Strength in Numbers: Advancing Collaborative Diversity in the Workforce

The Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute
presents

Strength in Numbers: Advancing Collaborative Diversity in the Workforce

“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.”

-Baha’i Writings

March 14-15, 2018

Thomson Reuters Corporate Headquarters

Three Times Square

New York, NY

Westin New York at Times Square

270 West 43rd Street

New York, NY

Co-Chairs

Ricardo Anzaldua, Executive Vice President & General Counsel (Retired), MetLife, Inc.

Patsy Doerr, Global Head, Corporate Responsibility & Inclusion in Human Resources, Thomson Reuters

Gillian Power,Chief Information Officer, Lathrop Gage LLP

Program(all timeslocal)

Day One – March 14, 2018

6:30pm – 7:30pmRegistration and Networking Reception

7:30pm – 8:45pmDinner and Keynote

David B. Wilkins, Lester Kissel Professor of Law, Director, Center on the Legal Profession and Vice Dean for Global Initiatives on the Legal Profession,Harvard Law School

8:45pm – 9:00pm Closing

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Day Two – March 15, 2018

8:15am –9:15amRegistration & Breakfast

9:15am – 9:30amOpening Remarks

9:30am – 10:45amDiversity In Flux: The State of the Nation 2018

With a revitalized concern over the security of basic rights and a loosening of positive politicalsupportfor minority groups from national leadership, the issue now begs the question – does our strength lie innumbers? As the edges of precious rights become frayed, is there a growing threat to theblanket of protectionism put forth by previous generations? This opening session explores the commonalities in our differences and the changing nature of our diverse nation in 2018.

Moderator:

Patsy Doerr, Global Head, Corporate Responsibility & Inclusion in Human Resources, Thomson Reuters

Panelists:

Susan Herman, President, American Civil Liberties Union

Leon Russell, Chairman,NAACP National Board of Directors

Rachel Tiven, Chief Executive Officer, Lambda Legal

10:45am – 11:00amBreak

11:00am – 12:15pmFacilitated Breakouts

Seeing the Unseen: Overcoming Physical Discrimination in the Workplace

“…you must close your eyes otherwise you won’t see anything.”

(Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll)

So much of a person can be missed from assumptions built upon the feedback of one’s own perceptions. Seeing a person solely from a perspective of health, ability, ethnicity, race or other visual identifier provides an extremely narrow viewpoint of all of the qualities a given individual may possess. This session addresses why physical discrimination, in any regard, is harmful to an organization’s bottom line. This roundtablewill explore why organizations need to begin driving the discussion beyond one narrowviewpoint toward the greater, open road of a diverse landscape.

Facilitators:

Susan Garcia, Associate General Counsel, Thomson Reuters

John Mitchell, Owner, HMG, LLC

What’s in a Number?: Eradicating Misperceptions Based On Ageism

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) expressly forbids employers from discrimination against people aged 40 years or older in their hiring practices. Though this law attempts to promote the fair employment of aging Americans, ageism is much more than an issue of numbers. Along with misconstrued beliefs around experience (or lack thereof), comes fallacies around abilities, both intellectual and physical, as well as assumptions that an individual is defined by the qualities of their generation. Ageism spans generations and is not isolated to those protected by the ADEA. Our facilitators will explore the issues in seeing an individual through a generational lens, and discuss how organizations can help drive the conversation in order to encourage a workforce of ideas rather than a workplace built upon age brackets.

Facilitators:

Phyllis Weiss Haserot, President & Founder, Practice Development Counsel

Aaron Tax,Director of Advocacy, Sage, Advocacy & Services for LGBT Elders

12:15pm – 1:15pmNetworking Lunch

1:15pm – 2:30pmFacilitated Breakouts

Him, Her or Who Cares?!: An All-Encompassing View of Gender Discrimination

In a traditional sense, few would argue that aggressions such as sexism belong in the realm of gender discrimination. However, the finer points of this topic include much more than the dichotomy of male and female. This session explores the intersection of misogyny, misandery, homophobia, transphobia and related issues of gender identification in the workplace. Our facilitators will address why, in a politically tumultuous environment, the purview of this issue needs to be redefinedand addressed at an organizational level.

Facilitators:

Gillian Power,Chief Information Officer, Lathrop Gage LLP

Natalie Runyon, Director, Head of Talent Platform, Legal Executive Institute, Thomson Reuters

The“I” in Team: Exploring Individual Ideologies in a Team Environment

A plurality of ideas often helps drive an organization forward, but to what extent are true ideological differencesactually celebrated? Individuals with differing viewpointsaround religious beliefs are often protected in the workplace, but what about those with contrarian political views, management panache or communication styles? What are the outer limits when celebrating ideological differences versus attempts to create an organizational culture based upon a concept of unity? This session will explore the many intricacies in walking the fine line between “one as many” and “many as one.”

Facilitators:

Mark Fowler, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, TanenbaumCenter for Interreligious Understanding

Angel L. Ortiz, Esq. SVP & Associate General Counsel, Labor Relations, Univision Communications Inc.

2:30pm – 2:45pmBreak

2:45pm–4:00pmThe BigWin-Win: Exploring Methods in Retaining a Diverse Workforce

Organizations are only as strong as their ability to develop and retain a diverse workforce. Thanks to increased competition and generational shifts in the contemporary workplace, many diverse professionals are leaving their employers for more rewarding (if lucrative) opportunities. What is behind this growing trend? And how can employers better retain top talent in the workforce? This roundtable asks participants to share best practices and brainstorm strategies around improving overall organizational health.

Moderator:

Sheila Murphy, Senior Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Metlife

Panelists:

Robert Grey, President, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity

Doreen Lilienfeld, Partner, Shearman & Sterling

Sonia Menon, Chief Operating Officer, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP

Michele Meyer-Shippe,Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

4:00pm – 4:15pmClosing Remarks

4:15pm – 5:15pm Networking Reception