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Virtual Summit Series Archive 2018

Virtually experience the most popular workshops from the Out & Equal Workplace Summit.


2018 Virtual Summit Series

(Based on workshops presented at the October 2017 Workplace Summit in Philadelphia, PA)

1. Stakeholder Engagement in Today’s Polarized Environment: Knowing How to Respond


2. PRIDE! Create a Symphony Between Your ERG & Marketing Team


3. Get SASSy: Tapping the power of Visible Allies at Work


4. Transforming Transitioning: What You Can Do For Your Transgender Employees


5. ERG BRG Best Practices and Insights from Outie Winners


6. Chevron PRIDE: Starting an LGBTQ&A ERG in South Mississippi


Stakeholder Engagement in Today’s Polarized Environment: Knowing How to Respond
In today’s shifting political environment, an organization’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is being judged against how/when they respond to external events impacting underrepresented communities. The LGBTQ community is concerned that reversal of legal protections for transgender people may indicate other rights are at risk – including those enacted by employers. Lately, leadership teams are being asked from multiple stakeholders to publicly state their commitment to workplace equity/inclusion. Being prepared to respond in a timely way is key to protecting your reputation as a best place to work. This session will use real case studies that demonstrate what’s at stake and provide tips on how to respond effectively while balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders.
Presenters:
Apoorva Gandhi | VP of Multicultural Affairs,  Marriott International
Wesley Combs | Founder, Combs Advisory Services
Bob Witeck | Founder and President, Witeck Communications 

 

 

PRIDE! Create a Symphony Between Your ERG & Marketing Team
Pride month is one the best times for a company to activate locally, reaching large numbers of LGBT consumers. But what is the value for a company to showcase products and services to LGBT consumers if they don’t believe the company really cares about the community? Conversely, how can you showcase yourself as an employer of choice and engage your employees when consumer messaging is absent or unprofessionally executed? How can a brand extend the Pride message beyond a weekend parade or festival? In this session, learn how corporations Comcast and NBCUniversal as well as agency imre are bringing marketers and ERGs together to execute holistic Pride initiatives that lift brands and corporate profiles. Hear from both marketers and ERG leaders with successful case studies of major Pride activations.
Presenters:
Kristin Wygal | Production Director,Comcast NBCUniversal,
Joe Keenan | Exectuive Director of LGBTQ & Entertainment, IMRE
Derek Tarcza | Director of Software Development, Comcast NBCUniversal 
Mike Pirone | Manager of Marketing Development, Comcast NBCUniversal

Click Here For Slides

 

 

Get SASSy: Tapping the power of Visible Allies at Work
Allies are an important contingent in the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights and workplace inclusion.  In this webinar, we’ll explore: why visible allies are critical to fostering an inclusive workplace; why calling yourself an ally is different than “acting in visible ally-ship”; how to make a plan that you can take back to your teams; and how to prepare for the consequences (both good and bad) of visibility. We’ll share tactical steps allies can take to Support, Advocate, Speak Out, and Stand Up (SASS) in visible “ally-ship” for their LGBTQ+ colleagues, as told from a bisexual, gay, and straight perspective.  Allies… it’s time to get SASSy!
Presenters:
Lauren Martin, M.Ed. | Planning & Sales, Northewestern Mutual,
Ryan Everson | Project Manager, Northewestern Mutual

 

 

Transforming Transitioning: What You Can Do For Your Transgender Employees
Transitioning in the workplace is often full of anxiety and apprehension and can be a difficult journey for team members. Workplace transitions can be a challenge, even for the most senior HR professional and leader, so support and guidance is very important. At Dell, we have a workplace transition program in place that not only provides support to team members going through the process, but also provides clear roles and responsibilities for those in key roles supporting the transition. In this session, attendees will hear from a team member who transitioned while working at Dell, and from the D&I and HR team members who supported the transition. Learn what has worked well for Dell and the steps employers can take to create and implement an effective and supportive workplace transition program.
Presenters:
Yogita Inamdar | Diversity & Inclusion, Dell

Christine Yarger | Sr. Systems Engineer, Dell

Nicole Gibson | Human Resources & North American Pride Lead, Dell

Gabriele Rodarte-Miller | Human Resources: Talent Acquisition, Dell

 

 

ERG BRG Best Practices and Insights from Outie Winners
Recent winners of the Employee Resource Group of the Year Outie will share the best practices from their companies about what led to receiving the award, with an aim towards inspiring future Outie award winners. Participants will enjoy a spirited dialogue with employees actively engaged in the work of the companies that led to the Outie award.
Presenters:

John Stotler | Header of Enterprise Talent Planning and Development Technology, and Former President Wells Fargo PRIDE Team member Network, Wells Fargo
Alex Kantor | Vice President Product Design & Development and Executive Sponsor of Target LGBTQ Council, Target Corporation
Jessica Giangaspero | Senior Manager, Supply Chain Communications, and Enterprise Co-Chair of Johnson & Johnson Open & Out, Johnson & Johnson

 

 

Chevron PRIDE: Starting an LGBTQ&A ERG in South Mississippi
In 2015, Chevron’s Pascagoula Refinery started a chapter of their LGBTQ&A ERG called PRIDE (Promoting Respect Inclusion and Dignity for Everyone). Chevron has a strong global ERG structure that we were able to tailor to the environment in Pascagoula, Mississippi. By leveraging the deep corporate knowledge and their relationships with other chapters in the US, Pascagoula’s PRIDE chapter was successful in starting. This presentation will take you through the first 3 years of the ERG’s history and share lessons learned, opportunities, and techniques for starting a LGBT ERG. By utilizing community engagement and partnerships with other ERGs, we were able to grow membership to 50 members and attendance in meetings up to 100 employees in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Speakers:
Elyssa Okkelberg | Materials and Corrosion Engineer, Chevron
Vickie Garner | Safety Specialist, Chevron
Joe Naylor | VP Policy Government and Public Affairs, Chevron
Kathy Brenneman | SCM Category Manager for Engineering & Construction Services, Chevron

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Out & Equal is the global convener, thought leader and catalyst actively working to achieve workplaces of equality and belonging - supporting LGBTQ+ employees and leaders who thrive in their careers and lives and achieve greater impact on the world.