Conference Schedule

Leadership isn’t easy. It’s hard, gritty, incredibly rewarding and equally humbling. That is even more true this year. The tide of American culture and American organizational culture is moving in so many ways, one of which is toward a greater awareness of those with diverse backgrounds.

Laila Hajji Down draws on her experience working as top talent for a global seed and chemical company, as a teacher in downtown Des Moines, and as a corporate organizational consultant and executive coach. Most notably, she draws on her personal experience as a daughter of a Moroccan immigrant, the sister of a black man, and a Citizen of the Chickasaw tribe.

While her personal experiences underpin her talk, it is grounded in history, research and pointed for you to take your awareness and move it to action to create real change in your organizations. Let’s let the tide raise all of our boats.

Learning Objective #1
INWARD

1. Examine the history and role diversity and inclusion has played in organizational culture as a whole.
2. Evaluate their organization’s culture for themes of inclusivity.                                                       

Learning Objective #2
OUTWARD

3. Identify ways to be DE&I advocates in their organization.

Learning Objective #3
ONWARD

4. Develop personal strategies for action within their organization.
5. Evaluate what is at stake if we don’t act to improve DE&I efforts within our organization.

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector

The Rules Have Change: New expectations for anti-racist behavior in 2020 Prior to 2020, diversity training has been abstract – focusing primarily on diversity concepts such as bias and privilege. Employees learned to avoid phrases of the moment and keep their personal viewpoints out of their professional space but were not taught the language of diversity—how to interact with people of other people groups with connection and vulnerability. In the blink of an eye, silence and privacy are not enough. Online conversations, politicized events and a continuous new cycle exposed the need for a more nuanced and honest cultural training.

In this session Liz will teach you:

• How to evaluate your own anti-racist tendencies.
• The behaviors that legally expose you and your staff.
• How to respond to accusations of racism.
• How to acknowledge racial issues in a healthy and productive way.
• How to respond in the presence of racism and cultural discrimination.
• Why cultural uniformity is a human resource challenge.
• How to learn from others without offending.
• How to develop employee guidelines for online interaction and civil activity.
• How to create anti-racist job expectations.
• How to develop a personal belief system around racial and cultural differences.

Learning Objective #1
The behaviors that legally expose you and your staff.

Learning Objective #2
How to respond to accusations of racism.

Learning Objective #3
How to respond in the presence of racism and cultural discrimination.

Learning Objective #4
How to create anti-racist job expectations. 

Intended Audience: Private Sector

This workshop will present a framework for understanding the brain and body’s anxiety response to crisis and lack of control, as well as methods for effective awareness and management of stress and anxiety in an environment of ongoing chaos and uncertainty. The workshop will help participants build awareness into the many ways anxiety during the pandemic may present across the many roles of employee, manager, partner, caretaker, and individual. Participants will be invited to explore simple tools and resources to support themselves and others during uncertain times, to include simple ways to improve connection with others, maintain productivity, and stay grounded when the world feels unsettled and unfamiliar.

Learning Objective #1
Identify symptoms of anxiety in self and others and improve understanding of how the brain responds to different environmental and thought triggers.

Learning Objective #2
Improve awareness of overt and “hidden” anxiety triggers across various roles and environments during the pandemic.

Learning Objective #3
Identify tools and resources to improve self-awareness and execute effective coping strategies when traditional resources may be limited.

Learning Objective #4
Identify ways to support others struggling with fear and anxiety, and ways to improve relationship engagement and communication.

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector

There have been many recent legislative amendments to Iowa Code §730.5. But there were recent, 2020, court interpretations of §730.5 that may have a major impact on your drug testing program.  We will explore these legislative updates and analyze how the court cases could impact you program.

Learning Objective #1
Review legislative updates

Learning Objective #2
Update and analyze 2020 court decisions

Learning Objective #3
Overview of COVID-19 impact on drug testing

Learning Objective #4
Overview of marijuana issues – crossing the borders

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector 

This session will discuss how to build a strategic companywide D&I program.  Including building a case for developing and implementing an integrated diversity strategy throughout the organization, getting leadership buy in and addressing the legal costs of a poorly designed program.   

Learning Objective #1
The three-legged stool of Diversity and Inclusion programming and how to build a robust program that will endure.

Learning Objective #2
Evaluate your diversity and inclusion initiatives to ensure they are structured consistent with the law and best practices.

Learning Objective #3
Legal implications associated with poorly designed and implemented Diversity and Inclusion programming.

