Schedule

Inclusion isn’t just a corporate initiative—it’s a personal commitment. Including You! Leading Inclusion From Where You Are challenges the notion that building inclusive workplaces is solely management’s responsibility. This keynote, Walking Through the "I" of Inclusion, brings that message to life, empowering every individual to take ownership of inclusion, no matter their role.

Through engaging stories, practical strategies, and real-world applications, we’ll explore how small, intentional actions create lasting cultural change. You’ll learn how to recognize barriers to inclusion, foster meaningful connections, and leverage your influence to build a workplace where everyone feels valued and heard.

Inclusion starts with you. Are you ready to step up and lead from where you are?

Key Learning Outcomes

By the end of this keynote, attendees will be able to:

1. Take Ownership of Inclusion – Shift the mindset that inclusion is a leadership task to understanding it as a shared responsibility.
2. Apply Everyday Actions for Impact – Learn simple, actionable strategies to foster belonging in your teams and organizations.
3. Recognize and Address Barriers – Identify common challenges to inclusion and develop solutions to overcome them.
4. Leverage Influence to Create Change – Understand how to advocate for inclusion, whether you’re in a leadership role or a team member.
5. Commit to Sustainable Growth – Walk away with a personal action plan to integrate inclusion into daily interactions and long-term workplace culture.

This is more than a keynote—it’s a call to action. Including You means starting with I. Let’s walk through it together!

Organizations who want to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace find that promoting ERGs is one of the best strategies to achieving those goals. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are found to increase employee engagement, especially among historically marginalized groups. They also expand marketplace reach leading to a successful growth strategy. To build an effective and sustainable ERG in your organization, you will need to learn the best practices for doing so. In this session, you will:

• Discover how to gain stakeholder buy-in
• Explore steps for creating your ERG
• Craft a customized plan for creating ERGs in your organization

Emotional intelligence involves a person’s awareness of his/her/their own emotions. Further, it includes the ability to handle relationships wisely and with empathy. Emotional intelligence is an immense asset for leaders as it allows them to maintain and control their own emotions while calmly addressing the needs of others. This session will discuss how emotional intelligence can enhance leadership.

The Women's Health Symposium brings together a diverse group of healthcare professionals, researchers, advocates, and community members to engage in a dynamic and insightful discussion on critical issues affecting women's health. This collaborative forum aims to foster a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within women's healthcare, identify areas for improvement, and explore innovative solutions to enhance the quality of care and improve health outcomes for women of all ages and backgrounds.

In this workshop, we will define microaggression and key related terms. Second, we will seek to interrupt and address microaggression. Thirdly, we will probe pain points that prevent us from talking about and addressing microaggressions. As well as develop the skills and tools we can take as the receiver, initiator, or bystander of a microaggression.

Although it is one of the first components of our self-concept to emerge, healthy Self-Awareness can sometimes elude us. We find this with people from all walks of life. The impact that a strong awareness of self has cannot be overstated – influencing relationships, professional attainment, and mental health. In this session, we’ll delve into the concept of our identities and how those concepts influence our self-perception, our perception of those around us, and how all of that impacts how we interact with the world.

We are often led to believe that, with hard work and dedication, we can increase our status within any organization or industry. However in today’s world, what you know may not be the only things you need to advance your career. This session offers attendees with the tools needed to secure the corner office through education, networking, personal branding, and more.

Many of us have the ability to be a leader, to be an influence, and a trend setter. This is all based on someone's time put into unlocking their potential and leveling up. This session will discuss how to reach your full professional potential.

In relation to the multitude of social categorizations, it is no secret that many individuals of non-Caucasian descent face obstacles. Knowing how and why these challenges negatively impact employees and the overall workplace can aid in the creation of an inclusive work space. In order to better work with and provide for a disadvantaged group, one must learn about the group-specific challenges.

