| 7:30 am – | Virtual Registration Opens |
| 8:00 am – 5:30 pm | Opens – Interactive Marketplace & Networking |
| 8:00 am – 5:30 pm | Opens – Non-profit spotlights and Sponsor exhibit booths |
| 8:00 am – 5:30 pm | Opens – EXCUTIVE CONNECT – INVITATION ONLY |
| 8:30 am – 12:00 pm | DIVERSITY MBA MEDIA PUBLISHING SUMMIT |
| 8:30 am – 8:45 am | Opening Day Program Welcome with CEO & Presenting Sponsor(s) |
| 8:55 am – 9:25 am | Track 1 – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Authors will address various topics related to recruiting best practices, courageous conversations, demystifying diversity and respect. |
| 9:35 am – 10:05 am | Track 2 – Leadership Authors will provide insights on how to build your leadership competency effective strategies for women, and understanding your leadership signature. |
| 10:10 am – 10:40 am | Track 3 – Race Relations Authors will share insights on race and racism, discrimination in America, white supremacy and Latinx immigrants. |
| 10:50 am – 11:20 am | Track 4 – Diversity Management Authors will show you how to build a comprehensive diversity strategy and provide you with insights on the science of diversity, unconscious bias, and how to be a change manager. |
| 11:30 am – 11:45 am | Closing Summit – Thought Leadership Moments & Connections |
| 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm | LUNCH KEYNOTE LUNCHEON: GENERAL SESSION |
| 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm | COLLEGE CAREER SUMMIT: MCDONALDS PRESENTING SPONSOR |
| 1:00 pm – 1:05 pm | Opening Day Program Welcome with Neddy Perez, DMBA Board Chair & Chief Diversity Officer, McCormick & Reggie Miller, Chief Diversity Officer, McDonalds |
| 1:07 pm – 1:30 pm | Opening Presentation – State of College Recruiting Pam McElvane CEO Diversity MBA Media & 3 I Research Institute |
| 1:35 pm – 2:45 pm | General Session – Insights from College Recruiters Topic: Learn ‘new’ inside secrets from top recruiters on how to land the interview and job offer. |
| 2:50 pm – 2:55 pm | STRETCH BREAK Video: Digital Wellness |
| 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm | Track 1A – Women in Non-traditional careers Topic: Get insights from top employers about the non-traditional careers within their industry |
| Track 1B – Top Careers in Today’s New Normal Topic: Learn what jobs are the most popular in today’s new normal | |
| 3:50 pm – 4:45 pm | Track 2A – Getting into Higher Education Topic: Learn What a PhD can mean for you from Doctoral Professors at prominent Universities |
| Track 2B – University Panel Topic: Sustainable pipeline of students while bridging the diversity divide | |
| 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm | INTERACTIVE MARKETPLACE: Booths Open for Engagement |
| 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | WELCOME RECEPTION Opening Remark & Welcome: Program: Sponsors Welcome Introducing Men of Excellence Celebrating 2021 Top 100 under 50 Executive & Emerging Leaders Celebrating 50 Out Companies Best Places to Work Special Awards Recognition Raffle and/or Silent Auction – virtual & automated Dance Video, spoken word, Youth representing diversity; (Two 15-minute segments) Music Mixer |
| 7:30 am – | Registration Opens |
| 7:30 am – 5:30 pm | INTERACTIVE MARKETPLACE |
| 8:00 am – 5:30 pm | EXECUTIVE CONNECT: INVITATION |
| 8:30 am – 10:00 am | C-SUITE LEADERSHIP & DIVERSITY SYMPOSIUM Inclusive Leadership & Diversity Symposium: Dialogue on Accelerating Corporate Accountability Business Leaders are faced with choosing to play offense or defense with BIG social justice issues becoming more prevalent than ever before. Deciding whether it is worth it to take a public stance or not is daunting. With the rise of political and social justice issues, will staying silent keep you stagnant. This c-suite discussion will look at corporate accountability priorities in these changing times. We will also discuss how we are managing corporate governance while tackling critical stakeholder conversations. What does Inclusive Leadership look like in a changing environment? What leadership practices are leading companies implementing to accelerate inclusion and equity? What is the role with Chief Diversity Officers, has it evolved or stayed the same, if so, how is the role supported during these changing times? How are these changes expected to affect companies’ profitability? |
| 10:05 am –10:10 am | BREAK WELLNESS STRETCH BREAK: Digital Wellness |
| 10:15 am -11:15 am | CEO FIRESIDE -CHAT CEO STRAIGHT TALK: Understanding CEO key priorities while navigating social justice issues in the community and inequities in the workplace |
| 11:20 am – 12:20 pm | BEST PRACTICE TOWN HALL BEST PRACTICES: What’s next to sustain an equitable workplace What’s next to sustain an equitable workplace. We will hear from top companies for diversity, equity and inclusion on the challenges faced and barriers overcome for creating an inclusive workplace. We will hear specific strategies implemented that had positive results |
| 12:25 pm – 1:25 pm | KEYNOTE LUNCHEON
GENERAL SESSION: Beyond Race & Racism Panel The past few years has had its share of social and racial unrest in our country with Black Lives Matter, Asian hate crimes, and the continued call for police reform in our country. With these systemic challenges that continue to plague our country, we often forget how these issues not only affect our homes but also the workplace. How can we best prepare this generation and the next for what’s to come? What’s the solution for ending racial issues in this country? With the continued and heightened focus on race relations, how can we get beyond race and racism in our country? |
