Chapter 1: Meet Cynthia Owyoung

In today's edition of Write Now, we spotlight Cynthia Owyoung, a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within organizations.

When Cynthia encounters a creative block, she often turns to Saturday Night Live for a dose of humor. Laughter has a unique ability to reignite our creativity. While the science behind it may be elusive, I can relate—I often find that a good laugh helps me refocus before diving back into my writing. In this interview, Cynthia shares this valuable tip and discusses her mission to ensure that everyone has a voice and a place at the table.

Who is Cynthia Owyoung?

Cynthia Owyoung is the author of All Are Welcome: How to Build a Real Workplace Culture of Inclusion that Delivers Results. She is the founder of Breaking Glass Forums, an inclusive leadership consultancy, and serves as the Vice President of Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging at Robinhood, located in the San Francisco Bay Area.

What does Cynthia write about?

Cynthia's writing focuses on advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in workplaces to foster successful and thriving organizations. Her writing style mirrors her speaking voice—authentic and straightforward. She has always been mindful of her word choices, likely due to her background in honors English classes during high school. Although she initially envisioned herself writing fiction inspired by her family, she found her true calling in crafting a business book aimed at guiding others toward more inclusive workplaces.

Cynthia chooses not to name or shame individuals in her examples, believing that negativity serves no purpose. Instead, she shares enough context for readers to learn what to emulate and what to avoid.

Where does Cynthia write?

Cynthia relies on her personal MacBook Air and Google Docs for her writing. Although her home office is set up in the basement laundry room, she prefers to write in her cozy living room armchair, snuggled with a blanket and her laptop on a pillow. After a few hours, she often transitions to her bedroom, using a lap desk while sitting up in bed. Comfort and warmth are essential for her writing process, and she occasionally uses television as background noise to help her stay alert.

When does Cynthia write?

Balancing a full-time job and family life, Cynthia primarily writes on weekends, starting after dinner on Saturdays and continuing into the early hours of Sunday. With two children, her husband often takes them to their grandmother's house for an overnight stay, giving her the quiet she needs. Although she doesn't impose strict time limits, she aims to complete a chapter each weekend. Writing a 12-page chapter typically takes her around four hours. To maximize her output, she focuses on getting her thoughts down without worrying about perfection, knowing she can refine them later.

Why does Cynthia write?

Cynthia writes to amplify her impact. As one person with limited time, she recognizes that the demand for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives far outstrips her ability to meet it individually. Thus, she seeks to share her insights more broadly through writing. Inspired by a friend who authored a widely taught business book, Cynthia felt encouraged to share her unique perspective as an internal corporate practitioner, which she believes can help others navigate the complexities of DEIB work.

How does Cynthia overcome writer's block?

For Cynthia, writer's block signals the need for a break. Her experience in advertising taught her that creativity often flows best when one steps away from the task. When struggling to conjure a lesson or narrative, she finds that indulging in a short Saturday Night Live skit or browsing celebrity gossip can refresh her mind and make returning to writing easier.

Bonus: Cynthia's Hobbies Beyond Writing

Outside of writing, Cynthia enjoys baking and crafting, often involving her children in these activities. On beautiful days, she relishes outdoor walks or trips to the playground with her family. To unwind after a long day in front of the screen, she gravitates toward fiction books or binge-watching her favorite cooking and comedy shows—anything that allows her to relax without added stress.

I extend my gratitude to Cynthia Owyoung for sharing her insights in today’s interview.

Write Now is a weekly series curated by Justin Cox. For more writing tips, subscribe to Justin's newsletter, Eat Your Words, today!

Chapter 2: Insights on Inclusion

In this chapter, we delve deeper into Cynthia's philosophies on fostering inclusive environments.

Cynthia Owyoung: How to Build a Real Workplace Culture of Inclusion that Delivers Results

This video features Cynthia discussing the vital components of creating a workplace culture that truly embraces diversity and inclusion, ensuring everyone feels valued and heard.

Exploring the Digital Divide

In a thought-provoking TEDx talk, Cynthia addresses the challenges posed by the digital divide and its impact on inclusivity.