Thoughtful and committed allyship can positively impact organizations, creating an environment that invites greater diversity and inclusion across a range of dimensions. However, fostering allyship requires the ability to identify and assess allyship needs not only in terms of individual and interpersonal practice, but also in terms of organizational culture, composition, and policy. This session presents an overview of allyship that touches on these different levels.

Belongingness is crucial for employee engagement and well-being. This session will explore strategies and best practices for cultivating a sense of belonging in the workplace, including leadership practices, employee resource groups, and inclusive policies.

This session convenes leaders from diverse cultural backgrounds to discuss strategies for effective leadership in multicultural environments. Participants will explore the complexities of leading multicultural teams, navigating cultural differences, and fostering inclusion to drive organizational success.

Personal branding is a necessity in building a reputation and subsequently a career. Often someone's brand takes a lengthy period to create; however, this can be expedited through the allyship of a mentor. This session will discuss how mentors and allies can assist in creating one's personal brand.

There’s really no playbook for today’s Chief Diversity Officer. Often, CDOs lack access to their CEO or other executives, and this makes it difficult for them to do their jobs. Many of them have difficulty getting the data they need to pinpoint issues within companies. And even when the executives and the data are available, getting buy-in for initiatives is challenging. Dealing with polarizing and nuanced topics requires an adaptable leadership style and specific skill set. Learn what being a CDO is really like in this session.

• Discover the specific background, skills, and credentials for becoming a CDO
• Explore some of the challenges CDOs face in executing their job
• Learn about the future of work for Chief Diversity Officers and how you can prepare to step into the role

Belonging and the need to belong or be connected with others is recognized as a fundamental human need, drive, and desire akin to food and water. In the workplace, we see that one of the critical factors in Belonging is psychological safety. When people feel that they can participate, learn, and grow in an organization, they become psychologically safe, which leads to a strong feeling of Belongingness. This session introduces participants to the concept of psychological safety in the workplace and how it promotes Belongingness.

DEI White Male Roundtable: In this unique session, a panel of white male leaders comes together to share their perspectives on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This roundtable discussion aims to provide insights into the experiences, challenges, and opportunities faced by white males in championing DEI efforts within their organizations and communities. By fostering open dialogue and candid conversations, the panelists will explore their roles as allies and advocates for diversity, as well as strategies for fostering greater inclusivity and equity.

The Health First Symposium brings together a diverse group of stakeholders, including healthcare providers, community leaders, policymakers, and members of the public, to engage in a collaborative discussion on critical health issues facing our community. Through open dialogue and shared learning, we aim to prioritize health and well-being across all sectors and develop innovative strategies to improve health outcomes for all residents.

The coaching circle sessions will provide an interactive and engaging environment where participants can discuss key topics related to leadership, career growth, and personal development. Each session will focus on a specific theme, offering practical strategies, expert insights, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. Attendees will have the chance to share experiences, ask questions, and collaborate on solutions to overcome challenges and achieve their professional goals. These dynamic discussions are designed to empower individuals to lead confidently and advance their careers in diverse and evolving workplaces.

Thoughtful and committed allyship can positively impact organizations, creating an environment that invites greater diversity and inclusion across a range of dimensions. However, fostering allyship requires the ability to identify and assess allyship needs not only in terms of individual and interpersonal practice, but also in terms of organizational culture, composition, and policy. This session presents an overview of allyship that touches on these different levels.

The topic of sexuality and gender identity is unfamiliar to many populations, and this lack of knowledge can lead to people creating policies that can further isolate or harm members of the LGBTQIA+ community. In order to help bolster allyship, acceptance, and understanding, this session works to educate attendees on the “ABC’s” of LGBTQIA+. Through this presentation, attendees will leave with a more well-rounded and accurate understanding of many of their friends, family members, co-workers, and bosses.

The coaching circle sessions will provide an interactive and engaging environment where participants can discuss key topics related to leadership, career growth, and personal development. Each session will focus on a specific theme, offering practical strategies, expert insights, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. Attendees will have the chance to share experiences, ask questions, and collaborate on solutions to overcome challenges and achieve their professional goals. These dynamic discussions are designed to empower individuals to lead confidently and advance their careers in diverse and evolving workplaces.

