Read on for a member spotlight with Priya Saxena (they/them/theirs), Founder of Equitable Future & TPC Tacoma member.

Hi Priya! Can you share with us a little bit about yourself? How did Equitable Future go from an idea to a working business, and how did your previous career path lead you there?

I’m a facilitator, strategist, and researcher and I’ve spent my entire career looking for work that allowed me to put values surrounding equity and anti-racism into action. Because I’m also a person of color, queer, and neurodivergent I’ve also always struggled to find work places that fully honored my humanity. Since I couldn’t find a work place that comprised all I was looking for, I created my own. Equitable Future is a love note to myself and others who yearn for belonging and who don’t want to trade their humanity to do high-impact work. My professional career started with a desire to understand the inequitable outcomes I observed my whole life (that’s the research part), then morphed into creating spaces where people from all walks of life could come together to understand these problems and build solutions (that’s the facilitation part), and then working to turn those solutions into action (that’s the strategy part). I feel extremely lucky to have these experiences under my belt and they inform my every day at Equitable Future.

What does an equitable future look like and mean to you?

An equitable future is one where we all have what we need to thrive regardless of race, gender, sexuality, disability, and so many other forms of identification that face systemic marginalization. Simply put, I just want all of us to live easy, healthy, and joyful lives.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face/have faced in starting your own business?

To be completely honest, I never wanted to start my own business. I knew I wanted to go into consulting but always thought that would happen towards the end of my career, not in its early stages, and I always wanted to join a firm that already existed, not create my own! I really had no idea all of the time, money, and energy that goes into building a sustainable business. And because of my background in public service I didn’t have access to mentors who experienced what I was trying to do. That was the biggest challenge I faced. Now that I’m three years in and not as afraid of those struggles (even if I still face some of them), I find the biggest challenge I face these days is loneliness. Entrepreneurship is so personal and often times it feels like I’m on an island (a deserted island, not a cool one with an all-inclusive resort filled with friends who hold similar interests).

How has being a part of a coworking space helped you personally and professionally?

Well, a fun secret is that I first came into co-working by serving as a Community Lead right here at TPC Tacoma. This was eeeeaaaaarly in my Equitable Future days. I needed a way to break the loneliness I was experiencing but had no money to pay for anything other than my rent and some basic groceries. TPC’s Community Lead program gave me access to a welcoming community of other entrepreneurs who were also in the thick of what I was experiencing. Now as a coworking member (I do miss watering the plants!) I feel so lucky to have a homebase where people are kind, friendly, and supportive. Coming to TPC gets me out of my introvert funks and always introduces me to good new music.

From what I can gather, Equitable Future embraces the hard topics and tough conversations. What have you found to be most meaningful in this, versus maybe a more indirect approach? 

There’s a quote by James Baldwin I reflect on pretty much every day in my work: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." An indirect approach to solving the inequities that ail our communities will never work. We need to be honest about how we got here, what sustains these inequities, and what solutions can lead to enduring and positive change. Because that requires embracing hard topics and tough conversations I work really hard to build trusting and authentic relationships with my clients and their teams. I’m honest about building spaces where mistakes, questions, insecurities, and even fear are all welcome. We can’t solve our problems until we face them.

What are some of the most memorable/impactful moments Equitable Future has been involved with?

My team members and I have connected with community members to hear their problems and dreams in heat, rain, and even through SeaFair air shows. Even through the noise and cold, community members have always been gracious, open, and brave. I’ve been reminded time and time again that when we open our hearts and minds and work together good things happen. My team and I have also worked on the City of Redmond Human Services Strategic Plan and the City of Seattle Legislative Department Racial Equity Work Plan. Both plans were passed unanimously by their respective City Councilmembers. I’m proud of my team’s ability to lead transformative work that’s been supported by full Councils, especially in these extremely divisive times.

If you had 1-2 pieces of advice for a company who wanted to be more intentional about incorporating  Diversity Equity & Inclusion  in their work, what would it be?  

Whether you call it “DEI”, “racial equity”, “anti-racism”, or even “anti-oppression” the message I share with clients is the same: This work is not an add-on. This work, when done well, is woven through all aspects of your business. Whether that’s through your finances (your budget is a moral code!), how you hire and retain staff, the policies that guide your workers, or anything else, this work requires an intentionality that isn’t often prioritized through the traditional DEI lens. But second, and most important, is that there are so many ways to do this work. There’s no one perfect way to practice or achieve equity. This work is about understanding why we focus on equity, finding what you’re passionate about implementing, and developing sustainability practices to make progress. There is so much beauty and hope in the possibilities!

Over the last few years there has been an increased collective awareness on racial discrimination in this country, and how it has seeped into company culture. What have you noticed from organizations who have reached out to work on addressing this?  Do we think about DEI differently than we did, say in 2019?

We absolutely think about this work differently than we did in 2019. And while it took a lot of communities (particularly Black and Indigenous communities) facing centuries of enduring trauma to get to this point, I’m glad we’re here. More and more workers are asking their employers to take on the transformation work that’s needed to center equity. Not only are these folks looking to make their work products more equitable (i.e., asking questions like “how do I make sure my work meets the needs of the communities we’re serving?”) but they’re also looking to make their workplaces more equitable and fair (i.e., asking questions like “how do I more equitably connect to the diverse communities in my work place and set up structures so that we’re honoring everyone’s humanity?”). I think that’s really beautiful. This work is hard but everyday I’m called to the possibilities. That’s what keeps me going.

Fill in the blank:

The best-kept secret in Tacoma is the WW Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park (it’s where I got married in July!).

Cinnamon Raisin Bagels with savory spreads is better than people think. 

Someone may not know that I’m a total music nerd. I played piano, viola, and today I’m a member of the Tacoma Refugee Choir.. 

James Baldwin and Freddie Mercury are the people that inspire me the most.

If you could travel anywhere in the world next it would be Japan!.

Thank you, Priya!