The Summit on Leading Diversity

The Summit on Leading Diversity provides learning, networking, and continuous learning for diversity practitioners and champions of Diversity and Inclusion.

Learning Tracks
Hands-on and results-focused, the Learning Tracks are designed to provide the know-how necessary to take diversity initiatives to the next level. The breakout sessions in each track address the most pressing issues facing diversity practitioners and line leaders today, and all are led by dynamic presenters with content expertise.

2010 tracks include:

• Track 1—Diversity Management: A Relationship-Based Model
• Track 2—Retention and Succession Planning: Keeping them Onboard and Engaged
• Track 3—Internal / External Partnerships: Strategic Relationships that Matter
• Track 4—2020 Cultural Competence Issues: Building Relationships through Deeper Understanding
• Track 5—Courageous Conversations: 2010 Relationship Dynamics
• Track 6—Thriving in a Global Economy: Navigating Relationships Locally and Abroad
• Track 7—Leading with Trust and Authenticity: Confronting Barriers Head On
• Track 8—Business Development: Linking Employees and Customers

Applied Learning Teams
Linkage will organize learning teams based on a pre-Summit survey to identify participants' key challenges, diversity goals and objectives, years of experience, and industry focus. The Applied Learning Teams occur daily on-site at the Summit. Facilitator-led, they feature small groups of peers who discuss common issues and challenges in an open environment. In the end, participants walk away with action tools and best practices, a focused strategy for improvement, and a new peer network.

2010 Learning Team Topics:

• Aligning strategy, metrics, and project management to further diversity & inclusion efforts
• Developing & delivering sexual orientation / gender identity-expression education as part of a global diversity framework
• Developing a diversity learning strategy that aligns with business needs
• Diversity council best practices
• Effective tips for leading worldwide "diversity" initiatives
• From collision to collaboration: the power of 4 (generations)
• Gender geography: assessing gender inclusion at each level of your organization
• How do we get there: cultural change, diversity and inclusion
• Launching a diversity initiative: why metrics are critical to your success!
• Leadership skills for diversity network affinity group members
• Leading diversity for line managers
• Leading with trust and authenticity
• Leveraging diversity of thought as another diversity dimension
• Leveraging internal/external partnerships & relationships to create inclusion
• Leveraging technology and social media to drive I&D
• Managing diversity during downsizing efforts
• Market optimization: leveraging diversity to tap into new markets
• On-boarding as a key retention strategy for diverse employees
• Recruitment of senior executives from a diverse perspective
• The value proposition of employee networks groups
• Unconscious bias and talent management
• Understanding misunderstanding: diversity conflict resolution
• Valuing or managing diversity from a strategic perspective

Advanced Practitioners Think Tank
The Advanced Practitioners Think Tank was created to meet the needs of senior practitioners who have primary responsibility for leading diversity strategies within their organizations. This highly interactive forum allows experienced diversity leaders to collectively explore the complex challenges and strategies for advancing the diversity field.