Fueling Good in Milwaukee with Corry Joe Biddle

On The Edge Of Equity

Step into the world of Corry Joe Biddle, Vice-President of Community Affairs for the Metropolitan Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce and Director of Fuel Milwaukee. A Milwaukee native, she is determined to reshape perceptions about her city. Witnessing consistent change in once-exclusive environments fills her with optimism for Milwaukee's thriving business community.

Fuel Milwaukee, under Corry's lead, attracts talent with events, networking, and development opportunities. Their "Making Milwaukee a Region of Choice" initiative, involving 135 companies, strives to amplify representation of black and brown talent in workplaces. Already, 80% of surveyed employees have noted more diverse workplaces.

Tune in as Corry urges integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into all aspects, emphasizing the Top 5 Rule – your circle shapes you. She champions change through partnerships and small steps. As Milwaukee's culture transforms, she's optimistic about the city's thriving business future. Join us for Corry Joe Biddle's inspiring journey, driving equitable change in Milwaukee.

Episode Highlights:

04:07 - I started to learn that people's ideas and perceptions about places are heavily influenced by things other than experience. People that hadn't ever been to Milwaukee had no clue what it was like.

12:33 - Just the fact that someone has a different perspective and can help you avoid certain pitfalls and look at the market in a different way, produce and launch products in a different way, that is an asset that comes with diversity and that is a real business reason to look at DEI.

22:28 - I'm seeing hope and change in environments that would have been or that I would've thought would be cold and unwelcoming and exclusive. And it's changing right before my eyes. I'm not having that experience anymore, and there are many, many more people saying that they aren't having that experience either, and that gives me a lot of hope for the future of Milwaukee and our business community. I'm really excited.

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Guest Bio:

Corry Joe Biddle joined Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) in 2008 and is the Vice President of Community Affairs for the Metropolitan . She is also the executive director of FUEL Milwaukee, MMAC’s talent attraction and retention organization serving young professionals. She’s also involved in the development of MMAC’s workplace talent initiative, “Making Milwaukee a Region of Choice for Diverse Talent,” which seeks to increase the numbers of African American and Latino/Hispanic professionals in leadership roles. Formerly the executive director of America’s Black Holocaust Museum, Corry Joe offers a unique perspective on the relationship between diversity, economic development and community engagement.