| 1:30 pm – 1:35 pm | BREAK WELLNESS STRETCH BREAK: Digital Wellness |
| 1:40 pm – 2:40 pm | INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLES: Financial Services Roundtable Explore how the financial industry decision makers are improving the current situation by increasing minority financial professionals, solidifying their training, promoting them, giving them real decision-making power, and a voice at the table to advocate for their community. Manufacturing Roundtable Learn the challenges faced in the manufacturing industry with developing solutions to address a shortage of talent in the pipeline and the impact social justice issues can have on productivity Healthcare Roundtable A roundtable discussion regarding the workforce challenges and opportunities in the healthcare environment. We will discuss how companies can leverage diversity and inclusion for improving equity in healthcare. Technology Roundtable Learn the realities the technology industry is having in retaining and advancing diverse talent. Gain insights on leveraging best practices for using technology to manage a virtual workforce. Global Community & Culture Roundtable Learn how organizations are addressing global and community issues affecting many diverse communities and groups and how diversity shortages in the talent pipeline were addressed during a pandemic year. Municipalities Roundtable Happening on the Ground Roundtable Learn how some of the major cities addressed and responded to social justice and racial issues in their communities and what solutions made the biggest impact. Sports Roundtable Some sports inherently are overwhelming diverse based on the athletic talent recruited from some of the most densely populated communities of people of color. So why is it so difficult to leverage diversity and inclusion in the back office, among the owners, power brokers and key decision influencers. Sustainability Roundtable Learn the sustainability challenges corporations faced with ensuring equity within their supplier diversity efforts during a pandemic year. |
| 2:45 pm – 2:55 pm | BREAK WELLNESS STRETCH BREAK: Digital Wellness |
| 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Panel Discussion UNPLUGGED REAL TALK PLENARY’S: MANAGING THE BALANCING ACT AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE OF COLOR Women face the unique challenge of advancing and growing in a workplace not designed with them in mind, but recent data trends suggest women advancement seems lagging in comparison to men. So, where’s the real opportunity for all women? Data tells us that overall representation of women of color in leadership continues to lag behind white women across many sectors. With this, how do all women remain empowered and emboldened to one day lead, but opportunity rarely comes to some? The balancing act has now become even more challenging with the recent pandemic negatively impacting the social and economic welfare and livelihoods of many with as many as 2 million women considering leaving the workforce because of COVID-19. If this happens, any specific pipeline strategies for women becomes even more challenging to fulfill, if not dismal, with the data trends we’ve seen. The focus of the dialogue will be shared leadership practices for presenting your best self and on how diversity and inclusion can be leveraged to enhance women’s advancement by having an organizational culture that values promoting both women and people of color. The outcome of the plenary is for attendees to walk away with key outcomes that can be put into action. UNPLUGGED REAL TALK PLENARY’S: IS IT POSSIBLE TO KEEP ISSUES IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY OUT OF THE WORKPLACE – HOW CAN YOU STAY PRODUCTIVE WHEN THE WORLD AROUND YOU IS UNRAVELING Polarizing social justice issues continue to plague our country and not only is it impacting our homes but now our workplaces. With today’s continued social unrest, companies have the challenge of ensuring employees engagement and productivity remain at high levels. The broad range of polarization people are experiencing includes police brutality, race relations, white men feeling excluded, and cross gender collaboration issues. The focus of the dialogue will be shared practices on how diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives can be leveraged to enhance people’s engagement when the world around us is in chaos. The outcome of the plenary is for attendees to walk away with key themes that can be put into action to create a more sustainable and inclusive workplace. |
| 4:25 pm – 5:10 pm | Specialty Sessions for Women or Other Credible Visibility We’ve always heard the saying that what’s said about you behind closed doors, can make the difference in whether you advance or not. In this session, we will discuss effective strategies on how to build your personal network, how to understand and learn a company’s culture for positioning yourself for success. Mind Your Money With the possibility of more than 2 million women leaving the workforce to care for their families, how can they best prepare their money for retirement. With the pandemic, is retirement a thing of the past or are women faced with having to work twice as long as men. In this session, we will discuss how best to prepare for disruptions in life while managing the money. Psychology Safety (Description coming) Women Empowering Women: From mentoring to sponsorship Do women really support other women in the workplace? What about when they are both competing for the same position? Is support still there? In this session, we will learn how to empower and support each other in the pursuit of advancement, opportunity and wellness. Having Tough Conversations