Topic: Creating a Culture of Acceptance and Diversity in the Workplace
Presented by:
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Presentation Description • Presenter Bio Presentation DescriptionThis 2 part presentation will first tell a remarkable story and then take a real world look at a local company who leads the way in the diversity and inclusion initiative in the workplace. The program will focus on how to align company recruiting and retention of diverse and special needs applicants/employees to corporate goals in the same areas. The remarkable story of Teresa Gilliland and the struggles that were placed in front of her would make most people want to give up. In this part of the presentation, Teresa will share her story and more importantly, help us understand how we can all better accept, work with, and communicate with people with disabilities. You will be provided with a simple workbook entitled, ‘A Guide for Effective Communication and Interaction’. This is a resource that you can take back to your company and incorporate into your on-boarding sessions with new employees.
The second part of the presentation will take a real world look at a local company who leads the way in the diversity and inclusion initiative in the workplace. You will hear the story of American Family’s journey to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. You will take part in the discussion on programs that foster and encourage engagement, retention and development.
Attendees will learn:
1. How to infuse a culture of diversity acceptance in the workplace.
2. How to align company recruiting and retention of diverse and special needs applicants/employees to corporate goals in the same areas. 3. Ideas that you can take back to your workplace to move your company’s diversity initiatives to standard operating practices. 4. How, when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds against you, you can choose to give up or embrace life.
Our PresentersTheresa Gilliland, author of “In a Moment”, shares her positive attitude and how it helped her survive three life changing events: going blind, her husband’s traumatic brain injury, and her son’s brain cancer. With her bachelor’s degree in psychology, she has developed a variety of educational, motivational, and inspirational sessions to help others adjust to or become aware of disabilities. Helen Taylor is a diversity and inclusion consultant at American Family Mutual Insurance Company. She leads and oversees a multi-dimensional diversity and inclusion strategy.
Helen began her career at American Family in 1996. She has held several roles, including: field training analyst, process improvement specialist, organizational effectiveness (OE) consultant in HR, OE manager, managed the talent management unit in HR and eventually transitioned into the field of diversity and inclusion, which has been her focus for the past four-and-a-half years.
She was instrumental in the development of American Family’s overall diversity strategy and spearheaded the collaborative formation of the company’s integrated strategic diversity plan, including Business Resource Groups, and a people of color retention study.
Helen has also served as a board member for non-profit organizations enhancing the lives of others such as Teen Approach, Inc. in Milwaukee, Wis., and the North/Eastside Senior Coalition of Madison, Wis.
Helen graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with a bachelor’s degree in merchandising with an emphasis in business management. For more information contact:
Program Schedule subject to change.
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