On the Record: Inclusion Maine’s Muhammad Humza Khan helps businesses with DEI

Photo / Jim Neuger Muhammad Humza Khan is the founder and CEO of Inclusion Maine, an educational resource for businesses on diversity, equity and inclusion.

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By Renee Cordes

Muhammad Humza Khan, a Pakistani immigrant whose family settled in Standish when he was 7 years old, founded Inclusion Maine in early 2020 as an educational resource for business clients on diversity, equity and inclusion. Mainebiz caught up with the University of Southern Maine alumnus and current Husson University MBA student to find out more about his business and the annual Inclusion Maine conference.

Mainebiz: What was it like growing up in Standish as a Pakistani immigrant?

Muhammad Humza Khan: Pakistan and life in Standish, Maine, felt remarkably different. I was one of a few people of color in my community. I had moved to Standish from Multan, Punjab, Pakistan, a city with a population larger than the entire state of Maine.

Perhaps the most striking distinction was the climate; in Multan, average winter temperatures exceeded 70F, while summer months routinely surpassed 100F. Being in Maine for the first time felt like the complete opposite. The environment, the lush forests, the local cuisine and the people themselves — virtually everything was a departure from what I had known.

Thankfully, having my older brother with me, who was navigating a similar path, proved invaluable. Our shared experiences and discussions helped us adapt and thrive.

MB: What sparked your interest in studying political science and finance at USM?

MHK: I enjoy learning about politics and government. By studying political science, I hoped to pursue law school for a legal career. Studying finance was in the hopes of landing a high-paying job. I ended up pursuing something completely different.

MB: What motivated you to start Inclusion Maine in 2020?

MHK: I wanted to have a tangible impact on improving inclusion, especially for people of color. I also wanted to focus on Maine to be intentional about improving inclusion at a systemic level. There is a need to attract and retain people in Maine due to the workforce shortage and demographics challenge. Maine’s 10-year economic plan aims to attract 75,000 workers by 2029. I want to help attract people to Maine and improve inclusion to keep people in Maine.

MB: How do you define diversity and inclusion?

MHK: Diversity is the range of human differences; this includes all people and the different aspects of their identity and their background. Inclusion is the state of including or of being included within a group or structure. For organizations, inclusion is the way opportunity is configured, interactions occur and how decisions are made to utilize the potential of diversity.

MB: What does the organization do and who are your clients?

MHK: We provide education on diversity, equity and inclusion to attract and retain talent in Maine. We organize the Inclusion Maine Conference annually and host the online Education & Community Center. We also collaborate with local service partners to assist businesses on recruiting and consulting.

The Inclusion Maine Conference has the support of large and small organizations representing every county in Maine, including MEMIC, Northern Light Health, Spurwink and many more organizations in Maine. We also work closely with nonprofit organizations, education, and healthcare institutions on DEI education and recruiting talent.

MB: What are some challenges you help small employers with in particular?

MHK: In some situations, we work directly with a small employer and assist with through training to improve understanding on diversity, equity and inclusion; an assessment on the current state and provide recommendations on improving inclusion and belonging within the organization; and helping small employers recruit diverse job candidates.

MB: What is the aim of the annual conference, and who attends?

MHK: Our call to action is to attract and retain talent in Maine. Attendees learn from the best DEI professionals, network with local professionals and resources, and take action through successful strategies applied in Maine. Attendees include human resources and business professionals, nonprofit leaders and government officials.

MB: Anything you can share about the 2024 conference next May?

MHK: Yes, the Inclusion Maine Conference will be held on May 1-3 at the Portland Sheraton at Sable Oaks. We are expecting about 600 attendees and seating is limited. The conference starts with a hiring and network reception and ends with a day of DEI education and action.