Schedule
7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Conference Registration
** 6 SHRM continuing education credits is available for attending the conference
8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Pre-Opening Session
Diversity Best Practices
This is a small group discussion of D&I best practices.
8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Corporate Exhibits and Coach’s Corner
Professional coaches from International Coach Federation - Houston will offer complimentary career coaching sessions. Sign-up at the Registration Desk to take advantage of this exciting opportunity!
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Welcome Remarks
Executive Director: Cecil Fong
Honorary Co-Chair: James Harris, Director D&I and Supplier Diversity, H-E-B
Dr. Madeline Burillo-Hopkins, President SW College, Houston Community College
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Plenary Session
The Power of FeMANists
Speaker: Dr. Mikki Hebl, Martha and Henry Malcolm Lovett Professor of Psychology, Professor of Management,
Rice University
There is a great deal of gender equity that remains in our society and world. Unfortunately, the all-too common explanation is that women simply don’t want the same sort of workplace positions as men. Or, organizations initiate a women’s affinity group and/or initiate women’s committees to tackle women’s professional discontent. The current research takes a more holistic picture of the biases against women, both subtle and overt, and suggests why it is essential that men be a significant player in creating lasting gender equality.
10:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. Networking Break
Visit exhibits, and sign up for a complimentary session at Coach’s Corner
10:50 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Concurrent Sessions
Session A: Intersecting Identities and the Impact of Emotional Tax
Speakers: Kelly Kleinkort, Director of Corporate Engagement, Catalyst
Dana Dawsey, Operations Leader & Site Inclusion and Diversity Leader, Dow Chemical
Everyone brings their intersecting identities to the workplace. Women in underrepresented racial and ethnic groups experience intersectional barriers that white women and men in underrepresented racial and ethnic groups don’t face. These barriers lead visible minorities to experience what Catalyst calls the Emotional Tax—being on guard and consciously preparing to deal with potential bias or discrimination. However, it’s not only employees of color, but the organizations for which they work that pay the Emotional Tax in the form of talent loss and potential reduced revenues. In this session, learn about the effects of the intersecting dimensions of difference, explore tools and tips to reduce the consequences of Emotional Tax in your organization, and identify ways to ensure that the people of color working at your company can contribute to their highest potential and thrive.
Session B: Feeling Safe in the Workplace: Psychological Safety, Civility & Unconscious Bias
Speakers: Pranika Sinha, Senior Manager, Talent Development & Inclusion, Occidental (Oxy)
Joyce Eisler, Certified Leadership Coach and Supervisor of Training, Occidental (Oxy)
We often speak about being safe at work, but this session will discuss feeling safe in the workplace. The session will help participants 1) understand the definition and importance of Psychological Safety in the workplace, 2) embrace diversity of thought by fostering inclusivity through civility, learn about the definition of incivility and how it spreads, and 3) take a different look an unconscious bias by exploring 3 different concepts trust, an echo chamber, and how we “judge a book by its cover.” The session will close with some practical, conscious actions the participants can do to foster psychological safety and help create an overall feel of inclusion as well as a checklist to feeling safe at work.
Session C: Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number: Age and Your Company’s D&I Strategy
Speakers: Deborah Wilkins, Senior Equal Opportunity Consultant, Shell Oil
Dolly Brenneman, President and Founder, Soaring to Greatness
People are working longer than ever before. Some do so because they have to. More and more frequently, others do so because they want to. Despite this trend, most companies don’t consider older workers when they think about areas of D&I focus. Given today’s multigenerational workforce, they may be missing an opportunity.
In this session, you’ll learn how we’ve arrived at our current attitudes about aging, and how forward-thinking companies are taking steps to dispel stereotypes and maximize the value of workers over 50 bring to their organizations.
Noon – 1:30 p.m. Luncheon
Emcee: Vani Rao
Keynote: Leslie Mays, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Diversity Champion Awards :
Corporate: Shara Hammond, Leadership and Inclusion Manager, Marathon Oil Company
Community: Joe Bontke, EEOC (Posthumously)
Trail Blazer: Leslie Mays, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Team: VAST Academy, Houston Community College
Recognition of past Diversity Champions
1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m. Networking Break
Visit exhibits, and sign up for a complimentary session at Coach’s Corner
1:40 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. Concurrent Sessions
Session D: Men Advocating Real Change: Building Allies and Inclusive Leaders
Moderator: Amanda Scott, Specialist Diversity & Inclusion, Enbridge
Panelists: David Bryson, Senior VP & Chief Commercial Officer, Gas Transmission and Midstream, Enbridge
Ryan Ebright, Sales Manager – Gulf Coast, Branded Marketing, Phillips 66
Marius Kotze, VP Human Resources, BHP
Men are an often untapped, yet critical, resource in diversity and inclusion efforts. In the past, initiatives have focused on women or minorities. Men haven’t always been central to the conversation—yet men are 85% of all leadership in Fortune 500 companies. This panel discussion will address the obstacles and solutions to men contributing fully and authentically in order to help foster and support inclusive company cultures.
Session E: Improving Inclusion on Virtual Teams
Virtual teams, defined as teams composed of people who work from different physical locations, present special challenges. Time zone differences, differences in language and culture, and a host of other factors can make navigating effective communication difficult. In this session, learn how to improve inclusion in your virtual teams to elevate their performance and increase trust among team members.
Speaker: John Sequeira, CEO, TL One Partner
Shea Bible, President, Blue Topaz Consulting
Session F: Inclusion in the Workplace includes Physical and Invisible Impairments
Let us get comfortable talking about physical and invisible disabilities in the workplace and learn how we can all manage a safe and successful working relationship. Inclusion means frank conversations of needs and where to get assistance so we can be inclusive and not scared about getting the most out of a talent pool with apparent and not apparent disabilities. What are the hidden challenges that can be a real deterrent in making positive change for disabilities.
Moderator: Crystal Lovelady, Shell Oil
Speakers: Cheryl Guido, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Manager, Gulf Coast Central Unit
Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Sandhya Rao, First Vice-President, iBUG
Lloyd van Oostenrijk, Trial Attorney in the Houston District Office, U.S. EEOC
2:40 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Network Reception & Door Prizes Drawing