Events

The racial injustices of 2020 led many companies to rethink the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) not only for a better workplace but also for the communities in which they do business. While many signed pledges and renewed their commitments to DEI, others struggled to get to the planning phase with limited internal buy-in.
Over a year later, as many begin to measure their progress, companies at all points in their DEI journey may still encounter challenges in putting all of their plans into practice. During this fireside chat, Kelly Burton, Executive Director of the Black Innovation Alliance, will share actionable insight into how leaders can socialize the importance of DEI within their organizations, build and maintain momentum in activating DEI strategies, and leverage DEI to meet other organizational goals.

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A company’s culture can be its single most important asset, or biggest liability, especially in a competitive job market. Conscious businesses that intentionally develop a culture that promotes their values and purpose can see impacts on their success in hiring, retention, and even their bottom line.

Mike Corkery, President and CEO of Deltek, and Catherine Allen, Co-founder and CEO of AO People Partners, will join us from our Washington, D.C. Chapter to discuss how you can nurture Conscious Culture within your workplace by embedding values such as caring, integrity, and learning at the core of how your business operates. Mike and Catherine will discuss how Deltek competes with purpose by building a culture with a focus on people, customers, and growth.

Whether you are just starting your conscious journey or are looking to evolve an existing practice, our Four Tenets In Action series will provide you with practical advice and tools from our chapter communities to help you take that next step.

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Deepa Purushothaman, founder of nFormation and author of The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color can Redefine Power in Corporate America, is offering a counter-narrative for women in the workplace: rather than conforming to rigid, male-centric standards for what it means to be a leader, women can tap into being fully themselves, embracing the power and wisdom that come with authenticity. And as Conscious Leaders, we can all work towards cultivating a culture where women leaders can maximize their potential at work.

During this Virtual Gathering, Deepa will draw from her own experience as an Indian-American woman in the corporate world, including her time as a Deloitte partner, to offer captivating alternatives to the modes of leadership we’ve been taught. She will also offer her take on how fellow leaders in the workplace can support an inclusive and equitable environment for women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups.

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From demanding work environments to declining mental health, the pandemic has disproportionately impacted frontline workers, especially those from communities of color. As we look to collectively learn from the hardships of the past two years, it’s important to understand how frontline workers have struggled and the difficulties they continue to face before we can advance towards recovery.

For companies actively navigating this unique time, ​​Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose’s (CECP) recent report, Frontline Worker Well-Being in a Time of Crisis, examines corporate support for critical roles during the pandemic and beyond, helping companies in the consumer staples industries better support their key stakeholders: the workers on the frontline. Join us at this Virtual Gathering to hear from Daryl Brewster, CEO, and Katherine Bostick, Senior Advisor to CECP, as they share insights and provide recommendations from CECP’s recent report, offer advice for conscious leaders to better protect and support essential workers, and explain why these measures will relate to corporate resilience for the future.

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Conscious Capitalism, D.C. and the National Building are co-organizing the Premier Screening of Beyond Zero at the Architecture & Design Film Festival in DC.
Beyond Zero is a documentary that tells the story of Interface, the largest tile company in the world. After 20 years building Interface, Founder Ray Anderson was faced with a new challenge in 1994–how to become a more sustainable business. The company gets off to a slow start, but eventually make breakthroughs. They have surpassed the goal of being carbon neutral and now aim to reach their goal of “Mission Zero”, that of causing no negative environmental impact.

Please join us for the screening of this inspiring story on March 25th.

Leaders are responsible for charting the course to success and prosperity for their teams, organizations, and communities. Conscious Leaders are so important to our movement because those at the helm play a crucial role in embodying the Four Tenets and leading by example to show the true impact of Conscious Capitalism.

Soyini Coke, Founder and Managing Principal of Annona Enterprises, will join us from our Atlanta Chapter to lead a conversation on the meaning of Conscious Leadership and strategies for leaders looking to develop and employ thoughtful strategies. Also participating in the conversation is Deke Cateau, CEO of AG Rhodes. As the chief executive of Atlanta’s premier provider of therapy and rehabilitation services, short-term recovery, and long-term care, Deke will share his experiences leading a mission-driven organization. Gain insight into how Deke’s conscious leadership, with a focus on people and relationships, factors into the success of the organization, and results in the physical, social and psychological well-being of all stakeholders.

Whether you are just starting your conscious journey or are looking to evolve an existing practice, our Four Tenets In Action series will provide you with practical advice and tools from our chapter communities to help you take that next step.

