In this special webinar event, leading voices from the Center for Creative Leadership will discuss the critical need to hold organizations accountable for making progress on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives. Globally, we recognize that EDI-focused organizational culture change is a complex journey … one that takes time, introspection, thoughtful conversation, and strategic planning.
In the United States, as we reflect on the 2-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd — and the public denouncements of racism from individual leaders and corporations around the world — it’s important to pause and assess how much progress has actually been made, and build the capacity for organizational accountability around EDI moving forward. Join us for this special online event!
Building Organizational Accountability for EDI: Virtual Event Schedule
11:00 AM ET — Welcome & Event Kickoff
- Join us to hear from our VP of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Michael DePass on CCL’s own EDI journey, including what we’ve learned along the way, and the work that still needs to be done.
11:15 AM ET — Session 1 — Actions Speak Louder: Tracking EDI From Cosmetic to Conversation & Commitment
- CCL research and data scientists Marcia A. Dawkins, PhD, and Ramya Balakrishnan, MS, will share findings from their ongoing study of corporate communications around equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Through an analysis of over 200 statements from leading companies in response to the public witnessing of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, the study reveals that effective corporate communications on EDI require organizations to move past cosmetic platitudes and hold themselves accountable with detailed action plans for systemic change. In this session, you’ll learn:
- The roles and visions leaders and organizations constructed in many EDI statements to drive culture change;
- How leaders and organizations can use consistent measures to embrace transparency and promote organizational accountability;
- The ways that EDI communications and commitments can create safe spaces for individual growth, while acknowledging collective organizational purpose; and
- The risks organizations face when their actions do not align with their words, especially in the era of employee activism.
12:00 PM ET — 5-Minute Break
12:05 PM ET — Session 2 — Setting a Strong Foundation: EDI Organizational Culture Survey With Faurecia
- Smita Mehta, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Faurecia North America (a Forvia company), and Stephanie Wormington and Joanne Dias of CCL will highlight the importance of using data-driven decision making to support sustainable EDI impact. Before organizations can create systemic change, they must understand the current experiences and future expectations of all of their employees. Charting a path for a more equitable future requires a transparent, inclusive assessment of the current state. In this session, you’ll learn:
- How to leverage data collection to create a foundation for an impactful EDI journey;
- Critical foundation steps to plan, develop, implement, and learn from an organization-wide assessment;
- How to turn data reflections into meaningful action;
- The importance of taking a “whole systems” approach to culture transformation, rather than relying on individuals to drive collective change; and
- What Faurecia (a Forvia company) has learned through their co-creation process with our EDI experts on building organizational accountability for increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion.
