Reinvigorating Diversity Councils
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Session Overview:
Diversity Councils are one of the core foundational efforts in most diversity and inclusion strategies. They are leveraged to help define direction, build buy-in from employees and senior leaders, and provide partnership to lean diversity functions. Despite the fact that we have relied on councils for decades, we continue to face challenges with how to ensure their success. Like all business strategies, we seek focus, traction and sustainability but do so in the face of rapidly shifting environments and priorities and unparalleled leadership changes. This summit will delve into the most pressing questions for diversity councils at this point in time: What is the role of social networking in today’s diversity and inclusion efforts? Given today’s pace of business and flux, how can we keep councils relevant? What would you imagine for your organization’s diversity council if you had a blank sheet of paper? How do Diversity Councils and Employee Resource groups work together?
Who will benefit from attending this Council Summit? The DBP/IP Diversity Council Summit is ideally suited for CDOs and seasoned diversity practitioners who are accountable for setting direction for their company’s diversity and inclusion strategy and council(s). The session is not designed as a “how- to” for the establishment of diversity councils. However, if you are exploring the question as to whether a council is right for your company, how you can reinvigorate an existing council, or how social trends can support your efforts, this is the session for you. Explore complex questions and gain fresh perspectives in a highly engaging and action-oriented session.
Hotel and Travel Information:
A block of rooms have been reserved at the Memphis Hilton under DBP Council Meeting room block. Hilton Memphis is located at 939 Ridge Lake Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee. Our preferred method of completing your reservation is via the web. If necessary, you may contact Laura Martin directly in hotel reservations at 901684.6664. All reservations are to be made by October 20, 2009.
Memphis International Airport
2941 Winchester Road
Memphis, TN 38116
Upon arrival at the airport, if you require transportation from the airport to the Memphis Hilton, taxis depart from Terminal B Baggage Claim area at the ground level. A taxi coordinator is also stationed in the Taxi Booth from 5:30am till the last flight of the day to assist you with questions or concerns.
You may also request Hilton’s complimentary shuttle service by using the using courtesy phone located near baggage claim or call hotel directly at 901.684.6664.
For information on event registration, travel, and logistics please contact Meghan Donnelly at donnelly@diversitybestpractices.com.
Agenda
8:00-9:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 9:02 International Paper Welcome
9:02 - 9:10 Welcome Remarks
Carol Evans, CEO, Diversity Best Practices
9:10 – 9:30 Opening Keynote
Dr. Patricia T. Taylor, Chief, Intelligence Community Equal Employment and Diversity Office, Office of the Director – National Intelligence
9:30–10:15 HOT TOPIC: Implications of Social Networking for Today’s Diversity and Inclusion Efforts
More than 100 million users log on to Facebook at least once each day and the fastest grown demographic are users 35 and over. By the end of 2010, Twitter will have roughly 18 million registered users. What does this have to do with diversity and inclusion? Diversity Councils and Employee Resource Groups have been core programs to organize and connect trusted advisors and exchange information about the critical work of diversity. But the landscape has changed. Relationships and communities are being organized and managed through social networking sites; content is being developed in 140 characters; and identities are being created, challenged and reborn. Your customers, employees and diversity champions are logging on. How can you capitalize on this momentum for your diversity and inclusion efforts? Where are you willing to go?
Presenter:
Shari Slate, Chief Diversity Officer and Director of Global Community Affairs, Sun Microsystems, Inc.
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-10:40 Practical Visionary
John V. Faraci, Chairman and CEO, International Paper shares his vision for diversity and inclusion
10:40-11:30 One Company’s Perspective on Councils: What’s Working, What’s Not and Where We’re Going From Here
Join IP’s Chief Diversity Officer, Cheryl Kern as she leads IP’s Chairman and CEO, John Faraci and other senior executives through an honest conversation about the potential, success and challenges of IP’s diversity council efforts.
Moderator:
Cheryl Kern, Director, Global Diversity and Inclusion, International Paper
Panel:
John V. Faraci, Chairman and CEO, International Paper
Mark Sutton, Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain, International Paper
Paul J. Karre, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Communications, International Paper
11:30-12:30pm Panel Discussion: Keeping our Councils Relevant During Turbulent Times
Join this lively panel discussion to hear the perspectives of those who couldn’t live without councils and those who have revived struggling councils through sheer determination and innovation. Given today’s pace of business and flux, how can we keep councils relevant? What pitfalls accompany rapid change and what opportunities exist now which have never existed before? How are companies linking external councils or advisory boards and internal efforts? Join the conversation for a fresh perspective on the relevance of councils in these times.
Moderator:
Janice Bowman, President, Association of Diversity Councils
Panel:
Gina Camiola, Manager, Diversity Strategies, US Cellular
Reed Kimbrough, Manager-Corporate Diversity Programs & Training, United States Steel Corporation
Terri H. Moore, Director, Diversity & Inclusion, Time Warner Cable
12:30-1:30 Networking Lunch
1:30-3:15 Diversity Council Think Tank Session
Join diversity leaders in this “roll-up-your sleeves” solutions-focused session designed to share hard-earned knowledge, ask tough questions and imagine new possibilities. Groups will address hot topics and design a “next step” action plan to meet their own needs based on learnings.
Option 1: Beyond Constraint
Facilitator:
Chrishonda Smith, Diversity Consultant-Manager, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Trinity Health
In our day-today movement through our organizations, our possibilities for reinvention become constrained by insufficient time, waning budgets, competing priorities and organizational politics. These challenges take their toll on our creativity and vision for our councils. Taking in to account what you’ve heard throughout the day, what would you imagine for your organization’s diversity council if you had a blank sheet of paper? How about, ample time and budget? Total support? Join this conversation if you are willing to abandon constraints to design your ideal. How would it work? Communicate? Focus on? Who would be involved? Walk away with a fresh vision and three things you can do to begin to actualize it.
Option 2: Employee Resource Groups and Diversity Councils: Capitalizing on the Intersections
Facilitator:
Karen Sweeney, Vice President Diversity and Inclusion, Turner Construction Company
Employee Resource Groups and Diversity Councils have many things in common: They both rely on the insight and guidance of members to help forward your organization’s diversity agenda; they both require alignment to the business and engaged members; and both use company resources. Despite the similarities, councils and ERGs rarely partner on key initiatives. Participants in this session will share efforts of both councils and ERGs and walk away with a new plan for how to connect efforts for maximum impact.
Option 3: Building and Sustaining International Diversity Councils
Facilitator:
Lisa Chandler, Director of Global Diversity Strategies and Analytics, American Express
Take the challenges and opportunities of U.S.-based diversity councils and multiply them by multiple geographies, time zones and hot topics. Welcome to the complexity of establishing and sustaining international councils! Participants share the strategies for establishing a shared agenda, communicating across time and space and navigating widely divergent global issues. Are efforts best left localized? When is it worthwhile to build across borders? How do you find shared relevance? Explore the promise and perils of international councils and leave with a clear plan to move forward – or course-correct- yours.
3:15 – 3:30 Wrap-up/Adjourn
*Agenda Subject to Change
Registration
Speakers
Hotel & Travel
Memphis, TN
