About the Conference

Having designed this conference originally at the end of 2019, we are delighted that nearly all of the speakers scheduled for the original event remain eager to share their insights and experiences virtually in the fall.

However, so much has changed since.  First, COVID19 transformed work and society and its impact will inform the discussions we have in November.  Then the demonstrations for racial equity and justice across the country in the wake of the tragic killing of George Floyd demanded that we make what is happening a major part of our discussions.   These are uncertain times and we all have to find ways to ensure we are working hard to build a future based on justice, respect, understanding and love for one another. 

As a D&I leader, you stand at the heart of your organization’s efforts to do just that and we are adding sessions to the agenda to help you rise to this challenge.  Also all our original speakers will update their sessions to ensure they are providing perspectives of immediate value to you in your workplace.

We have added Zoom based sessions at the end of each of the three days of the event.  Dubbed “D&I OVERTIME” these will be town hall type forums featuring leading experts and small group discussions that will explore critical issues.  The first will be on RACE, the second PRIVILEGE with the third covering our original theme of BELONGING

That original central– Belonging – has now taken on even greater urgency.  But recent events have reminded us that it is only possible to achieve this if we first address the fundamental issues of equity and justice.

We are working continuously and tirelessly to ensure the agenda in the fall reflects the urgency of this moment and events as they unfold till then.   In the meantime, The Conference Board are holding several consultations with a range of stakeholders to explore how we can begin to heal the wounds of the past, address the injustices of the present, and together build a better future for all.

 Who Should Attend

• CDOs and C-Level executives
• Vice Presidents and Directors of:
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Talent Management
  • Human Resources
• Professionals with responsibility for:
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Organization Culture
• Leadership Development
• Employee Engagement
• Learning
• Succession Planning
• Program Managers
• Learning and Development
• Employee Relations
• Talent Acquisition
• Global Business, Ethics and Integrity
• Total Rewards

Things to do Now:

1. Register
This event is free for members ($495 for non-members). Register now to join us for the live virtual event and to receive a link to watch later on-demand.

2. Get Involved:
Speaking Opportunities: john.brewer@conferenceboard.org
Sponsorship Opportunities: john.brewer@conferenceboard.org
Marketing Partnerships: melissa.mianulli@conferenceboard.org
Group Registrations: ulei.kou@conferenceboard.org

DAY ONE
Thursday, November 12, 2020

10:30 – 10:45 am    General Session A: Welcome & Opening Remarks and Opening Spoken Word

This opening session will introduce the conference, its themes and sessions and will also feature a live recitation by a spoken word artist that speaks to our current time and the need for greater equity and inclusion

10:45 – 11:30 am    General Session B:

PANEL: The Time is Now – Responding To The Current Moment and Advancing The Cause of Equity and Justice Among North American Employers
2020 has not unfolded as expected. Beginning with a strong economy experiencing continued robust growth, record low unemployment across the US and with talent shortages across the economy all that changed overnight.

COVID19 hit and it seemed like it was 1929 all over again with a significant drop in the stock market followed by an unprecedented rise in unemployment with large parts of the economy shut down, hospitals overwhelmed with COVID19 cases and a rapidly rising death toll.

Then came the tragic killing of George Floyd that sparked global demonstrations and a national conversation about race and racism and the ugly legacy of slavery in the US.

This put the issues of racial justice and equity at the top of the corporate agenda at a time when organizations were already dealing with unprecedented change. Despite this it seems now as if the conversation fueled by the advocacy of Black Lives Matter and others has momentum.

This panel, featuring DEI leaders, will examine the impact this has had on employers and most importantly what actions we can take to ensure progress is made and justice done in all our organizations.

11:30 – 11:40 am    Break

11:40 am – 12:20 pm    General Session C: OPENING KEYNOTE: Culture, Belonging, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

In recent years Claude Silver has become a prominent advocate and practitioner of an alternative kind of leadership that puts people at the heart of organizations, focusses on creating a positive, psychologically safe workplace built on a sense of community and belonging.

In this opening session Claude will share her leadership philosophy and how this approach supports D&I in organizations

Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer, Vayner Media

12:20 – 1:00 pm    Lunch

1:00– 1:40 pm    Breakout Session D1: Organizations for Everyone Session 1: Religion at Work

This panel discussion focusses on a new area for many organizations - religion in the workplace. This can be a difficult issue to navigate but as religion plays such an important role in many people’s identity it is an issue that organizations have to engage. In this session you will have the opportunity to discuss your organization’s approach to faith and explore ways of addressing it in the workplace.

Moderator:

Leslie Funk, Workplace Program Associate, Tanenbaum

Panelists:

Janessa Cox-Irvin, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion, AllianceBernstein

Nadine Augusta, Americas Head of Diversity & Inclusion, Goldman Sachs

Brad Wagner, Director of External Partnerships & ERGs, Target

Breakout Session D2: Addressing Unconscious Bias – What Really Works and What Doesn’t

Many organizations either begin their D&I initiatives by instituting mandatory unconscious bias training or initiate an anti-bias initiative in response to a crisis. Yet research shows that these interventions have at best mixed results. So what is the best way to approach this issue which many agree is fundamental to successful inclusion? Is there a single approach that delivers results? In this session D&I leaders will address this question as they discuss what they have found works for them and their organization – and where they may be devoted resources without yielding anticipated results.

