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TH E M R EP O RT | 29 FEATURE Under Davies' leadership, mPower has grown into an en- gaged community reaching more than 15,000 individuals, by provid- ing networking events, conferences, and educational opportunities. Davies told MReport that, in order for companies to create an inclusive and diverse environment, they need to commit to being "deliberate" and "intentional." She added that, while businesses can bring people into an organization to seek diversity, if those colleagues are not included in decision-making or given the opportunity to contribute, it will all be for nothing. "We need to, as leaders, set the tone from the top and make sure that our employee base feels includ- ed," Davies said. "That is only going to happen if you're intentional." How can organizations go about this? Davies said that it ultimately comes down to senior leadership making diversity and inclusion a priority. "You need to set goals. The leadership team needs to talk about what they're going to do to achieve those goals." Davies praised the work done by Five Star and stressed the importance of recognizing women through both the Women in Housing Leadership Awards Banquet and mPower. "We must work to ensure we have a positive dialogue about the issues we need to overcome, as well as about how can make this an inclusive industry where people want to work." Reflecting on her career, Davies observed that rarely does one's career go as planned. "I wish I had known that all of the twists and turns that my career would take would eventually land me in a place where all those op- portunities prepared me so well for the job that I have today." MIKE ALBANESE is a reporter for DS News and MReport. He is a University of Alabama graduate with a degree in journalism and a minor in communications. He has worked for publications—both print and online—covering numerous beats. A Connecticut native, Albanese currently resides in Lewisville. We need to, as leaders, set the tone from the top and make sure that our employee base feels included. That is only going to happen if you're intentional.