How to Have the Difficult Conversations to Advance a Diverse and Inclusive Work Environment

On Thursday, October 10, 2019, Drinker Biddle’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the firm’s Philadelphia office hosted a CLE event. As one of three one-hour CLEs, Philadelphia chief diversity officer and counsel Maria Lewis spoke on a panel, on “How to Have the Difficult Conversations to Advance a Diverse and Inclusive Work Environment,” from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

This interactive session was designed to address ways that an organization can promote diversity and inclusion by engaging the workplace culture in an open discussion. The panel discussed the dangers of implicit bias, the ramifications of unintended exclusive policies and practices, and the struggles associated with imposter syndrome. The panelists also explored ways to combat an unwelcoming work environment and create an inclusive community.

The other one-hour panel discussions were:

• 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Making the Right Call: Navigating TCPA Regulation and Litigations
• 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.: The Changing Landscape of Corporate Purpose and ESG’s Continued Impact