Sessions

*Please note, session titles & times are subject to change due to schedule conflicts per our speakers.

 

Allyship Best Practices

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.

Anti-Racism 101

As open and overt racism returns to the forefront of American's minds, it is not simply enough to not support the racist rhetoric and reprehensible actions that are growing in number and frequency. We, as people, must strive to be actively anti-racist rather than passively just not racists ourselves. This course will instruct attendees in how to be an anti-racist and to combat this culture.

Belonging - Psychological Safety in the Workplace

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.

Creating An Allyship Organization

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.

Creating High Performance Teams

As the say goes, no person is an island, and this is particularly truein the workplace. Teams are necessity to ensure that everything is done, to drive results, and to push for growth. This session will discuss how to create teams that are best suited to work together in order to drive the highest performance possible.

C-Suite Ready - How To Accelerate Your Career Trajectory

Most people aspire to climb the ladder in their organization. For some, that means aiming for the prestigious C-Suite. This session will discuss how to accelerate attendees’ careers to reach the C-Suite. This session will include members of the C-Suite who will share their experiences.

Cultural Competence

This workshop will explain what it means to be culturally competent and how one can increase their cultural intelligence.

DEI Measurements

DEIB - Integrating Change Management

Dialogue on Servant Leader

It is often said that for an organization to succeed, then all must work for that success. Therefore, leaders in all groups should seek to serve, guide, and assist others in the organization to assure overall success for all. This session will help attendees to meet that goal. Specifically crafted for leaders and aspiring leaders, this session will discuss how to serve others in order to serve the whole and ultimately succeed.

Diversity Best Practice Roundtable

As diversity and inclusion transitions from being a programmatic solution to a cultural reality, companies are trying to identify ways to link diversity and inclusion initiatives to employee engagement and overall business objectives. This session will provide insights about organizations’ efforts to establish diversity and inclusion programs as sustainable and strategic ways to optimize business.

Emerging Leaders - Road Map To Success

This session focuses on the importance of emerging leaders. Through the guidance offered by our panelists, young audience members can learn the do’s and don’ts of leadership as well as how they can continue to grow in their industries.

Empathy 101

Ever wonder how top leaders can simultaneously understand diverse viewpoints, foster emotional awareness, and build cultures of safety and trust? In response, by exercising empathetic leadership. Unapparelled world shifting events have demonstrated the significance of empathetic leadership to organizational success. Leading with empathy can increase innovation, productivity, retention, and employee engagement. A 2021 Forbes article reported 50% of people with empathetic leaders reported their workplace culture and environment was inclusive, compared with only 17% of those with less empathetic leadership (link). In a workforce increasingly conscientious of team cultures and work-life balance, it is crucial for leaders to lean into empathy and embrace the full-person perspective of their teams.

ERG Best Practices

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
Essential Leadership Skills

Today's workforce has led us to a much hyper connected and always changing workplace. Leaders are needed to learn how to navigate this complex and rapidly changing landscape, because outstanding leadership creates better work environments and produces higher performers, increases innovation and has a positive impact. In this session, participants will have an opportunity to experience, reflect, and broaden their knowledge and competences as a Leader. This session is aimed for participants with the essential skills to lead an organization that leverages from the talents of all contributors.

Essential Negotiation Skills

The ability to negotiate – to advocate and compromise in order to seek a goal – is crucial for all members of an organization. This is particularly true for leaders as they seek to achieve goals and advocate for their organization. This session will discuss the importance of negotiation for leaders. This session will also discuss how to bolster attendees’ negotiation skills.

Inclusive Leadership

The demographics of the USA continue to rapidly change, and in two decades we will be a “Majority Minority” country. In addition, the internet economy enables organizations to have employees, suppliers and customers anywhere in the world. As the employee base, management teams and even executive leadership becomes more diverse, the most successful leaders must subscribe to inclusive leadership. Today more than ever, we need business leaders who assert their commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and the community. This session will include:

  • The business case for inclusive leadership – why is it critical in today’s rapidly changing world.
  • The growing areas of diversity that leaders need to understand – gender and gender identity, race, generational, cultural, sexual orientation, people with disabilities, cognitive and more
  • A deep look at the characteristics of an inclusive leader.
  • How leaders can become allies and mentors to diverse communities.
  • How to personally become a more inclusive leader and how to promote inclusive leadership across your organization.
Inclusive Teams

