June 08, 2023 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
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Join us for an exciting collaboration with Dallas Chapter as we come together to ignite motivation and inspiration in our members to continue their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) journey. As we celebrate PRIDE Month, our upcoming Chapter meeting promises to create a welcoming space for panelists and participants alike to share their DEI highlights and inspire others to take the next steps in their own journeys. Get ready for an engaging session filled with meaningful discussions, powerful insights, and a compelling call to action that will empower you to make a difference in your workplace and community. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of a dynamic movement towards a more inclusive and diverse world. Join us now and create a brighter future together!
Learning Objectives:
- Share lessons learned to advance your organization’s DEI journey
- Understand the importance of your employees to feel a sense of belonging in the organization
- Have real-life examples of the advantages of embedding DEI in the organization
PDUs - 2:
● Ways of Working: 1
● Power Skills: 1
Moderator:Dr. Jeffrey K. O. Thompson, DBA, PMP, SAFe RTE, DASSM, CSM
Panelist 1: Julio Ruiz
Panelist 2: Marc-Antoine Saumier
Panelist 3: Stephanie Woolley
Panelist 4: Luiz Esteves, PMP, PSM II
Moderator: Jeffrey Thompson
Jeffrey (he/him)is an Agile Release Train Engineer (RTE) in CORE Platform – Agile Practice at TD Bank. In his role at the bank, he is a project professional who acts like a chief Scrum Master and servant leader. He supports his teams and other stakeholders to deliver on their Objectives and Key Results (OKR) effectively. Jeffrey does what is necessary to take his teams to a marvelous WOW!
Jeffrey is a Past President of the Project Management Institute (PMI) Toronto chapter. He also gives back to the community as a board member of the York Region Alliance of African Canadian Communities (YRAACC), volunteers in his church, including with the Knights of Columbus, and is a member of the Black Employee Network (BEN) at TD Bank.
Jeffrey has a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in General Business from Northcentral University (NCU), Arizona, his MSc. in Computer Information Systems from the University of Phoenix, and his BSc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine, in Trinidad. He is a researcher, and his ORCID number ishttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8776-7719
Previously, Jeffrey has been giving back to the community as a Scout leader with the Federation of North American Explorers (FNE), a House League Soccer Coach, and a Rep Team Manager with the Richmond Hill Soccer Club (RHSC).
Jeffrey is an accomplished and dynamic Certified Project Manager (PMP), Six Sigma Green Belt, MS Project Trainer, Agile, Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), and ITIL professional. He has over 30 years of experience and proven effectiveness with successful implementations in the financial, pharmaceutical, brewing, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industries and government (Ontario Lottery and Gaming). He also mentors professionals and teaches project management. He is married to Jannette and has two children, Shane and Zoë.
LinkedIn Profile:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreythompsonpmp/
Panelist 1: Julio Ruiz
Julio Ruiz has over 10 years of experience managing projects related to Information Security, Software Development, and I.T. Consultancy for clients in North, Central, and South America. Currently, he is a Project Manager at Avasek, an I.T. company in New Jersey that provides security services such as Incident Response, Security Consulting, and Managed Detection and Response (MDR). He works daily to support coordination with different teams to enable I.T. infrastructure after cyberattacks, such as ransomware.
For several years, Julio has been involved in the PMI spectrum. He is a founding member of the PMI Caribe Colombia Chapter, one of the four PMI chapters in Colombia, where he performs the role of Vice President of Communications. As part of his transition to the U.S., he started volunteering as a social media, graphic designer, and web manager at PMI Dallas Chapter. He then moved on to become Vice President of Applied Project Management, providing different outreach programs and collaboration across communities in the Dallas area.
Julio holds certifications as a Project Management Professional, Kanban Management Professional (KMP), and Scrum Master Professional Certificate (SPMC)®. Additionally, he has an MBA in Project Management from Amberton University. He is happily married and has two beautiful dogs.
LinkedIn Profile:https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliocruizr/
Panelist 2: Marc-Antoine Saumier
Marc-Antoine (pronouns he/him) has been advocating for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community since 2006 and he has held different positions both in Montréal and Toronto. Currently at TD Canada Trust as a Senior Manager, Diversity and Inclusion, his primary focus is to source, attract and advocate for the hiring of top talent within the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Canada, working closely with our business leaders, recruiters and community partners to ensure our business needs are met, while executing on the bank’s progressive Diversity and Inclusion mandate. His journey of supporting the 2SLGBTQ+ community began in with participation in the “Out for Business” conference, held in Montréal in 2006 as part of the “Out Games”, followed by membership in boards of different affinity groups and organizations, such as the GALAXe, Xerox’s resource group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, and the Quebec LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and Pride at Work until 2013.
