Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Virtual Summit 2021

2021 Speakers

2020 Speakers

All Times in EST

Virtual Welcome – Review Summit Navigation Tools

Chairperson’s Opening Remarks

Opening Keynote Presentation

Committing to Change: How to Turn Employee Insights into a Business Plan for Long-Lasting and Meaningful Change

Over the past year, company leaders have been listening to their underrepresented employees as the first step in committing to end a long history of systemic racism and discrimination. Employees now more than ever need to feel heard, supported, and empowered. Now that they have spoken, DEI leaders have the responsibility to empower and elevate the voices of their employees by leveraging the insights they are hearing and turning them into real initiatives.

In this session, learn how DEI leaders are empowering employees through real efforts to evoke long-term, meaningful change in the workplace, specifically how they are using what they have heard to:

• Achieve employee goals and expectations
• Drive a new culture of belonging and equity
• Prove that change is here to stay

Keynote Presentation

Beyond Diversity and Inclusion: Creating a Culture of Belonging

In these times, diversity and inclusion should be more than just a policy. In fact, research shows that employees who feel their voice is heard are more likely to perform their best work and simply having a policy in place does not effectively solve the problem of discriminatory practices, whether deliberate or unconscious. A successful culture of belonging requires leadership commitment and involvement, an ongoing practice of inclusion, recognition of unique talents and accomplishments and an environment that fosters respect for openly and authentically sharing thoughts.

This session will:

• Provide insight into the critical concepts of equity, belonging, and allyship
• Demonstrate how they impact workplace culture and interactions
• Recommend steps necessary to implement a diversity, inclusion and belonging initiative in your organization

Panel Discussion

Leveling the Playing Field: Tried and True Equity & Inclusion Practices in the Workplace

Over the past year organizations have stepped up their DEI game, with a much needed focus on racial equity and inclusion. Companies have launched new initiatives and discovered new ways to really listen to what their employees want and need. Despite visible and stated efforts, not all moved the needle in lasting and meaningful ways. This session will discuss the different initiatives launched by DEI leaders that have shown effective and meaningful change in their organizations, including how that was measured.

During this session we will explore the challenges they faced, how they overcame them, and important lessons learned including:

• The crucial difference between actions for meeting metrics and actions that are meaningful
• Promotion opportunities not just based on diversity, but on talent that was fostered by the organization
• Which employees are disproportionately impacted by socio-economic conditions and how employers can step in to reduce those burdens and foster their career growth
• Achieving equitable representation by enhancing recruiting and leadership development programs for black talent

Lunch & Learn

Select a topic and join us for an informal and interactive group session where we will discuss top of mind challenges and strategy implementations for today’s human resources practitioners

Keynote Presentation

Why Inclusion, Belonging and Equity are More Important than Ever

Now more than ever, companies are being called upon to solve complex societal challenges and inequities – isolation, mental and behavioral health issues, systemic racism – not just for employees and customers but for the greater good overall. As an employer, where do you start, and how do you get it right? Diversity and inclusion is more than an initiative or a program. The ability to create meaningful, lasting change on the world starts on the inside, by creating a culture where employees feel like they belong, valued for their unique contributions, and empowered to succeed.

In this keynote, learn how a multi-year programmatic approach to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) can have a multiplier effect to help you build a more equitable future for your workforce and the communities you serve:

• Leverage insights, data and best practices to shape your approach
• Apply a DEI lens to address broader societal and community needs through advocacy and action
• Measure and report on progress to demonstrate meaningful impact

Keynote Presentation

Converting Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives into Measurable Change

Over the last several months, most companies have been re-examining their diversity and inclusion strategy, and with good reason. Black Lives Matter protests and other recent civil movements together with ongoing (and overt) systemic racism and sexism have shone a light on the lack of real progress. Workplace diversity and inclusion programs haven’t helped; in fact, recent data suggests they’ve done more harm than good.

As learning and development professionals we are all confronted with the challenge of delivering measurable change to our organizations in this time of new challenges.
Research and experience tell us that the methods organizations have used to deliver this kind of change in the past have not worked. Should we explore new ways of converting the knowledge we’ve transferred into measurable behavior change at an individual level? Is it time to explore alternatives to traditional group learning and one-size-fits-all programs?

In this presentation, we will discuss:

• The training challenges your organizations face when executing diversity, equity and inclusion strategies
• How to measure DEI training results and demonstrating ROI at group and individual levels
• Training solutions that have been successfully implemented

Panel Discussion

Elevating Resource Groups as Business Drivers

Many organizations have been adopting Employee Resource Groups as an internal driver of inclusion, connection, and camaraderie. Some have realized the opportunity to leverage Resource Groups as an external driver of the external business mission. At the end of the day, businesses were created to fulfill a mission. By transforming Employee Resource Groups into Business Resource Groups, new business value is realized, and that is when everybody can embrace and understand why inclusion is important.

In this session, learn how DEI leaders can create Resource Groups that promote inclusivity by driving business outcomes, and the different ways they can be expanded for business impact including:

• Identifying partnership opportunities that can enhance credibility and improve client and community relations
• Understanding the role employers can play in helping cultivate partnerships that can be leveraged and used for visibility with clients
• Putting diverse employees in front of their connections and communities to empower them to build credibility
• Equipping resource groups with the opportunities to build professional relationships in the industry and serve as credible ambassadors

Keynote Presentation

A Blueprint for Your Immersive Environment: Fighting Fear and Inspiring Inclusivity

There are many ways organizations are working to foster an inclusive working environment, but a critical challenge is identifying a proper blend of efforts that contribute to near-term progress without hindering long-term change. Unfortunately, in the near term, not all hearts and minds are open to change. However, when thinking about an inclusive workplace strategy, there is a framework that supports this ideal blend, where the present focus is on how to act and react in inclusive ways. Immersive Learning in Virtual Reality enables employees to practice having the right actions and reactions by focusing on immersive inclusive conversations.

In this session, discover how to leverage Immersive Learning for inclusive conversation training and how companies can implement it at scale so their employees can develop the skills to:

• Become more situationally aware as well as self-aware
• Identify non-inclusive behavior of oneself and colleagues
• Make informed decisions on next steps based on data-driven insight and practice
• Reduce the fear and doubt that cause inaction
• Demonstrate proper action and reaction to non-inclusive and inequitable situations

Keynote Presentation

Measuring the Success of Your Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives

A DEI leader with a savvy business acumen understands that outside of the DEI function, business priority and funding is given based on that which can be measured for efficacy. However, the notion of a DEI metric has often been disputed because of the implications it can have on delivering meaningful and long-lasting results. In this session, learn about the metrics DEI industry leaders are using to ensure that DEI remains on the company agenda, while also maintaining the integrity of their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

End of Virtual Summit