---
title: Bridging the Gap and Transforming Ourselves for DEI
description: "Grady Crosby: Ethical Senior Exec at Johnson Controls, Championing DEI"
image: https://www.upliftingimpact.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Grady%20Crosby_Announcement%20Image_WEBv.png
---

![](https://www.upliftingimpact.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Grady%20Crosby_Announcement%20Image_WEBv.png)

Grady Crosby is a dynamic senior-level executive leader and corporate officer for Johnson Controls, which was honored to be called one of the world’s most ethical companies under his leadership from 2014-2020, and was ranked 18th on the 2020 list of the 100 best corporate citizens by CR Magazine. In his role he is responsible for driving Johnson Controls’ global strategies regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, sustainability, government relations, and its philanthropic endeavors to maintain the company’s commitment to improvement.

In our conversation, we focus on how companies can engage with their communities, and how to create pipelines when there may be a gap within the areas of talent and diversity. As with Grady, we truly believe that this work only gets done through our collective power, and the more we can link arms and walk together to create these spaces, the more inclusive we can become, and the better we are as a country and as a people.

## Topics in this episode

- Knowing how to bring people alongside you and your work
- Getting up the courage to use your platform
- Changing norms and creating pipelines
- Partnerships with HBCUs
- Challenging the way we look at talent
- Youth and community engagement from a large company
- The ROI on community investment
- Why DEI is important from a global perspective

## Connect

- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/grady-crosby-5499a28/)
- [Twitter](https://twitter.com/HUGrady) 

**Other recent conversations we really enjoyed:**

- <https://www.upliftingimpact.com/uplifting_impact/creating-equity-and-social-justice-must-be-intentional-methodical-and-continuous>[Our Environment, Community, and Businesses All Impact Social Change](https://cms.megaphone.fm/uplifting_impact/our-environment-community-and-businesses-all-impact-social-change)

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