In 2015, Marc-Antoine joined TD Canada Trust and became the first manager of the Atateken/Ste-Catherine branch in the heart of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Montréal village, accumulating, at this point, more than ten years of experience in business development. In 2018, Marc-Antoine moved to Toronto and made advocacy for the queer community his primary job. First as a Regional Manager, 2SLGBTQ+ Business Development, and later as a Senior Manager, Diversity Sourcing and 2SLGBTQ+ TalentSenior Manager, Diversity Sourcing and 2SLGBTQ+ Talent, where he Acted as a liaison between TD and the 2SLGBTQ+ community to provide 2SLGBTQ+ customers with the best financial advice and exceptional service they deserve.
Marc-Antoine also led TD’s Diversity Sourcing team and the bank’s enterprise Diversity Sourcing strategy, focusing on Visible Minorities, People with Disabilities, Women in Leadership, and Indigenous Peoples, supporting talent strategy by attracting diverse talent to the bank and maintaining sustainable pipelines. He is also an art lover in the creation and chairing of the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts Young Philanthropists Circle’s executive committee until 2015, being the first to receive a ARDI prize, presented by the Brigade Arts Affaires Montréal, for his philanthropic involvement.
LinkedIn Profile:https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcantoinesaumier/?originalSubdomain=ca
Panelist 3: Stephanie Woolley (she/her)
Stephanie Woolley (she/her) is happily retired from a long career in software development at IBM. She's now focused on giving back to her community through leading support and social groups, through education, and through advocacy for healthcare and against hate.Stephanie is Vice President, Education and Advocacy Chair, and a support facilitator at Toronto Pflag, a partner in the transSocial Collective, and a member of the Trans Pride committee of Pride Toronto.She is a cat mum to three, and and avid cook, and film and theatre fan
LinkedIn Profile:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-woolley-661a27109/?originalSubdomain=ca
Panelist 4: Luiz Esteves
Luiz Esteves has 13 years of proven Project Management experience, overseeing more than 10 Projects end-to-end using standardized methods within sectors such as developmental disabilities, telecommunications, travel & tourism, and technology. Holding a PMP and a PSM II designations, Luiz is currently a Project Manager at Community Living Toronto, a not for profit providing a wide array of services to individuals with developmental disabilities.
Luiz has strong knowledge of guiding principles of Project Management, including both Predictive and Adaptive methodologies. He has delivered projects in different companies and industries in a fast-paced changing environment with dynamic priorities. He has coordinated diverse team efforts, ensured high-quality deliverables, and kept projects within scope, on budget, and on schedule. One of his recent projects has been featured in My Home My Community Project in early 2020.
Luiz started his DEI journey early on in his career, advocating for himself and others, questioning the status quo whenever necessary to bring equity seeking and equity deserving communities to the table. As part of his advocacy, he has done extensive grassroots education and awareness engagements with colleagues, classmates, and, sometimes, family members in order to bring them up to speed in this ever-changing environment. Firm believer of self-awareness, Luiz focuses on this pillar to get the foundational piece solidified. Currently, at Community Living Toronto, he is part of the PRIDE Collective, an affinity group of queer and ally employees that promote education, awareness and respectful treatment of the queer community members amongst employees, clients, and major stakeholders. He is also a facilitator and public speaker on project management, leadership, and DEI subjects. Luiz is also an avid comics and movies fan (DC and Marvel hold equal spaces in my heart, sorry!), and a music lover.
LinkedIn Profile:https://www.linkedin.com/in/luiz--esteves/
Tickets
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$10.00 Guest & Non-PMI Dallas Chapter Members
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FAQs
How to answer DEI application questions? ›
If an employer is committed to addressing DEI in their workplace, they'll want to know that you both understand the meaning of each word and are committed to promoting the ideals in the workplace. In your answer, discuss the importance of learning about and making space for diverse cultures and experiences.
What is a good answer for diversity equity and inclusion? ›Sample Answer:
“Diversity, Equity and Inclusion means recognizing difference and respecting all colleagues, regardless of their backgrounds. Equity is giving each person the tools they need for success, depending on their needs, and inclusion is to provide a sense of belonging in the workplace.”
Answer. You could say something like: “Well, I've always been interested in learning more about different cultures and ethnicities. I'm fascinated by other people and their backgrounds.” Or maybe you could say: “I am very passionate about diversity because it helps us understand each other better.
How to answer what does diversity and inclusion mean to you? ›I believe that diversity means representation across a wide range of traits, backgrounds, and experiences. When we can connect and engage with coworkers with different perspectives than our own, we can more successfully achieve our overall goals. Inclusion refers to a sense of belonging in any environment.
