In our new weekly feature 12 Rounds, leaders will answer 12 questions — some light, some heavy — from our Publisher and CEO Henry Sanders to help the community understand them, what they do, and why. Today: Shiva Bidar-Sielaff.
Shiva is Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at Madison, Wisconsin based UW Health, leading the overall vision, coordination and strategic leadership for the design and implementation of UW Health’s initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Shiva joined UW Health in 1997. Shiva’s work has been recognized with numerous awards, including 2019-20 UW Outstanding Women of Color Award, the 2018 Centro Hispano of Dane County Visionary Award and the 2018 Wisconsin LGBT Chamber Advocate of the Year. She has also served on Madison’s Common Council since 2013, including two stints as Council President, and announced in 2020 that she will not seek re-election in 2021. Born in Iran and raised in Spain, Shiva completed her undergraduate studies at the Université du Hainaut, Mons, Belgium, her Master’s degree from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, Calif. She obtained her Certificate in Diversity Management in Health Care (CDM) from Institute for Diversity in Healthcare and Georgetown University.
- What advice would you give someone who is a person of color, not from Wisconsin, thinking about moving to Madison?
Be sure to intentionally look for people and spaces: you need to build a strong circle of friends with whom you identify. This circle is a must-have protective mechanism to be able to thrive in a predominantly White Midwest-nice progressive city.
- Name 3 songs that accurately reflect how you’re feeling.
- Nina Simone’s interpretation of “My Way”
- Selena’s “Como la flor”
- John Legend’s interpretation of “Like a bridge over troubled waters.” OK, I do love anything John Legend sings and says!
- If you could go back in time to any point of life to tell yourself something, what age would you go back to and what would you tell yourself?
I would go back to age 10, to the very shy and quiet immigrant girl who was being bullied daily because she was different and didn’t speak the language, (and tell her) that she is strong and she will make it through it with a steadfast commitment to do all she can to create love and acceptance.
- What did you learn about yourself in 2020?
Having lived through a revolution, family separation, and immigration, 2020 made me reflect on my own grit and resilience as well as the need to continue to act locally and think globally.
- At this point of your life do you feel you have found your purpose? If so, how did you figure out your purpose?
Is this implying I am really old?! I have always tried to live with purpose and to use my sphere of influence to listen and act.
- There is a lot of division around the issues of race in politics. What can we do to lessen those divisions?
The divisions are really the product of predominantly White systems feeling like they are being shaken to their core by the reckoning that they have failed people of color over and over again and thus need to be reimagined. Instead of seeing it as divisions, those who have had control of systems and power for so long need to be willing to be uncomfortable and step aside to let BIPOC lead the conversations. It is time to not use progressive liberal as an excuse to not step aside.
- What will you miss the most about being on the Common Council?
I will miss being able to be part of big and small decisions that make a difference in people’s lives and being able to communicate and discuss issues coming before the Council with many in the BIPOC community.
- What do you do to relax?
I either retreat to my quiet introvert space to read or spend time chatting, laughing and listening to music (karaoke included) with my sister circle.
- Kevin Hart or Katt Williams?
Confession: I am not a big stand up comedy kind of a person. I know: I need more of that in my life!
- What’s the biggest misconception people have about you?
I think people think I am a very decisive person and an extrovert, but, in reality, I spend a lot of time being an introvert, ruminating and self-reflecting.
- What’s your favorite restaurant in Dane County?
Taquería Guadalajara
- Tea or coffee?
Coffee, as strong as possible, with cream