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector 

Microaggressions are all those little (and not so little) actions and comments that erode an inclusive and welcoming culture. They are demeaning, hurtful, uncomfortable, and dehumanizing. They are the equivalent of saying: ‘you don’t belong here’, ‘you are not welcome’, ‘I don’t understand or respect you’, ‘you are not my equal’.

This session will discuss Microaggression and provide you with the tools to develop a program of inclusivity within your organization.  How to become the multi-departmental advocate for inclusion and the ROI associated with a well-developed, well managed program.        

Learning Objective #1   
Understanding Microaggressions

Learning Objective #2
How to be an advocate

Learning Objective #3  
Having difficult conversations

Learning Objective #4             
Creating an inclusive culture

 Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector 

The coronavirus pandemic is pushing America into a mental health crisis! The Mental Health Hotlines have seen an increase in calls 1,000% – 3,000%, meaning employers need to be aware and help employees deal with stress and anxiety caused from the magnitude of changes and uncertainty we are experiencing. Agility has now become essential for any business to pivot quickly and respond to the pandemic in a creative, yet manageable fashion. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a person’s ability to understand and manage their own emotions within a situation and use this insight to communicate appropriately. An agile approach to workplace interactions is an empowering
and engaging experience for everyone involved. This powerful program is designed to help participants:

Learning Objective #1
• Learn the difference between EQ and IQ, and the value of having a high EQ

Learning Objective #2
• Discover how emotional intelligence affects work performance, physical and mental health, and relationships

Learning Objective #3
• Understand the five skills of developing greater emotional intelligence

Learning Objective #4
• Identify eight mindsets for seeking comfort with change and building agility

Intended Audience: Public Sector

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act was created back in March.  In this session, we will discuss how to make it work for your organization until it expires.  We will look at how your ADA and FMLA compliance obligations are affected by COVID-19 and the FFCRA.  Participants will also get an opportunity to consider new methods for handling investigations, discipline, and performance evaluations in a remote work environment.

Learning Objective #1 
The Families First Act – How to handle changing employee needs and what to do upon expiration or exhaustion.

Learning Objective #2
ADA and FMLA – Adjusting your compliance procedures in the age of COVID-19 and coordinating with the FFCRA.

Learning Objective #2
Remote Work – Tips for Supervision, Performance Evaluation, Disciplinary Action, and Investigations

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector 

All disasters impact people differently.  Stress can be helpful however, long term stress, feelings of hopelessness and being overwhelmed can lead to significant decreases in functioning, depression, and anxiety.   The disruption due to COVID-19 throughout 2020 provides a backdrop to discuss how we might reimagine healthy workplace culture with a focus on mental health literacy. 

Learning Objective #1
Recognize the emotional and physical cost of the pandemic on workplace culture

Learning Objective #2    
How to develop resiliency in your workforce during prolonged disasters

Learning Objective #3    
Identify pandemic related challenges employees face personally that impact their ability to perform

Learning Objective #4    
Assess your organizations ability to promote mental health literacy

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector 

Interactive training to assist your HR and legal teams in identifying and counteracting unconscious bias in the workplace, led by Attorney Leyla Galmarini McMullen of Mdivani Corporate Immigration Law Firm. A member of Hispanic Bar Association, Leyla McMullen practices business immigration law and holds a certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University. She brings her unique perspective as a first-generation immigrant herself, in addition to years of experience assisting employers with onboarding and retaining diverse international personnel. Portions of this training include insights from a celebrity guest, former NFL player “Touchdown Teddy” Ted McKnight. If you are looking for more than your standard “check the box” diversity and inclusion training, please consider training with us!

Learning Objective #1
Understanding Implicit Biases

Learning Objective #2
Diversity vs. Inclusion – what is the difference?

Learning Objective #3
Understanding Privilege Structures

Learning Objective #4
Strategies for Intervention of Bias and Fostering an Inclusive Climate at Work

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector

Today’s workforce has changed and as a result so must the workplace. High performing organizations Create a Culture of Accountability, Foster a Sense of Belonging, Promote Flexibility, Encourage Employee Engagement, Invest in Employee Development and Prioritize Employee and Organizational Health and Wellbeing. Build your ability to show ROI associated with implementing these cultural values.

During this unprecedented time, culture is your greatest competitive advantage.