What makes a good DEI statement? ›Use positive language and tone Create a compelling headline other than "DEI Commitment Statement" Tips: Page 2 Community values and DEI-related goals Specifics about DEI initiatives, resources, and people doing DEI work Acknowledgement of historically underrepresented or marginalized groups (e.g. gender, race, sexual ...
How do you write a meaningful DEI statement? ›- Start with your mission. Look at your mission statement and go from there. ...
- Describe underrepresented groups. ...
- Break it down. ...
- Keep it simple. ...
- Stay positive.
When asked a question about diversity, discuss your direct experiences with people of different cultures. Refrain from saying you don't see color. Instead, explain the value of honoring diverse cultures and learning from others. If you are sincere in your answers to diversity questions, your true character will shine.
How do you write a good diversity and inclusion statement? ›Your statement should provide diversity, equity, and inclusion definitions for your culture. It should connect DEI to your specific mission, vision, and values, and demonstrate what living your DEI statement looks like in real life. A good DEI statement includes the current state of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
How do you demonstrate commitment to diversity and inclusion? ›- Be open about gender pay inequality/equality. ...
- Be aware of unconscious bias. ...
- Acknowledge religious and cultural holidays. ...
- Encourage frequent employee feedback. ...
- Be aware of ageism and strive for a multigenerational workforce.
Diversity means having a range of people with various racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds and various lifestyles, experience, and interests. Diversity to me is the ability for differences to coexist together, with some type of mutual understanding or acceptance present.
How do we explain diversity answer? ›
Diversity is about what makes each of us unique and includes our backgrounds, personality, life experiences and beliefs, all of the things that make us who we are. It is a combination of our differences that shape our view of the world, our perspective and our approach[1].
How do you respond to diversity challenges? ›- Take a look at your recruiting and hiring practices. ...
- Establish mentoring opportunities. ...
- Promote team work. ...
- Make inclusion a priority. ...
- Provide Diversity Training.
Diversity is the presence of differences within a given setting. In the workplace that can mean differences in race, ethnicity, gender identity, age and more. Inclusion is the practice of ensuring that people feel a sense of belonging and support from the organization.
How do you explain diversity and inclusion in the workplace? ›In the workplace, diversity means your staff consists of individuals who bring new perspectives and backgrounds to the table. Inclusion means that everyone in the diverse mix feels involved, valued, respected, treated fairly, and embedded in your culture.
What does the DEI mean to me? ›What does DEI mean? DEI stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Diversity means all the ways that people are different, be it gender, gender identity, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, disabilities, neurodiversity, socioeconomic status, age, religion, location, or veteran status.
What is an example of a good DEI statement? ›I am committed to working to seek for solutions throughout my career. I am committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in my clinical work, research and training programs. I have completed Bias 101 and Safe Zone training, and proudly display an equity sign on my laptop.
What are examples of good DEI? ›- Celebrating diverse holidays.
- Issuing an inclusive statement from your CEO.
- Establishing mentorship programs for underrepresented groups.
- Publishing a diversity video on your website.
- Revising your employee value proposition.
- Have an Inclusive Employee Onboarding Process. ...
- Eradicate Bias. ...
- Provide a Work Environment Where Multilingual Teams can Thrive. ...
- Take Advantage of Focus Groups. ...
- Analyze Talent Practices. ...
- Get Leadership Buy-In. ...
- Honor Workers' Cultural and Religious Practices. ...
- Address Pay Inequality.
- Be aware of unconscious bias.
- Communicate the importance of managing bias.
- Promote pay equity.
- Develop a strategic training program.
- Acknowledge holidays of all cultures.
- Make it easy for your people to participate in employee resource groups.
- Mix up your teams.
Tell us about a time when you were unable to be tolerant of another person's point of view. Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the outcome. Tell us about a time when you created an environment of honesty, inclusion and respect for others. Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the outcome.
What is an inspirational quote about DEI? ›
“You deserve a circle of inclusion and influence, but it's up to you to create it.” “To me, beauty is inclusion– every size, every color– that's the world I live in.” “We are greater than, and greater for, the sum of us.” “The human heart is too grand to be wasted in the gutter of cultural exclusivity.”
How do you write a personal DEI statement? ›- Give examples of a candidate's past contributions to diversity.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the particular diversity and equity related issues and needs in a candidate's field, or in higher education more generally.
- Accept people's differences but find common ground. ...
- Learn something new from people that are different to you, don't shut it down. ...
- Make sure you give everyone a chance to have an opinion. ...