At this session, we confront the realities of "Race, Racism, & Privilege" within the context of organizational leadership and diversity. We delve into the complexities of systemic racism, exploring how it intersects with privilege and impacts workplace dynamics. Through candid dialogue and critical reflection, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how race and racism manifest within organizations and the role that privilege plays in perpetuating inequities. This session aims to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools needed to address these issues effectively and foster more inclusive environments.

This session examines the crucial role of diversity and representation in corporate governance. Participants will explore the challenges faced by people of color in attaining positions on corporate boards and discuss strategies for fostering inclusivity and equity within boardrooms.

The coaching circle sessions will provide an interactive and engaging environment where participants can discuss key topics related to leadership, career growth, and personal development. Each session will focus on a specific theme, offering practical strategies, expert insights, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. Attendees will have the chance to share experiences, ask questions, and collaborate on solutions to overcome challenges and achieve their professional goals. These dynamic discussions are designed to empower individuals to lead confidently and advance their careers in diverse and evolving workplaces.

The "DEI Strategy & Planning" session delves into the development and implementation of effective Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies within organizations. Participants will explore best practices, frameworks, and tools for creating comprehensive DEI plans that foster a culture of belonging, equity, and innovation

The coaching circle sessions will provide an interactive and engaging environment where participants can discuss key topics related to leadership, career growth, and personal development. Each session will focus on a specific theme, offering practical strategies, expert insights, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. Attendees will have the chance to share experiences, ask questions, and collaborate on solutions to overcome challenges and achieve their professional goals. These dynamic discussions are designed to empower individuals to lead confidently and advance their careers in diverse and evolving workplaces.

This is a session dedicated to exploring practical strategies for maintaining harmony between professional responsibilities and personal well-being. This session acknowledges the challenges of modern-day work environments and offers insights into prioritization, time management, and boundary-setting techniques. Participants will learn how to navigate the demands of their careers while also nurturing their physical, mental, and emotional health.

The "Healthcare Equity Roundtable" convenes healthcare professionals, policymakers, advocates, and community leaders to explore strategies for advancing equity and inclusivity in healthcare delivery and outcomes. Through collaborative discussions, participants will examine systemic barriers, disparities, and innovative solutions aimed at promoting equitable access to quality care, addressing social determinants of health, and fostering a more inclusive healthcare ecosystem for all.

This session delves into the importance of establishing a culture that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within organizations. Panelists will discuss strategies for fostering a workplace environment where diversity is not just valued but celebrated, and where every individual feels respected, included, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives.

Personal branding is a necessity in building a reputation and subsequently a career. Often someone's brand takes a lengthy period to create; however, this can be expedited through the allyship of a mentor. This session will discuss how mentors and allies can assist in creating one's personal brand.

Emotional intelligence involves a person’s awareness of his/her/their own emotions. Further, it includes the ability to handle relationships wisely and with empathy. Emotional intelligence is an immense asset for leaders as it allows them to maintain and control their own emotions while calmly addressing the needs of others. This session will discuss how emotional intelligence can enhance leadership.

The "Most Powerful & Influential Women Roundtable" brings together accomplished female leaders from diverse industries and backgrounds to engage in a dynamic discussion about their journeys, challenges, and successes in breaking barriers, driving change, and shaping the future of leadership.

This session explores strategies and best practices for effectively leading and managing multigenerational teams in the workplace. Participants will gain insights into the unique perspectives, preferences, and communication styles of different generations and learn how to leverage these differences to foster collaboration and innovation.

This session convenes leaders from diverse cultural backgrounds to discuss strategies for effective leadership in multicultural environments. Participants will explore the complexities of leading multicultural teams, navigating cultural differences, and fostering inclusion to drive organizational success.