We all know that organizations with inclusive teams enjoy higher job satisfaction, productivity, and morale, especially among staff of color. But how do you recruit and retain diverse and inclusive teams especially in our new normal? In this session, you will discover strategies for sourcing talent from diverse backgrounds. You will learn how to shift the culture to become more inclusive with your already existing teams. And you will create your best practices to ensure that your team is diverse and inclusive whether newly formed or seasoned. Building inclusive teams requires deliberate action and upon completion of this session, you will have the confidence and blueprint to achieve that goal.

Leading with EQ (Emotional Intelligence)

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.

Leading Cultural Change: The Practice of Successful Organizational Transformation

Leading Cultural Change in any organization requires a profound understanding of your workforce, your company, and its goals. It is a systematic process and must be approached strategically. In this session, participants will learn how to lead cultural change by identifying organizational goals, engaging their teams, and gaining buy-in for effective and sustainable change.

Leading Cultural Change: The Practice of Successful Organizational Transformation

Leading Cultural Change in any organization requires a profound understanding of your workforce, your company, and its goals. It is a systematic process and must be approached strategically. In this session, participants will learn how to lead cultural change by identifying organizational goals, engaging their teams, and gaining buy-in for effective and sustainable change.

Leading with EQ (Emotional Intelligence)

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.

Micro-Aggression In The Workplace

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.

Power & Privilege Roundtable

What does it mean to have privilege? How do your social identities (e.g., race, gender, class, religion, sexuality, etc.) grant or deny you privilege? How do you know when you have it and when you don't? How can we use power and privilege to break the cycle of oppression? This workshop will explore these questions, offering participants an opportunity to delve deeply into their social identities.  Participants will begin to uncover sources of bias that have been reinforced by an unrelenting cycle of socialization, develop skills for effective allyship, and learn how implementing even the smallest of steps toward equity, inclusion, and justice can transform an individual into an agent of change in their communities and profession.

Racial Justice 101

Racial justice is defined as maintenance of policies, procedures, norms, and practices that promote racial justice. The term racial justice is often used interchangeably with other diversity, equity, or inclusion activities; however, racial justice is the outcome of multiple equity initiatives. Often confused with antiracism, antiracism is a process that leads to racial equity that advances and supports racial justice. While these terms are used interchangeably, each describe a separate process, output, or outcome. This session introduces participants to racial justice and how racial justice serves as a long-term outcome that promotes and sustains racial equity.

Smart Networking - Strategies and Practices That Work

We all know the importance of networking, but we don't always know the best methods to do so. This session will dissect the importance of genuine networking and will help attendees to be strategic and intentional with the 'alliances' you make.

Strategies for Securing the Corner Office

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.

Sustaining ERGs By Maximizing The 'R'

This interactive workshop will focus on how employee resource groups, which include affinity groups, business resource groups, and other employee networks, can be structured in such a way that enables group members to develop professionally and to contribute to their respective organization’s mission or business strategy. Participants will engage in a facilitated discussion to identify the critical components of such employee groups that are required to demonstrate their value as a “resource” to the organization. By sharing successes and potential missteps as a group, participants will glean best practices that can be used to develop and/or enhance their own networks. Get ready to learn together!

The Art & Practice of Influencing

With the rise of social media, it has become more pronounced how lucrative of a skill influencing can be. However, social media is not the only realm in which influencing can be beneficial both to the individual and the organizations they work with. This session will discuss the art behind influencing and how to put it into practice in the modern workplace.

Unconscious Bias Workshop

This workshop will teach people about unconscious bias and how to overcome it.

Veterans

Going from military to civilian life can be a difficult transition for the average American Veteran. Acclimatizing to society, re-establishing personal relationships, exploring new career paths, and managing the possibly physical and psychological effects of war can make it difficult for veterans to move forward. Adding to this fact, veterans often find themselves without the resources and representation they may need. This session highlights many of the common struggles US Veterans face, and how companies can work to better accommodate to this population in order to provide them with the tools they need to be successful.

Women Who Lead Roundtable

Our panel of women will focus on how they created successes, the resources they employed, and the challenges they have overcome.

