Sessions

The Kellogg Foundation’s Expanding Equity (expandingequity.com) network of corporate DEI leaders has doubled in size this year and grown to 200 companies strong. That growth is being driven by the emergence of new industries who are adopting and incorporating DEI as a central component of their business strategy. These trends run counter to the headlines that the private sector is pulling back from DEI when it is actually pressing ahead because it has proven to be good for business, workers and consumers. We will profile two champions in these industries – leading associations of energy companies and credit unions – and dig deeper into the partnership and why and how they’re investing in strategies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion at their organizations. The workplace, as one of the few places where we interact with people who are different from us, holds tremendous potential for building bridges in an increasingly divided society. By focusing on making workplaces more inclusive and equitable, organizations can foster greater empathy, connection, and partnership, while also raising pay, expanding benefits, and increasing opportunities so that all workers can contribute and succeed.

Learning Objectives:

1. Design DEI initiatives that align with your industry’s strengths and challenges

2. Frame DEI work in an effective and inclusive manner

3. Engage people leaders in modeling and leading DEI efforts How to build bridges across identity and ideology