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In reimagining their DEI practices, many employers are beginning to pay considerable attention to ensuring that their plans are inclusive of LGBTQ+ workers and their families. From trans-inclusive health insurance to domestic partner benefits, there are a number of ways leaders in our conscious business community can, and should, support the LGBTQ+ community.

Not only is it the right thing to do, leveling the playing field for LGBTQ+ employees is also good for business. According to this year’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI), facilitated by the Human Rights Corporation (HRC), businesses that support LGBTQ+ professionals are more likely to benefit from greater recruitment and retention of a talented, diverse workforce. Join us for a conversation with Keisha Williams, Director of the Workplace Equality Program at HRC, as she shares more on the HRC and key findings from this year’s CEI, examples of employers getting LGBTQ+ inclusion right, resources for employers to improve their own equality scores, and more.

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Employees, consumers, investors, and communities are more interested than ever in the values, principles, and purposes of the companies they support. People want to attach to brands and people they trust. Conscious businesses with a defined Higher Purpose are better positioned to address this need, but true long-term success of a brand requires Conscious Leadership with a North Star focus to guide strategy and execution.

As an exemplar of Conscious Capitalism’s Four Tenets, Jim Weber joined Brooks Running Company as CEO more than 20 years ago. With bankruptcy a payroll away, he devised a pathway for the company to move from the back of the pack to lead in the global running category. It would require courage, conviction, fortitude, and constancy of purpose to out-execute much larger brands. Jim shares how he and his team transformed a failing business into a billion-dollar brand in his new book Running with Purpose: How Brooks Outpaced Goliath Competitors to Lead the Pack. Join us for a conversation with Jim as he expands on his Higher Purpose and vision for Brooks, his take on authentic leadership, and his six leadership principles he believes are essential to building trust and drawing people to a calling bigger than themselves.

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Many entrepreneurs start their businesses with the intent of either filling a need they’ve identified or to simply be of service to a given community—yet, oftentimes, the logistical challenges, overhead, and regulations force many to lose sight of their Higher Purpose and the passion with which they began their enterprise.

Today, there are a number of organizations stepping in to support small businesses and budding entrepreneurs and our partner ZenBusiness is one of those companies—enabling anyone to start, run, and grow a business, while avoiding common pitfalls, is what they do. Ross Buhrdorf, CEO of ZenBusiness, will join us for a conversation on the importance of supporting entrepreneurs and business leaders to help them realize their purpose. Ross will also offer insights into how to focus on growing your company and your heart, keys to creating an honest and authentic business, and the difference between doing good and doing well and how to do both.

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What types of opportunities does having five generations in today’s workforce present? How can organizations optimize those opportunities through the lens of Conscious Capitalism?

One of the greatest sources of potential is in the intergenerational make up of your workforce. Harnessing that potential is one of the greatest challenges. It’s a tall order to dispel generational stereotypes and address the needs and preferences of many different groups of employees at once. What happens when a leader sets aside their assumptions, fosters a culture of mutual respect and productive collaboration, and takes not a generational approach, but rather a human approach to consciously leading their employees?

“Leaders need to look at the multigenerational workforce as a benefit rather than a challenge. From a tactical standpoint, once you have the mindset that it’s a benefit, you pave the way for a healthy discourse, for a diversity in opinions, and for a richness in dialogue.”
-Aaron Raby

We invite you to join fellow Conscious Capitalists, a panel of local intergenerational leaders, and featured guest DeLinda Forsythe, Conscious Capitalism ambassador and best-selling author of “Inspiring Generational Leadership: Your Guide to Design a Conscious Culture,” to discover how an effective intergenerational workforce supported by a conscious culture of cross collaboration and mutual mentoring offers unprecedented opportunities to:

– attract and retain the best talent
– overcome inaccurate generational perceptions
– integrate your company’s purpose and stakeholders into your operating system
– create sustainable change and value for all stakeholder
– reveal the financial, societal, and emotional benefits of leading and building a conscious business enterprise

while creating a profitable business with a succession plan that defines legacy and embraces the future vision of capitalism.

Location of In-person Event:
Saginaw Valley State University
7400 Bay Rd
University Center, MI 48710
Banquet Rooms A-C, Curtiss Hall

It will happen with influential people like you, our community business leaders. Because you understand the contagious power of knowledge. Because you believe in a San Diego that is fit for business, now and in the future. Because you love this community. That is why we need you.