Breaking Barriers: Fair Chance Employment for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals with Susan Mason

Talent Development Hot Seat podcast

I am honored to welcome our remarkable guest, Susan Mason, to share her powerful insights on overcoming barriers to employment after incarceration. Susan brings to light the stark realities faced by individuals with conviction histories and pushes us to consider the untapped potential they hold.

As a society grappling with the aftermath of a flawed judicial system that disproportionately affects Black and Native American communities, we face the critical task of dismantling the discrimination that persists in our hiring practices.

In this episode, we explore:

• Her own journey of addiction, incarceration, and the relentless fight to regain creditworthiness in the job market
• Regulatory challenges and the role of background checks to the transformative power of education and policy reform
• The systemic barriers that hold back a significant portion of our workforce
• How we can genuinely screen talent 'in' rather than 'out', challenging fear-based stereotypes and committing to change

Susan's experiences and her work both highlight a critical aspect of talent development that can no longer be ignored, making this episode a must-listen for anyone passionate about building a more equitable and effective workforce.

Susan Mason is the Principal of Susan Mason Consulting, an agency focusing on the future of work, workforce development, and fair chance hiring initiatives for untapped talent. With a profound understanding of the lifetime economic impact of a conviction due to her own incarceration, she has dedicated her career to advancing opportunities for people with conviction histories (PWCH) and formerly incarcerated talent (FIT), emphasizing their inclusion in the workforce.

Ms. Mason has become a sought-after subject matter expert on the collateral consequences of a conviction, making an impact on public, private and non-profit organizations across various sectors. Her innovative strategies and tools have been instrumental in driving meaningful change within organizations and society at large. Ms. Mason has consistently demonstrated her ability to conceptualize and execute groundbreaking ideas. She navigates complex challenges while consistently delivering measurable and sustainable value to her clients.

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