and to all the work I do.

At an early age, my great grandmother said, ‘You will be an educator; I know that’s your calling,’ and this was my career defining moment.

It took leaving the field of education for a brief moment to realise she was absolutely right. My calling in the world is to be an educator and while I’ve now expanded it to see myself as a global thought leader and strategist, it all comes back down to creating pathways for our collective liberation which education is one vital catalyst to get us there.

What do you like most about your job?

The opportunity to collaborate, create, innovate and to disrupt with other leaders from different backgrounds, across sectors and across global locations.

I love starting or being a part of new projects that focus on inclusive innovation and create pathways that uplift those that have been historically excluded or told their experiences matters less.

My mission in life is to work with others to create new pathways that centre inclusive innovation or to disrupt structures and institutional practices that oppress and limit the capacity for all of us to thrive.

Finally my work allows me to learn and grow continuously every day and that’s what brings me joy as a life-long learner.

If you had a magic wand, what would you change?

What I would make possible is for everyone to have self-determination and to be liberated and free to live out whatever meaningful life they want to have that doesn’t cause harm, pain or suffering to others.

Describe a project or initiative you’re currently working on that excites you.

In my role at Tufts, I am excited to work with colleagues on launching our Connecting the Community of Tufts Scholars which is a new cluster hiring program designed to attract and support faculty whose work centres on race, equity, and disadvantaged communities in the US and around the world.

In my broader work I am beginning to conceptualise a convening or project focused on advancing equitable global futures and inclusive innovation. I am expecting this to be a collaborative initiative working with leaders all around the world to imagine, disrupt, and innovate in order to create more globally inclusive learning and working environments to advance broader social change. (Readers – please reach out if you’re interested in this idea!)

Champion/cheerleader which we should all follow and why?

The greatest cheerleaders of my life that created a pathway for me to become are: my great grandmother and great uncle (Ramie). Both have passed away, but without their support and sacrifice I would not be here today. I would not know that I should let my light shine bright and the importance of using my talents and skills to create change.

In terms of contemporaries, there are far too many to choose just one and I could go on beyond this list.

If you have the chance I would highly recommend the authors and thought leaders to follow. Don’t just stop at reading their work, learn about their lives and the impact they have had on the world around them.

This includes these contemporaries: Kimberle Crenshaw, Lisa M Coleman, Lily Zheng, Darnell Moore, Raquel Willis, Uché Blackstock, Clay Cane, Keith Boykin…

Book or podcast recommendations for others in the sector?

• Glocal Citizens podcast hosted by Florence Amerley Adu
• Emotional Justice: A Roadmap for Racial Healing book by Esther Armah
• Radical Empathy: Finding a Path to Bridging Racial Divides book by Terri Givens

A few of my all time favourite classic books are: James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time; bell hooks’s Teaching to Transgress and Zora Neal Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God.