April 9


National ERG Summit

Concurrent Session I — 9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

ERG 101-Starting from Scratch

Employee resource groups are essential for talent to feel welcome, accepted, and understood in the workplace. Despite the necessity of these groups, it is still daunting to start an ERG on your own. This group will discuss the foundational information necessary to start your own ERG from scratch. Panelists will share their specific experiences with and best practices for starting ERGs in an organization.

Building Allies for ERGs, BRGs and Beyond

Employee resource groups and business resource groups are invaluable tools for inclusion and diversity in the workplace. These groups provide a home for similar people while they’re in the workplace. However, for ERGs and BRGs to also promote progress and advocate for its members, they require allies. This session will discuss how to cultivate a group of allies to help drive ERGs and BRGs.

How Inclusion Teams Fuel Our Talent Readiness

Inclusion teams intentionally seek to diversify the workplace. Inclusion teams, therefore, are a driving force for diversity and inclusion within their respective organizations. This session will discuss the innate importance of D&I and specifically inclusion teams. This panel will include members of inclusion teams as they attest to the important role they play in organizational growth and diversity.


Concurrent Session II — 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

ERG Best Practices

Employee Resource Groups provide countless benefits to the members they serve. However, employee resource groups take time and effort to ensure that they run smoothly and maximize benefits offered. This session will include members of ERGs and ERG founders. They will advise on best practices for running and creating ERGs.

Building Allies for ERGs, BRGs and Beyond

Employee resource groups and business resource groups are invaluable tools for inclusion and diversity in the workplace. These groups provide a home for similar people while they’re in the workplace. However, for ERGs and BRGs to also promote progress and advocate for its members, they require allies. This session will discuss how to cultivate a group of allies to help drive ERGs and BRGs.

How Inclusion Teams Fuel Our Talent Readiness

Employee Resource Groups are essential for employee health and happiness. Through that, ERGs also contribute heavily to an organization’s bottom line. This session will focus on how ERGs can contribute and be leveraged for your bottom line. This session will feature multiple experts on ERGs.


Concurrent Session III — 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

ERG Best Practices

As ERGs continue to evolve and grow across all business segments and types of organizations, and as they become more aligned to business goals, ERG leaders and coordinators continue to seek “best practices” from across the business. This practical session will examine some innovative and successful ERG practices across how to structure, how to deliver value to members, how to have a greater impact on the business and more. Workshop leader Stan Kimer currently facilitates the module on “Best Practices for ERGs” for the DiversityFIRST Certification Program as well as designing NDC’s new ERG Academy offering.

ERG 101-Starting from Scratch

Employee resource groups are essential for talent to feel welcome, accepted, and understood in the workplace. Despite the necessity of these groups, it is still daunting to start an ERG on your own. This group will discuss the foundational information necessary to start your own ERG from scratch. Panelists will share their specific experiences with and best practices for starting ERGs in an organization.

How to Become a Better Leader


Diversity 101 - Starting from Scratch

To be determined

April 10

Concurrent Session I — 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Race, Racism, & Privilege (M)

There is no mistaking that racism is still rampant in today’s society, and organizations are not immune to that disease. This then creates in the workplace places of privilege and places of racism. This session is geared toward discussing race and racism in the workplace and how to navigate it. This session will also incorporate talks around what privilege is and how it plays into structural racism.

Creating Your Significance: Are You Ready to Be a Brand? (PD)

Emerging Leaders (L)

Are you interested in what it takes to be a leader? Do you know how to inspire as a leader? Do you know how to define yourself as an emerging leader? This lesson is designed by leaders to equip emerging leaders with the tools necessary to utilize their skills and designate themselves as leaders.

Servant Leadership (L)

It is often said that for an organization to succeed, then all must work for that success. Therefore, leaders in all groups should seek to serve, guide, and assist others in the organization to assure overall success for all. This session will help attendees to meet that goal. Specifically crafted for leaders and aspiring leaders, this session will discuss how to serve others in order to serve the whole and ultimately succeed.

Smart People Take Smart Risks (PD)

As the title suggests, for upward mobility risks are required. However, despite the connotation of the word, risks do not inherently have to be dangerous. Risks can be beneficial for a career if not a catalyst for it. This session will help attendees differentiate between a chance and a calculated risk that can bolster a career.

