AM23-ST-14-O: DEI - The Leader's Role in Building and Sustaining a DEI Culture Through Staff Engagement (Enduring)

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are essential in today’s workplace. While many resources are available, the road to implementing DEI is unclear. DEI is not a single event or program to adopt. True value comes when an organization can grow and sustain a DEI culture. Organizational leaders play a critical role in setting expectations, modeling DEI principles, and becoming a voice for all groups. Leaders must work diligently to create a proactive, safe, and equitable work environment for all staff. This session will describe DEI, why it matters, and why it is good for your organization. Topics covered include recognizing unintentional bias, promoting DEI, and involving staff as you build a culture where all employees feel welcome, included, and valued. The role of leaders in demonstrating DEI values, proactively practicing open dialogue, promoting staff involvement and incorporating DEI into all facets of the business will be explored. The session will review methods for both staff engagement and accountability.