Creating the Environment for Courageous Inclusion

 

Many companies today are facing growing pressure from well-organized social movements and their own employees to provide equal opportunities in hiring and advancement. Research shows that when they build a more diverse workforce, these companies haven’t just satisfied social and moral mandates: they benefit from strengthened innovation, competitive advantage, and decision-making; improved engagement and retention; enhanced reputation; and increased productivity and profitability.

 

Getting there, though, isn’t easy. Traditional diversity training does a good job of building awareness and starting the conversation, but simply hiring more people of color, women, or those from other underrepresented groups isn’t the solution. If there are measures or cultural norms in place that keep these new employees from feeling included, they won’t stay—and the company is back where it started.

 

Creating the Environment for Courageous Inclusion takes a different approach. Designed for decision-makers who can drive change in their organizations, this live online program doesn’t stop with building awareness of the challenge. Over six three-hour sessions, it provides concrete insights, specific tools, and practical steps for change. Participants will identify processes, policies, and procedures in their organizations that currently maintain inequity between groups, and through exercises, assignments, and interactive discussions will learn how to transform them. Ultimately, the program works to create transformative changes instead of quick fixes.

Donald Outing, PhD, is Lehigh’s first Vice President for Equity and Community, and the University Diversity and Inclusion Officer. In this role, he leads institutional efforts to advance its work on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Prior to his appointment at Lehigh, Dr. Outing served as the Chief Diversity Officer and Director of the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunity for the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point. He served as the academy’s senior leader in coordinating efforts to create a more diverse and inclusive environment, developed and implemented the USMA diversity and inclusion strategic plan, and created an integrated assessment process to measure effectiveness.

 

He was certified as a diversity and equal opportunity practitioner in the U.S. Department of Defense in 2015, after completing the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI), and received the Commandant’s Award for highest overall achievement.

 

Dr. Outing has more than 34 years of distinguished federal service. He is the recipient of numerous awards to include the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the National Society of Black Engineers’ 2013 Janice A Lumpkin Educator of the Year Award and the 2014 National IMAGE Meritorious Service Award, and the 2014 College For Every Student Mario Peña Award for his work to increase college access and success for underserved youth.

 

• Gain a heightened awareness of the challenges to creating an inclusive workplace

• Learn frameworks, tactics, and best practices for the work that needs to be done

• Become an advocate and guide for driving transformative change in your organization

• Identify next steps and create a blueprint for achieving them

• Build a network of peers and colleagues who can serve as resources as you begin to implement new approaches within your organization 

• Senior leaders including c-suite executives, VPs, trustees, and directors

• Managers and supervisors

• Human resources professionals 

• Those who have an interest in driving positive change