30 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 You launched the first immersive, inclusion-learning experience for the NHL– what does a program like that involve? Brian Blake: I proposed to the NHL commissioner that all of the organization’s employees —about 600 people — go through two full days of an inclusion learning experience. We didn’t see it as training, where you “learn A” and then go and apply it. Inclusion learning is different because there’s a lot of nuance to it, a lot of heart and head. You apply selfreflection and learn new concepts, and it can take you into spaces of discomfort. What has to happen in the inclusion process is a willingness to look at yourself and question how you see the world, understand what prism you look through, how you evaluate and make decisions, what your unconscious biases may be. The program was institutionalized and is now experienced by the league’s new hires when they join. One of the things I learned through this process was that I had forms of privilege that I hadn’t recognized. Privilege is not only about the things you get, but also the things that you never have to think about or worry about — while others do need to think about and worry about them. Realizing this makes you more empathetic as you interact in the world. It was a game changer for me. The beauty of this work and my role now at IGT is that learning is a critical piece, and you never stop adding to your awareness. DEI is a journey – it brings in multiple practices and principles: change management, emotional intelligence, perception – it’s truly a multidisciplinary field. In an organization like IGT, we are designing equipment, software, and games for diverse customers and markets INCLUSION IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS PGRI INTRODUCTION: Following a successful tenure leading Diversity and Inclusion for the National Hockey League (NHL), Brian Blake joined IGT in the spring of 2023 to run the company’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), dedicated to ensuring all IGT employees enjoy a diverse, equitable and inclusive working environment. In his three and a half years at the NHL, Brian launched the organization’s first immersive-inclusion learning experience, which was delivered to all full-time employees including the league’s commissioner and senior executive team. He led and facilitated the NHL’s internal inclusion steering committee, multiple enterprise-wide town halls on topics such as inclusion and social justice, and the creation of the organization’s first Diversity and Inclusion Groups. Prior to the NHL, Brian was instrumental in reenergizing DEI and learning-and-organizational development solutions at U.S.-based media company Turner (now Warner Bros. Discovery). He also served as a senior career management consultant and organizational development consultant for organizations including JPMorgan Chase and Citizens Financial Group. Brian holds a bachelor’s degree in arts, political science, and philosophy from New York University, and a Juris Doctor from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, in New York. Brian Blake Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, IGT PGRI INTERVIEWS In a recent conversation, Brian shared why DEI is so important to IGT and its customers, the company’s progress to date, and what’s next.
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