Engaging White Males as True Champions for D&I (D&I)

Diversity and Inclusion, of course, requires the involvement of women, people of color, the LGBTQIA community, and people of different abilities. However, the benefits of white males in this movement is often overlooked. White men, through their positions in power, can be catalysts for change. Therefore, their championship for diversity and inclusion can help the movement make leaps and bounds. This session will enable attendees to engage with white males who have made inclusion their mission to determine how white males can be champions and how organizations can better utilize white men as supporters of diversity.

Developing an Inclusive Leadership Lens (D&I)

While diversity is necessary in the workplace, it cannot be sustained without inclusion. One of the most efficient ways to ensure that companies are able to acquire a diverse workforce is to adapt an inclusive lens. An inclusive leadership lens will allow those in management to realize and acknowledge the array of ideas available in a diverse workforce. This session will help attendees discern what an inclusive leadership lens looks like and determine how to adapt one in their own organizational model.

LGBTQIA Roundtable (D&I)

Understanding the LGBTQIA community is an essential move for businesses to evolve with modern society. The LGBTQIA community offers a diverse array of opinions and advantages. However, to access and serve their community, employers must create environments that are welcoming. This session will enable attendees to realize the best practices for working with and for the LGBTQIA community.

Healthcare Disparity Roundtable (H)

Unfortunately, today not all are treated equally. This is especially true in the field of healthcare. From physicians, to healthcare providers, to actual patient care, disparity is rampant. This roundtable is intended to explain what disparities exist, why they exist, and how they can be mitigated.

Color Value: The Shades of Prejudice in Tech (TE)

With increased reliance on technology in today’s society, the tech industry is of course booming. However, one area in which the tech industry struggles is diversity. Despite being a major employer and industry in the United States, the tech industry has not fully embraced diversity. This session is designed to discuss the many shades of prejudice that are present in the tech industry as well as how we can attempt to mitigate them.

Trends and Challenges Facing the Future of the Latino Workforce

Cesar Chavez once said that, “Preservation of one’s own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures.” In a world that is increasingly connected, many groups are finding that the introduction of their culture leads to its disrespect. This is particularly true for the Latinx community in the workforce. This session is crafted to discuss trends and challenges faced specifically by the Latinx workforce as well as how the Latinx community can advocate for itself in the office.

Finding Your "ROO vs RIO"


Concurrent Session II — 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Race, Racism, & Privilege (M)

There is no mistaking that racism is still rampant in today’s society, and organizations are not immune to that disease. This then creates in the workplace places of privilege and places of racism. This session is geared toward discussing race and racism in the workplace and how to navigate it. This session will also incorporate talks around what privilege is and how it plays into structural racism.

Leading with Emotional Intelligence (L)

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.

Servant Leadership (L)

It is often said that for an organization to succeed, then all must work for that success. Therefore, leaders in all groups should seek to serve, guide, and assist others in the organization to assure overall success for all. This session will help attendees to meet that goal. Specifically crafted for leaders and aspiring leaders, this session will discuss how to serve others in order to serve the whole and ultimately succeed.

Great Leadership: Developing Practical Leadership Skills (L)

Everyone has a skillset. However, not all skillsets are beneficial for leadership. This session is designed to help leaders and emerging leaders assess what skills are practical for roles of leadership. This session will also give examples on what skills have helped its panelists reach their positions of leadership.

Veterans Roundtable (D&I)

Though veterans are often given a lot of praise throughout the United States, they are often underutilized in the workplace. Veterans hold a wide variety of skills as well as a unique perspective. This session is designed to discuss how veterans can be leveraged in the workforce. This session is also intended to help employers learn how to recruit and retain veterans.

Unconscious Bias Workshop (D&I)
Sustaining ERGS BY Maximizing THE ‘R’ (D&I)

This interactive workshop will focus on how employee resource groups, which include affinity groups, business resource groups, and other employee networks, can be structured in such a way that enables group members to develop professionally and to contribute to their respective organization’s mission or business strategy. Participants will engage in a facilitated discussion to identify the critical components of such employee groups that are required to demonstrate their value as a “resource” to the organization. By sharing successes and potential missteps as a group, participants will glean best practices that can be used to develop and/or enhance their own networks. Get ready to learn together!