- Avoid using stereotypes and recognise and address your own bias.
We embrace diversity and equality in a serious way. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills and views.. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. Creating a culture of Equality isn't just the right thing to do, it's also the smart thing.
What are the 3 main characteristics of diversity? ›All three types shape identity — or rather, identities. Demographic diversity is tied to our identities of origin — characteristics that classify us at birth and that we will carry around for the rest of our lives. Experiential diversity is based on life experiences that shape our emotional universe.
What is the best explanation of diversity? ›Diversity is the range of human differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values system, national origin, and political beliefs.
How do you answer diversity essay questions? ›Your answer to the diversity question should focus on how your experiences have built your empathy for others, your embrace of differences, your resilience, your character, and your perspective.
What are some examples of diversity? ›- Cultural diversity. This type of diversity is related to each person's ethnicity and it's usually the set of norms we get from the society we were raised in or our family's values. ...
- Race diversity. ...
- Religious diversity. ...
- Age diversity. ...
- Sex / Gender / Sexual orientation. ...
- Disability.
The key to dealing successfully with diversity is open, honest communication. In a diverse workplace, we should all feel free to be ourselves — while treating others with respect. We should be able to tell each other when something bothers us — without overreacting.
What can you do to embrace diversity? ›Being respectful is the key to adapting to a new, diverse environment. To prevent or resolve conflicts that may occur in any social interaction, you should maintain an attitude of respect for others, be open-minded and willing to compromise, and know how to work together calmly to resolve conflicts.
What is an example of diversity message? ›
“We're committed to helping you do your best work. Our promise is to champion diversity, build an inclusive culture and product, and do our part to create a more equitable world. We can't promise we'll always get it right, but we'll always put our people (that's you) first.”
What are DEI values? ›Diversity, equity, and inclusion are three closely linked values held by many organizations that are working to be supportive of different groups of individuals, including people of different races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, genders, and sexual orientations.
What is DEI in simple terms? ›Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
What is the goal of DEI work? ›Mattel's DE&I goals include: Achieving and maintaining 100% base pay equity for employees in comparable roles or performing identical work in similar markets. Increasing the representation of women at all levels across the organization. Increasing ethnic representation across all organizational levels.
How do you respond to diversity and inclusion questions? ›When asked a question about diversity, discuss your direct experiences with people of different cultures. Refrain from saying you don't see color. Instead, explain the value of honoring diverse cultures and learning from others. If you are sincere in your answers to diversity questions, your true character will shine.
How do I write a DEI statement for a job application? ›- Give examples of a candidate's past contributions to diversity.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the particular diversity and equity related issues and needs in a candidate's field, or in higher education more generally.
My commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, as demonstrated by my past experiences, align well with this philosophy. As a woman in the sciences, I have seen firsthand how the academic environment can be unwelcoming, unfair and inequitable because of not fitting into a particular gender schema.
What is an example of a DEI personal statement? ›I am committed to working to seek for solutions throughout my career. I am committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in my clinical work, research and training programs. I have completed Bias 101 and Safe Zone training, and proudly display an equity sign on my laptop.
What should I say about DEI in interview? ›Describe your experience in serving or teaching underrepresented communities. What did you learn from this experience? Describe a situation in which you utilized your multicultural skills to solve a problem. Please provide an example of how you approached educating students about diversity, equity, or inclusion.
How do you demonstrate DEI? ›- Change the conversation. ...
- Map network connections across boundaries. ...
- Boost coaching, mentoring, and sponsoring. ...
- Analyze talent practices. ...
- Go deeper on identity.
What is a strong statement about diversity? ›
“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” – Stephen Covey. “We need diversity of thought in the world to face the new challenges.” – Tim Berners-Lee. “Learn to enjoy and respect each other's differences.” – Fred Meijer. “In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” – Maya Angelou.
What are 5 examples of diversity? ›- Cultural diversity. This type of diversity is related to each person's ethnicity and it's usually the set of norms we get from the society we were raised in or our family's values. ...
- Race diversity. ...
- Religious diversity. ...
- Age diversity. ...
- Sex / Gender / Sexual orientation. ...
- Disability.
We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.
How to demonstrate respect for diversity equity and inclusion? ›- Accept people's differences but find common ground. ...
- Learn something new from people that are different to you, don't shut it down. ...
- Make sure you give everyone a chance to have an opinion. ...
- Avoid using stereotypes and recognise and address your own bias.
In the workplace, diversity means your staff consists of individuals who bring new perspectives and backgrounds to the table. Inclusion means that everyone in the diverse mix feels involved, valued, respected, treated fairly, and embedded in your culture.