Learning Objective #1
Understand the different perspectives that need to be factored into the workplace

Learning Objective #2     
Identify trends that the modern workforce wants and needs from the workplace

Learning Objective #3
Learn how to create a sense of belonging in your organization’s culture

Learning Objective #4   
How to update policies and procedures for recruitment and retention

Intended Audience: Public Sector 

If we’ve learned anything during the last eight months, it’s that things can and do change quickly. New laws, new regulations, and changing proclamations, this presentation will cover common COVID-19 questions and updates for Iowa businesses.

Learning Objective #1:
Travel – what’s happening in Iowa, OSHA, and traveling for work

Learning Objective #2:
Temperatures and health checks – guidelines and best practices

Learning Objective #3:
Employee rights – wearing masks, what’s enforceable and what’s not

Learning Objective #4:
Mental health – case studies of what lawyers are seeing and what employers can/should do to support their employees

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector

Not sure where to begin? Afraid to fail? If you are looking for practical and actionable ways to foster and support Equity and Inclusion in your organization, this session is for you!

Learning Objectives #1
Define what an ally is and the important role it plays in an organization.

Learning Objectives #2
Identify the barriers and misconceptions of Allyship.

Learning Objectives #3
Discover the necessary skills required to become an authentic and effective ally.

Learning Objectives #4
Learn how to turn Allyship into Action.

Intended Audience: Private Sector

It takes energy and deliberate effort to create an inclusive culture, and it all starts with how inclusive leaders are and their ability to dismantle inequitable structures within their organizations. In this interactive session, you will learn how DEI and leadership development align, and understand the key dispositions of inclusive leaders.  Identify action steps you can take tomorrow to become a DEI leader in your organization and developing a business case for having a solid and strategic diversity alignment within your organization.

Learning Objective #1   
Identity how DEI and leadership development align

Learning Objective #2   
Understand key leadership dispositions of inclusive leaders

Learning Objective #3 
Determine action steps to become an inclusive leader

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector 

Safe to say, COVID-19 has changed our lives in ways that are difficult to fully comprehend. Life as we knew it, as we needed and wanted it, has shifted in a direction that does not appear on any compass.

This sudden swing is overwhelming for a great many of us, with the worst part being the profound impact of forced isolation and social distancing. While necessary, the duo that was created to keep us safe, has at the same time given rise to an alarming increase in mental illness, and the profound suffering that comes with it.

In all parts of our society, including where we live, worship, and work, people are finding themselves standing toe-to-toe with the monster of mental illness, some for the first time, others for repeat of a previous bloody battle.

The bad news is, the numbers of those impacted, and the cost in terms of both lives and dollars, is going the wrong way. But the good news is, there is a simple solution to the problem. There exists a profoundly effective way for us to turn the tide of this campaign, and the tables on the foe. And when we do, we will head back into the direction we are familiar with. The way that leads to the destination of mental health.

Learning Objective #1
Understanding the severity of the problem of workplace mental illness

Learning Objective #2
Learning some of the causes and the negative ripple effects of the same

Learning Objective #3
Identifying the simple solution that can work towards solving the problem

Learning Objective #4
Recognizing the multitude of benefits that comes from a mentally safe workplace

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector 

Keeping your employee handbook up-to-date is challenging, especially during a global pandemic. COVID-19 has led to unprecedented speed and volume of new legislation that significantly impacts your business and employees. Of course, the downside of not being compliant with the new legislation is increased risk, increased liability, and the possibility of employee complaints. A COVID Handbook Addendum that details your new policies is critical to mitigating this risk and staying compliant.  

Learning Objectives #1 
Deepen your understanding of recent and upcoming legislative changes that impact your employee handbook. 

Learning Objectives #2 
Learn the critical information to include in your COVID-19 Handbook Addendum, including policies for:  Face Coverings, Leave of Absence, Cleaning/Safety, Employee Travel, Temperature Checks, Work-from-Home, and COVID Exposure.    

Learning Objectives #3 
Identify a process for deciding which policies will be temporary vs. long-term. 

Learning Objectives #4 
Receive specific policy verbiage and a checklist to make creating your COVID-19 Handbook Addendum easier. 

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector  

The world around us is volatile, uncertain, and becoming more complex for many reasons. The only way we can assure our continued wellbeing is if we have the flexibility and resilience to adapt to changing conditions.

If we are too rigid, we get stuck, and as the conditions change, we rely on the past to guide us which leads to frustration and avoidance behaviors. However, if we just react to change without much thought, we can create chaos leading to anxiety and anger. Living either in a state of rigidity or chaos is not a recipe for a vibrant, healthy, living system, especially if everything around us in the world is in a constant state of flux.