Women in Tech Roundtable (TE)

Being a woman in any space comes with its challenges. This is especially true in the field of technology. This session is both to praise and learn from women who have made a name for themselves in technology. These women will discuss the struggles and triumphs they’ve experienced in this prestigious and difficult field.

NDC Index: Benchmarking Your Organization’s D&I Success

The Transformative Power of Second Chance Hiring presented by Koch Industries (CR)

In the U.S., one in three adults has a criminal record. This is about as many as those with college degrees. And each year, nearly 700,000 are released from prison to find themselves often locked out of the job market. At the same time, there are 7 million job openings in the U.S. right now as businesses fiercely compete for talent. This session will explore how hiring people who want a chance to work is a win-win-win: It helps keep families together by decreasing the chance of recidivism, it supports a valuable talent pool of willing and trainable workers, and it gives people who have made mistakes the dignity of work.

April 11

Concurrent Session I — 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Most Powerful & Influential Women Roundtable (L)

The glass ceiling, unfortunately and historically, has stopped many women from rising to their capability. The women of this panel, however, have cracked and passed through the ceiling to be some of the most powerful and influential women in their respective fields. In this session, these female leaders will share their experience and expertise. This session intends to inspire emerging female leaders and empower emerging male leaders to be advocates for their female colleagues.

CDO Roundtable (D&I)

Chief Diversity Officers are the driving force for diversity in the workplace. This makes them a key player in the push for diversity and inclusion in business. This session includes Chief Diversity Officers who have gathered to share their knowledge and best practices. These CDOs will also discuss how they rose to their positions.

Millennials in the Workplace (D&I)

In this era, millennials have joined the work force in increasingly large numbers. This group brings with it a modern and unique perspective. When effectively leveraged, the skills of millennials can be highly beneficial to organizations. This session will focus on how to leverage millennials in the workplace as well as create a culture that is welcoming to them.

Take Control of Your Career (PD)

Most people aspire for some degree of upward mobility in their career. This is accessible to all people who seek it. However, first one must seize control of their career to actualize their goals. This session is crafted to discuss how attendees can discern their goals and take control of their career’s trajectory.

Building and Managing Effective Teams (PD)

Teamwork is essential to achieving any goal. Few to no organizations have succeeded through the efforts of a person. Therefore, it is imperative that teams within an organization work together cohesively and effectively. This session is designed to discuss best practices for building and managing effective teams.

Courageous Conversations (PD)

Issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, and ability are evident in most environments. This makes the need to speak up about discrimination ever more pressing. However, it is often difficult to open the floor for an educational, respectful, and illuminating conversation on these matters. This session will focus on finding the courage to have these tough discussions as well as best practices for how to facilitate the conversation.

Latino Executive Roundtable (M)

The Latinx community contains a multitude of people with diverse and unique ideas. These people can greatly benefit any work place. The members of this session are evidence of this as Latinx executives discuss their experience in leadership. The session will also focus on the intersection of a Latinx identity and leadership.

The Law of Title IX and Sex Discrimination (LE)

In the era of #MeToo and #TimesUp, the discussion on sex discrimination and sexual harassment is at the forefront. However, many people do not understand the full implications of Title IX. This session is designed to better explain what Title IX is and how it affects sex discrimination. This session will also discuss how attendees can be advocates for all genders in the work place.

Becoming a Better Leader (L)

Leadership is a position that comes with many responsibilities. This entails the need to seek continual growth and improvement. Though a person must be outstanding in their own right to reach a position of leadership, he/she/they must continue to develop and better their leadership. This session will focus on methods to better attendees’ leadership and ultimately become better leaders.

Leadership: Shared Vision, Accountability, and Communication (L)

In order for an organization to succeed, all involve must share the same vision for the whole. Further, all must be held accountable for their own portion. And finally, all members must transparently, effectively, and punctually communicate. It is the job of the leader to ensure that this vision, accountability, and degree of communication is upheld. This session will discuss how a strong leader can craft and manage these three aspects.

Analysis of Progress Made Towards UN Sustainable Development Goals presented by the United Nations Global Compact (CR)

The United Nations developed the Sustainable Development Goals. These goals were set in order to achieve future that is sustainable and beneficial for all. The goals include items such as poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, peace, and justice. This session will analyze the progress made toward reaching these ambitious but necessary goals.

