As a graduate in Cultural Anthropology and a current Social Media Intern with the Anthropology Career Readiness Network (ACRN), I have come to realize how deeply anthropology continues to connect people, even beyond academia. This year, my work with ACRN introduced me to Willing Observers, LLC, a firm founded by anthropologists Dr. Luzilda (Lucy) Arciniega and Dr. Melissa (Missy) Maceyko. Its mission is to train individuals and organizations to notice inequities, ask better questions, and become effective change-agents in workplace culture. Through Willing Observers, I discovered the Culture and Belonging Strategies Network (CBSN), a collaborative hub of professionals committed to improving organizational culture and creating inclusive workplaces. CBSN is a dynamic space where applied anthropologists, who are diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practitioners, and organizational leaders, come together to build more equitable professional environments.

Willing Observers was founded on the belief that culture underlies many of the patterns we see in organizations: how people communicate, what they value, and how they make decisions. Its team offers cultural assessments, organizational coaching, and training programs such as “Implicit Bias and Structural Racism,” “Language Inclusivity,” and “Restorative Leadership,” which are designed to help workplaces identify inequities and develop sustainable, inclusive practices. CBSN grew from this same applied anthropological foundation, envisioning a community that brings together professionals from diverse sectors to share resources, research, and strategies for belonging. Its mission is to serve as a hub for organizations and individuals who want to integrate inclusion into the heart of their culture.

At my first CBSN meeting, I was struck by the openness and range of experience among participants. Anthropologists were leading user experience (UX) research in healthcare, designing anti-discrimination policies, and creating trauma-informed organizational structures. The conversation moved easily between personal reflection and professional insight, something that anthropology enables. We discussed how rest can be a form of resistance, the exhaustion that often accompanies DEI work, and the shared motivation to keep building spaces of care, accountability, and connection. It reminded me how anthropological thinking continues to shape my approach to work: slowing down to observe, listening for what is unsaid, and recognizing the systems that influence human experience.

I joined CBSN’s Social Networking and Outreach Committee, where our goal is to strengthen connections within the network and make it easier for members to collaborate across industries. We are planning initiatives like monthly spotlights that feature members applying anthropology in creative ways, from UX design to policy reform, along with quarterly “Wisdom Shares,” short webinars where professionals exchange stories and strategies for belonging work. We also plan to develop a resource pipeline that highlights new articles, books, and tools relevant to DEI and applied anthropology, and to pilot a small mentorship program that allows early-career members to apprentice alongside experienced practitioners. For me, this experience has been both grounding and energizing, serving as a reminder that anthropology does not end with a degree. It is a practice of noticing, listening, and building bridges between people and ideas.

Both ACRN and CBSN share a mission: preparing people to use anthropological insights for real-world impact. ACRN supports students and graduates in exploring how their anthropological training applies to diverse career paths in nonprofits, government, education, and the private sector. CBSN, through Willing Observers, emphasizes the professional realm by showing how anthropological methods, like ethnography, qualitative analysis, and cultural mapping, can drive transformation in organizations. Together, these networks demonstrate that the future of anthropology lies not only in research or academia, but also in the day-to-day work of understanding people, improving systems, and creating cultures of belonging.

For anyone beginning their career, these spaces provide a roadmap for turning an anthropology background into meaningful practice. Joining a network like CBSN means gaining access to professionals who are already applying anthropological thinking to solve workplace challenges. It means finding mentors who can model what inclusive leadership looks like in action. It means learning to communicate your skills, to say not just “I studied anthropology,” but “I use anthropology to make organizations more inclusive.” These experiences also create tangible outcomes for career development: portfolios of content, connections with mentors, and collaborative projects that translate directly into résumé highlights and interview stories.

The Culture and Belonging Strategies Network is always looking for new voices to join, no matter your background or discipline. If you are passionate about creating more inclusive workplaces or simply curious about how anthropology intersects with culture and community, this welcoming space invites you to learn, collaborate, and grow. Learn more about Willing Observers LLC and the Culture and Belonging Strategies Network, and explore other resources through the Anthropology Career Readiness Network.

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