Let’s create another option! Imagine creating a window of mental tolerance that allows us to maintain internal stability despite what the world throws at us, so that we are in equilibrium with our external world, our relationships and our ability to perform at the highest level whatever the conditions. Integrating our physiologic and emotional self with our ‘thinking and doing’ through a series steps & system designed to increase our self-awareness will improve our automatic responses and, finally, give us back the control over our own lives.

Ultimately, it’s about being able to navigate the river of an uncertain life to enjoy challenges as opportunities to grow and get better, rather than view them as threats. We can turn our minds and our bodies into a dynamic duo setting us up to THRIVE and, consequently, helps others to do the same!

If YOU have the desire to expand your perspective/consciousness and attend this session, you will:

Learning Objective #1
Determine your readiness to step onto a conscious path that will move you from a state of ego or self-orientation to one in service to mankind: from me to we.

Learning Objective #2
Learn how to create a window of tolerance that will allow you to gain & maintain internal mental stability despite the circumstances around you.

Learning Objective #3
Explore the role of your emotions while learning to manage and master how they can be channeled to help you create optimal health and wellbeing.

Learning Objective #4
Take away a simple, 3 step approach to begin to modify your automatic choices and behaviors “real time” in the moment.
Don’t miss out on Dr. Amy Michelle’s transformational session that will prove to support YOUR mental, emotional, physical health not only during this time of pandemic, but for your lifetime!

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector 

The killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police ignited protests in America and across the world. Corporate America has responded with direct and clear public statements about their position on systemic and structural racism, but most admit that they still have significant work to do to build cultures where everyone is valued and treated equitably. There has been a flurry of activity to begin that work, but in their haste to get things done, few organizations are taking the necessary step to help their employees understand how we got to this point.

During this session, participants will learn the historical policies and practices that have resulted in the widespread disparities Black people experience in various aspects of quality of life in America, and what can be done to move the needle in the other direction.

Learning Objective #1
Learn the historical policies and practices of systemic racism

Learning Objective #2
How historical events have led to disparities Black people experience

Learning Objective #3
What disparities Black people experience in various aspects of quality of life in America

Learning Objective #4
What can be done to move the needle in the other direction.

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector

Learn how to use innovative self-care strategies for you and your teams of people. Join with 2-time Grammy nominated Artist, Founder of the Global Learning Foundation, and public speaker, Enrique Feldman, as he takes you on a journey of inspired and proven mental health strategies. You’ll walk away with unique recipes, mindset strategies, brain game health approaches, and more. Learn how to foster healthier environments for your own home and the workplace.

Participants should expect to learn:

Learning Objective #1

• Improved Performance Management

Attendees will experience foundational strategies for improved mindset, decision making under stress, and overall health, allowing them to be their best in the workplace.

Learning Objective #2

• Employee Safety

Attendees will learn how to help their teams of people improve their mental health and sustain it with concrete strategies, which are evidence and research based.

Learning Objective #3

• Talent Management

Attendees will experience how they can develop their teams of people in innovative and inspirational ways, under the expert guidance of the presenter, Enrique C Feldman.

Learning Objective #4

• Employee Retainment

Attendees will walk away with concrete strategies to elevate the daily experiences of their teams of people, leading to higher rates of retainment.

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector 

In this session, participants will reflect on their own experiences and identities as a starting point. Participants will then learn about best practices and tools related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and how to leverage their privilege and power for good. This session will assist you with developing an integrated diversity strategy and implementing it throughout your organization. We will review the “why”, discuss the ROI of a strong DEI program and how it will ultimately affect your organizations bottom line.

Learning Objective #1
Examine experiences and identities that have shaped your worldview.

Learning Objective #2
Understand privilege.

Learning Objective #3
Learn best practices on how to use privilege and power for good.

Learning Objective #4
Plan for the future on how to use privilege and power.

Learning Objective #5
Strategically examine and revise your DEI plans to incorporate throughout your organization and review ways to move DEI to positively affect not only your workforce but also your organizations balance sheet.

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector

The objectives of the training session are as follows:

Learning Objective #1
Help build and maintain an inclusive workforce by increasing the ability of employees to discuss, interact and engage respectfully and productively

Learning Objective #2
Help employees have respectful and productive conversations about difficult or polarizing topics

Learning Objective #3
Provide employees with ways of communicating that lead to greater understanding and stronger relationships among co-workers

Intended Audience: Private Sector / Public Sector