Breaking the Barriers to Belonging

As the world changes, the need for belonging among diverse groups of people is as strong as ever. There are great discussions and literature around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), but they are often confined to the academic environment and may not easily translate to real-world scenarios. Moreover, there is a lack of understanding of how our biology and neurobiology affect our emotions, perceptions, and behaviors in relation to these topics. This book bridges the DEI discussions with the real-world impact of these topics. At the baseline of our existence, we all have the same needs as part of our shared humanity, and we all have a role to play in fostering belonging in our organizations and spheres of influence. Endorsement: With this book, the Losambes have penned an important contribution to the burgeoning discussion about belonging-what it means and the science behind it, why it matters, what interrupts it, and how we can harness its deep power to transform not just ourselves in relation to others, but the systems around us that desperately need to be re-imagined... with all of us in mind. They have issued a call to all of us, to invest in our shared humanity, in these pages. Let us heed it! %Jennifer Brown, Founder & CEO, Jennifer Brown Consulting; Best-Selling Author, Inclusion, How to be an Inclusive Leader, and Beyond Diversity (with co-author Rohit Bhargava) Shared humanity! Is that not the quintessential goal of DEIB practitioners? This book is one-of-a-kind and a must-read for anyone who strives to balance emotion with evidence. Pascal and Crystal Losambe not only discuss the practical aspect of the human need to belong but also take the readers on a scientific discovery of how humans are neurologically hardwired to desire and seek belonging amongst one another. The authors describe the processes that occur in human brains when confronted with ambiguity, stress, negative experiences, and feelings of exclusion. These neurological responses are the same for everyone. This is our shared humanity. %Dr. Nika White, President and CEO, Nika White Consulting, Author of Inclusion Uncomplicated About the Author: Dr. Pascal Losambe is the Co-Founder and CCO of Synergy Consulting Company. Dr. Losambe has a B.A. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, a M.S. in Biology with a focus on Neurobiology, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with a focus on Cultural Competence. Dr. Losambe has worked as a leader and educator at multiple institutions and has spoken on DEIB-related topics at national and international conferences. Crystal Losambe is the Co-founder and CEO of Synergy Consulting Company. Mrs. Losambe has a B.B.A. with a concentration in Healthcare Management, a M.S. in Nursing, and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Nursing Practice with a focus in Healthcare Leadership. In addition to practicing as a Nurse Practitioner, Mrs. Losambe has expertise in business operations and development and has presented on various healthcare-related topics.