Being A Strategic Leader in a Diverse World


Concurrent Session II — 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Current State of Employment Discrimination Law (LE)

Employment discrimination, whether it is on the base of ability, gender, race, or sexual orientation, is rampant. However, as of late there has been a movement to combat employment discrimination. This session will discuss the current state of employment discrimination. Further, this session will open the dialogue on how individuals can advocate for inclusive hiring practices.

Millennials in the Workplace (D&I)

In this era, millennials have joined the work force in increasingly large numbers. This group brings with it a modern and unique perspective. When effectively leveraged, the skills of millennials can be highly beneficial to organizations. This session will focus on how to leverage millennials in the workplace as well as create a culture that is welcoming to them.

C-Suite Ready: How to Accelerate Your Career Trajectory (PD)

Most people aspire to climb the ladder in their organization. For some, that means aiming for the prestigious C-Suite. This session will discuss how to accelerate attendees’ careers to reach the C-Suite. This session will include members of the C-Suite who will share their experiences.

Leading with Emotional Intelligence (L)

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.

Organization Health = Organizational Performance (OH)

Just as the human body requires a certain degree of health to perform, organizations must meet standards of health in order to perform. As organizations seek and achieve higher degrees of health, their performance will subsequently be bolstered. This session will discuss the importance of organizational health for organizational performance. This session will also focus on how organizations have improved their overall health to maximize performance.

NDC Index: Benchmarking Your Organization’s D&I Success

Applying Technology to Address Sustainability presented by Capgemini (CR)

Introspection, Confidence and Unpretentious Self-Advocacy

Impactful leadership starts with discerning your own cognitive and emotional composition which informs your capacity to relate to and inspire others. In this session, we will explore the introspective process, learn how to bolster your professional confidence and practice unpretentious self-advocacy while minimizing competitive dynamics and maximizing your strategic differentiators.


Concurrent Session III — 2:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

CDO Roundtable (D&I)

Chief Diversity Officers are the driving force for diversity in the workplace. This makes them a key player in the push for diversity and inclusion in business. This session includes Chief Diversity Officers who have gathered to share their knowledge and best practices. These CDOs will also discuss how they rose to their positions.

Leaning in Without Tipping Over: Achieving Work + Life = Balance (PD)

Leaning in is often a phrase used to discuss how women should assert and immerse themselves in the work place. While it is important to put a significant amount of effort into one’s work, it is equally important to maintain a healthy work life balance. This session will discuss the importance of leaning in while leaving space for self-care. This session will also feature advice from leaders based on their personal experience with leaning in.

Leading with Emotional Intelligence (L)

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.

Imposter Syndrome Vs Destiny: Praise, Perfectionism, & Initial Failure (PD)

Imposter syndrome posits that individuals doubt their success and accomplishments due to a fear of being shown to be false or fraudulent. While this is not an uncommon fear, it often undercuts an individual’s achievements and hard work. This session will discuss how to utilize praise to overcome the feeling of imposter syndrome. This session will also discuss how perfectionism and the struggle of initial failure play into one’s feelings of professional inadequacy.

Diversity in Higher Education (DI)

Education should be something that is accessible for all groups. Further, all groups should see reflections of their own faces in the faculty and staff they interact with in higher education. However, this unfortunately is not the case. This session will discuss the need for diversity in higher education and what steps can be made toward diversifying higher education.

Building a Culture of Philanthropy: How Technology, Communication, and Purpose Are Changing the Way We Engage Employees presented by YourCause (CR)

Driving Job Satisfaction and Employee Engagement Through Robotic Process Automation presented by Sogeti, Part of Capgemini (CR)

Learn how RPA can perform highly transactional processes, freeing up employees to focus more on the strategic elements of their work while increasing morale and engagement.

CR Roundtable

Corporate responsibility is the way in which companies and organizations hold themselves accountable for their own actions. This includes the impact that they have on internal members, stakeholders, and the community as a whole. This session will discuss what corporate responsibility is, why it is a necessity, and best practices. This session will also discuss the importance of corporate responsibility.

April 12

Concurrent Session I — 8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.