on a Regular Most of organizations’ leadership is mostly represented by men. But what happens when men need to support one another in order to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace? In this session, we will discuss how to engage white men while addressing those uncomfortable and taboo topics that get in the way of cultural progress. Balancing Act: Leading through Tumultuous Times Race relations and stereotypes impact our communities in negative ways that’s non-productive. In these situations, we try hard not to bring our issues to the workplace but in those tough times, it because hard to balance it all. In this session, we will discuss how to keep our sanity and swagger while leading through tumultuous times. Invisible Diversity (Description coming) Psychological Safety Many of today’s most valuable firms have come to realize that analyzing and improving individual workers — a practice known as ‘‘employee performance optimization’’ — isn’t enough. As commerce becomes increasingly global and complex, the bulk of modern work is more and more team-based. One study, published in The Harvard Business Review in January 2016, found that ‘‘the time spent by managers and employees in collaborative activities has ballooned by 50 percent or more’’ over the last two decades and that, at many companies, more than three-quarters of an employee’s day is spent communicating with colleagues. An evidence-based understanding of the dynamics that lead to effective teams is critical. This session pulls together various research studies and curates their findings regarding psychologically safe environments as a critical enabler of team effectiveness. Learning Objectives: 1) Understand the meaning and types of psychological safety and why it’s important. 2) Learn the benefits and impacts of psychological safety. 3) Discover the characteristics of psychologically safe teams and what inclusive actions can create a safe environment. |
| 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm | AWARDS GALA & CELEBRATION |
| 7:15 pm – 8:15 pm | Virtual DJ & Networking |
Adapting to the current world pandemic has been a priority for us. You can now join our 2-day conference from the comfort of your home!
Our strength comes from our communities. Join us to learn more about how organizations across the country are driving social change, and hear inspiring stories from leadership in the nonprofit sector.
This world fashion festival brings a sense of culture and diversity using innovative and unique design. Featuring designers from across the globe:
Featuring designers from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Honduras, and Argentina.
Hear directly from CEOs from both large corporations and emerging companies about navigating current times.
Welcome to our 14th Annual National Business Leaders Virtual Conference & Awards Gala! We are in the midst of a Changing World and encourage you to register in order to strengthen your lead. It is in times like this that lend the opportunity for leadership to step up, get educated and implement the changes needed to advance their teams and companies. This is the time to get educated. This is the time to get motivated. This is the time to act! Register today for a mind-blowing, content-packed, dynamic conference with over 75 speakers that are experts in their respective industries and functions. And don’t worry; we are pulling no punches this year. Yes, we are ‘going there.’ You will learn, you will be inspired, you will have fun and you will walk away from the Conference prepared to go to the next level.
Miriam Harris Lewis is chief diversity and inclusion officer at Principal Financial Group®. In that role, she has global responsibility for designing, leading and implementing strategies that foster a more inclusive workplace, increase employee performance, drive better outcomes for customers, and ultimately improve business results.
Prior to joining Principal® in July 2019, Lewis worked for 16 years at The Clorox Company, where she earned roles of increasing responsibility in D&I and supply chain. She also co-chaired the company’s employee giving campaign, which generated about $9 million in donations for non-profit organizations. Lewis previously held positions with The Coca-Cola Company and First Family Financial Services, which was later acquired by Citigroup Financial Services.
Cesar Rolon Jr has an extensive and versatile background in community affairs, marketing, promotions, event planning and development. As a former radio and television executive, Cesar launched Imagen Marketing Consultants, a boutique agency specializing in multicultural and experiential marketing for over fifteen years ago.
Cesar has worked as a marketing consultant and outside advisor for companies such as City of Chicago, American Airlines, Miller Brewing Company, Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, Univision Television, Southwest Airlines, Macys, Sears, Ford Motor Company, Chrysler Motor, Microsoft, Sally Beauty Supply, Sony Discos, Universal Music, McCormick Spice, Google, Diageo & Brown Forman Spirits and Walgreens just to name a few. Due to the current impact of Covid 19, Cesar co-founded the Illinois Unidos Initiative, a coalition of over 90 Illinois Elected.
Bruce is a visionary, entrepreneur, speaker, author, panelist, executive producer, writer, poet, consultant and social activist. He was born and raised in New York City. He has written poetry/prose & articles for over 40 years. His work has been published in major magazines, anthologies, and literary publications. He has written testimonials from the likes of Essence Magazine, Emerge Magazine, Class Magazine, Harlem River Press etc…