1:40 – 1:50 pm    Break

1:50 – 2:30 pm    Breakout Session E1: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome – What it Means to Belong

Ruth is an award-winning CEO, who is committed to creating inclusion for all. Ruth will share her personal and professional journey through the lens of someone with a visible disability, and what it is like to live life without limits or labels. Ruth will touch on the subject of visible and invisible disabilities, covering hidden differences & otherness, and belonging and imposter syndrome. Her story will speak to how we rise above life's challenges to gain the freedom of letting go of shame, the power of living authentically, and the recognition that our differences are our greatest gift.

Ruth Rathblott, President and CEO, Harlem Educational Activities Fund

Breakout Session E2: Five Behaviors Leaders Need to Create an Inclusive Workplace

Relying on a small group of like-minded individuals in a market driven by ideas and innovations creates an enormous commercial risk. Not only is this a big risk but allowing talented individuals to stay hidden in the shadows leads to frustration and disengagement, which may result in lower performance and retention issues.

In this session, learn the five essential behaviors every leader needs to operate with an inclusive mindset. These are behaviors that can be learned and applied consistently to change the organizational culture and are critical to meeting diversity goals

Julie Yoon, Consultant, DDI

2:30 – 2:40 pm    Break

2:40 – 3:20 pm    General Session F: Addressing Power, Privilege and Equity in Your Organization

Organizations are making inclusive leadership a business priority to create a culture of belonging. This often requires leaders to engage in difficult conversations around power, privilege and equity.

In this unique and dynamic session, the IBIS Consulting Group and their troupe of professional actors will perform workplace scenarios that will serve as starting points for discussion on inclusive leadership and allies in the workplace. The real-life scenarios will illustrate role of leaders on mitigating bias and addressing systemic disparities. Audience members will also hear from companies that have successfully engaged leaders in conversations around their role as DEI advocates.

Shilpa Pherwani, Principal/CEO, IBIS Consulting Group.

3:20 – 3:30 pm    Break

3:30 – 4:20 pm    DEI OVERTIME I: Racism and Anti-Racism

At the conclusion of the day’s formal sessions you will be invited to join qn interactive Zoom based Town Hall with Breakouts – DEI  Overtime.
The first of these will focus on the issue of race, picking up on the discussions that opened the day. Topics for discussion will include defining and encouraging anti-racism, microagressions, standing up to racism when you see it, and how to turn productive conversations about race into concrete actions.
 
DAY TWO
Friday, November 13, 2020

10:30 – 10:45 am    General Session G: Welcome & Opening Remarks and Opening Spoken Word

Day two will begin with a brief recap of some of the main issues discussed on the first day, a preview of the discussions to come and a second  live recitation by a spoken word artist that speaks to our current time and the need for greater equity and inclusion

10:45 – 11:30 am    General Session H: Using Design Thinking to Develop an Effective D&I Strategy

Johnson & Johnson’s diversity and inclusion mission is to advance our culture of belonging, where open hearts and minds are combined to unleash the potential of a brilliant mix of people, in every corner of the enterprise. J&J is applying a human-centered, purpose-led, and empathetic approach to employee experience for every person to use their unique experiences and backgrounds together to spark solutions that create a better employee experience to supports our deep commitment to profoundly change the trajectory of health for humanity.

Utilizing design thinking as a strategic way of leading the organization toward organizational innovation, designing a distinct and intentional employee experience, is helping them execute the company mission with energy, ease, and authenticity.

Mary Quandt, Director, Experience Strategy, Johnson & Johnson

Salka Fernandez, Design Director, J&J Solutions

11:30 – 11:40 am    Break

11:40 am – 12:20 pm    General Session I: Let’s Talk about Age: Including Age as Part of Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

As people are living longer, many are working longer. Today, it is possible to see five generations working side-by-side in the workplace. Surprisingly, few companies include age as part of their diversity and inclusion strategy. But there are companies that recognize the opportunity that a multigenerational workforce provides.

This session will take an in-depth look at how age is viewed in America, promising practices to leverage the value of the multigenerational workforce, and resources for employers that want to address age in their benefits programs. Let’s discuss how we can disrupt aging in the workplace.

12:20 – 1:00 pm    Lunch

1:00 – 1:40 pm    Concurrent Session J1: Workplace Culture, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Harnessing the Power of Analytics and D&I to Transform the Future Workplace

Two of the defining characteristics of the future workplace will be the greater diversity of the workforce and increased use of analytics to make more evidence based human capital decisions.

This session will explore one organization’s diversity journey and how analytics has supported and informed D&I so as to identify areas for action, facilitate decision making and enhance the employee experience.

Namrata Yadav, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Inclusion Strategy, Bank of America

Concurrent Session J2: PANEL SESSION: Getting Started with DEI – Lessons from Organizations Early in the Journey

This session, featuring three employers in the early stages of developing and executing a D&I strategy, will allow you to hear firsthand about some of the challenges faced in making progress at this critical juncture. If you are in the first three years of a D&I implementation you will want to join the discussion and share your own experiences.