It Takes a Village to Achieve Full Diversity and Inclusion…White Males Live in That Village Too! (D&I)

Full diversity and inclusion can only be reached through the utilization of all resources and willing advocates. This often includes white males. White males, through their positions of power, can often be strong and compassionate allies for diversity and inclusion. This session will discuss how to better include and leverage white males in discussion on diversity.

LGBTQIA Diversity 101 – Strategy and Business Case and Implementation

LGBTQIA community makes up a notable portion of the population. Accordingly, they should be represented and leveraged in organizations. This session will present the compelling strategic rationale and business case for fully embracing LGBTQIA inclusion, and introduce the wide range of programs and tactics to implement greater LGBTQIA diversity in the work place.

Starting Your Diverse Initiative from Scratch: What You Need to Know (D&I)

In a world where organizations often do not reflect the diversity of the world at large, diversity initiatives are crucial. Thus, every new diversity initiative is welcome if not necessary. However, often creating a new diversity initiative from scratch can be daunting. This session is intended to discuss what attendees should know when seeking to develop a diversity initiative from scratch.

Globalization (G)

Globalization refers to organizations that intend to operate on an international scale or have some influence internationally. With the increasing ease of communication, it is now easier than ever for companies to have global reach. This session will discuss the impacts of globalization of diversity and inclusion. This session will also focus on how diversity and inclusion can benefit an organization’s international reach.

Essential Negotiation Skills (PD)

The ability to negotiate – to advocate and compromise in order to seek a goal – is crucial for all members of an organization. This is particularly true for leaders as they seek to achieve goals and advocate for their organization. This session will discuss the importance of negotiation for leaders. This session will also discuss how to bolster attendees’ negotiation skills.

Communication Strategies: Developing Leadership Presence (PD)

Communication is essential to all aspects of life. However, it is especially important in crafting a strong leadership presence. Therefore, one must hone his/her/their communication strategies. This session will discuss how to develop a leadership presence through creating communication strategies.

Diversify Your People Supply Chain presented by Capgemini (CR)

Learn innovative ways to engage internal and external partners to drive diverse talent to your organization. This session will discuss various case studies including neurodiversity, socioeconomic diversity, veterans and more.


Concurrent Session II — 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

It Takes a Village to Achieve Full Diversity and Inclusion…White Males Live in That Village Too! (D&I)

Full diversity and inclusion can only be reached through the utilization of all resources and willing advocates. This often includes white males. White males, through their positions of power, can often be strong and compassionate allies for diversity and inclusion. This session will discuss how to better include and leverage white males in discussion on diversity.

LGBTQIA Diversity 201 - Taking the Next Step – Comprehensive LGBTQIA Diversity Program Execution

The LGBTQIA community has historically been underserved and underrepresented in most areas of life, particularly in businesses and oganizations. This follow-on session to LGBTQIA 101 will quickly review the compelling business rationale before digging deep into how to execute a wide range of programs that will completely include the LGBTQIA community,including how to scale for size and best practices.

The Changing Demographics of America (M)

America grows more diverse with each passing day. The demographics of America are continually changing and evolving. Thus, companies must grow and evolve with America. This session will discuss the impact of America’s changing demographics on organizations.

Essential Negotiation Skills (PD)

The ability to negotiate – to advocate and compromise in order to seek a goal – is crucial for all members of an organization. This is particularly true for leaders as they seek to achieve goals and advocate for their organization. This session will discuss the importance of negotiation for leaders. This session will also discuss how to bolster attendees’ negotiation skills.

Communication Strategies: Developing Leadership Presence (PD)

Communication is essential to all aspects of life. However, it is especially important in crafting a strong leadership presence. Therefore, one must hone his/her/their communication strategies. This session will discuss how to develop a leadership presence through creating communication strategies.

SEE people + VALUE uniqueness = MAXIMIZE Talent (T)

In the world of business, it is easy to get caught up in projects and processes causing us to blow past the people around us. Of course we physically see those who work for and with us; but do we really SEE them? Do we SEE and VALUE their unique strengths and abilities? Do we know what environment motivates them? Do we give them the opportunity to truly MAXIMIZE their talent? In this workshop, we will discuss the benefits of making people a priority and provide application tools that will help you initiate the crucial conversations which will lead you to SEE People, VALUE their uniqueness and MAXIMIZE their talent.