Diversity in Business: How to Bring Meaningful Change

HUBweek 2017 Panel host by the MSCPA

Diversity in Business: How to bring meaningful change

The Massachusetts Society of CPAsis convening leaders from the most prominent business sectors in Boston—financial services, technology, and biotech, among others—in order to have a conversation about the need for diversity in the workplace and the benefits diversity brings to a business. These industries struggle with diversity themselves, making this an introspective panel discussion on how to encourage diverse hiring while improving the bottom line.

The business case for diversity is clear. Minority business owners are on the rise. The most recent U.S Census data shows there has been a 38 percent increase in minority-owned businesses since 2007 with eight million businesses in the U.S now lead by minorities. Additionally, companies in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity are 35 percent more likely to have financial returns higher than their respective national industry medians. Then why is progress stalled?

Topics for the panel will include:unconscious bias in the hiring process, best practices for a diverse workplace, the role diversity plays in venture capital funding, filling the pipeline of future workers and the business benefits of increased diversity.

Date: Oct. 10 @ 5:30 p.m. (participants to arrive by 5:15 p.m.)

5:30-5:45 registration

5:45-6:50 panel discussion

6:50-7:00 Q&A

7:00-7:30 networking reception

Location: PwC, 101 Seaport Blvd, Boston

Amy Pitter, CEO of the Massachusetts Society of CPAs

The MSCPA is the state’s premiere professional organization representing 11,000 accounting professionals in public accounting, business, government, nonprofit and education.Great opportunities beckon in the accounting field — the number of jobs in the sector is expected to grow by 12 percent by 2022. And firms in Massachusetts recognize that diversifying the workforce is a priority that will only happen through deliberate, continuous effort.

Amy has been using her position to advocate for increased diversity in the accounting industry. While accounting has typically been dominated by white males, people like Amy are leading the charge in changing the demographics to help companies improve their business.

Prior to joining the MSCPA, Amy was the Commissioner of Revenue for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Herby Duverné, Principal & CEO of Taino Consulting Group, LLC

Herby Duverné is the Principal and CEO of Taino Consulting Group, LLC (Taino), a cyber and physical security and professional services provider in the government and private sectors. He leads the company’s efforts for explosive growth with a laser focus on internal and external branding, sales growth and a commitment to sustained superior client services. From 2012 to 2017, he magnified Taino’s workforce more than ten-fold. The company possesses a Defense Security Services secret clearance, operates in multiple states and currently holds contracts with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and several with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Herby emigrated from Haiti and worked odd jobs upon arriving in the U.S. Over time, he found an interest in security and built his own business from the ground up.

Femi Wasserman

The discussion will be moderated by Marcela García, editorial writer at The Boston Globe