This discussion is particularly relevant as current events have led many employers to either start or significantly expand DEI initiatives in their organizations.

Moderator:

Lisa Gutierrez, VP & Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Indiana University Health

Panelists:

Natasha Miller Williams, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Ferrara Candy Company

Adrianne Smith, Global Director of Inclusion and Diversity, WPP

Adetoro Adegbola, Diversity and Inclusion, Etsy

1:40 – 1:50 pm    Break

1:50 – 2:30 pm    Concurrent Session K1: Organizations for Everyone Session 2 - Ex Offenders and Women Prisoners

This session will look at the successful employment of two often overlooked groups – those currently incarcerated and
ex-offenders. You will hear how Johns Hopkins provides a path for ex-offenders to enter the workforce and seize the opportunity to succeed.

A recent study by Arizona State University identified the many benefits of Televerde’s prison employment program including higher rates of employment post release, lower recidivism as well as many benefits for the families of those incarcerated.

Yariela Kerr-Donovan, Senior Director, Department of Human Resources, Strategic Workforce Development, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Kellie Walenciak, Global Head of Communications, Televerde

Sara Wasserteil, Managing Director of Expansion and Integration, Cara Chicago

Concurrent Session K2: Removing Bias from Recruitment

As the first step in the employee life cycle, if you want to succeed in D&I you have get this process right. Yet everyone knows too often recruitment is flawed with racialized candidates, women and those with disabilities finding themselves rejected too often despite being qualified for job.

This session will look at ways to remove bias from recruiting so that you can be sure you are hiring the best people for your organization and create the right foundation for a diverse and inclusive organization

2:30 – 2:40 pm    Break

2:40 – 3:20 pm    General Session L: Allyship in Action – The Case Of “Men for Inclusion” at Cisco

Increasingly organizations are looking to allyship to further advance inclusive workplaces. To succeed organizations, need to enlist the support of white men. In this session you will hear about an initiative at Cisco, “Men for Inclusion” that runs in six global locations. Starting with simple awareness building Cisco have made significant progress in getting men to actively support inclusion and take concrete action in their workplaces.

Some conversations have been uncomfortable as people have had to face and understand their privilege and work to ensure the organization creates a culture where everyone belongs.

Antonette Ligons, Program Manager, Information Technology, Cisco

3:20 – 3:30 pm    Break

3:30 – 4:20 pm    DEI Overtime II

For this second Overtime the theme will be Allyship


Day Three
Monday, November 16, 2020

10:30 – 10:45 am    General Session M: Welcome & Opening Remarks

10:45 – 11:30 am    General Session N: Organizations for Everyone Session 2: Disability in the Workplace

Paralympian and disability advocate Jenny Sichel will lead a discussion focused on the work of Link 20 a Ruderman Family Foundation initiative of young people advocating for greater inclusion for people with disabilities. Members of the group will share their personal experiences and discuss what employers can do to create greater inclusion for people with disabilities. Discussion will include mental health and neurodiversity.

Moderator:

Jenny Sichel, Link 20 Program Coordinator, Ruderman Family Foundation

11:30 am – 11:40 am    Break

11:40 am – 12:20 pm    General Session O: Neurodiversity in the Workplace

While neurodiversity is not a new concept many organizations have only recently begin to include neurodiversity in their D&I strategy or are looking to do so. The recent announcement of Greta Thunberg as Time’s person of the year and her characterization of her Asperger’s as a “superpower” have raised the appreciation that neurodiverse employees have a unique contribution to make and can indeed be a competitive advantage.

Panelists:

Olga Yakimakho, Director, Leadership and Organizational Development, Special Olympics International

Susanne M. Bruyère, Director, Professor of Disability Studies, Cornell University

Jen Emira, PMP, Senior Employee Experiences PM, Accessibility, Co-Chair, disAbility ERG, Microsoft

12:20 – 1:00 pm    General Session P: Setting Up the Next Generation for Success – Women, Intersectionality and the Future of Work

In a world that increasing needs STEM skills to succeed, much attention has been placed on recruiting and developing women given their low representation in this area. Unfortunately, not as much attention is being paid to the issue of intersectionality meaning not as much progress has been made for women of color or those with disabilities for example.

This session will share ways you can ensure greater equity in your organization when it comes to women and the future of work. Discussion will include the role of ERGs, advancing women to leadership roles and other tangible strategies.

1:00 – 1:30 pm    Lunch

1:30 pm - 2:10 pm    General Session Q: CLOSING PANEL: What’s Next for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging?  How to Build on the Momentum for Equity and Justice

This concluding panel will bring together some of the issues discussed during the conference and reflect on what it takes to create organizations where people belong, contribute and succeed. A key part of this discussion will be to project what challenges can D&I practitioners expect to face in the coming year and how can D&I professionals have a deep impact on the future of their organizations

Tariq Malik, Director, Employee Relations / Diversity Analytics, Target

2:10 – 2:30    General Session R: Closing Remarks and Break

2:30 – 3:30    DEI Overtime III: Belonging