AGENDA: Thursday, June 13, 2019

When 25% or more of management and/or board members are women, profit and retention of an organization rises. What impact would an overall expansion in diversity in leadership have in the legal & corporate world? How can diversity be increased - the economic business case is clear. 

This panel will explore:

• Take advantage of the current landscape to create change
• What can individuals do?
• How are organizations approaching diversity?
• The important role law firms play in improving legal diversity:
  • The impact on corporate diversity
  • More diverse partners & retention

Whether discrimination comes from overt prejudice or unconscious bias, minorities and women are not receiving equal opportunities or treatment. In fact, the impact of unconscious bias can be insidious and underestimated or rationalized too easily. How can unconscious bias and discrimination be dealt with and overcome?

This panel will explore:

• The types of unconscious bias to look out for:
  • Power of language
  • Intuitional bias
  • Ignorance and education
• How to approach:
  • Managers
  • Peers
  • Direct reports
  • When an official approach is needed – reporting bias

For many female minorities in the law industry, company and culture often mean that they are the only one in the room or office. This brings up many challenges and is a micro-study for women and minorities that offers insight in how to create change, effectively self-advocate and succeed.

To create the career and professional opportunities that are the most rewarding, effective sponsors and influencers are needed. Behind closed doors, who is vouching for you and pushing your name forward for the opportunities you want? There are two ways to approach sponsorship and career engineering – with intention or with hope – and hope is not an effective strategy. What can you do to strategically foster sponsors and influencers?

This panel will explore:

• Defining sponsors & influencers
• Another definition “old boys network”
• The importance for Women in Law
• Identifying your current sponsors
• Getting vote approval before identifying a potential sponsor

As you advance in your career, very rarely do you have all the skills, experience and capabilities that new opportunities require. Pursuing growth opportunities requires the ability and confidence to see your own potential, the right mentor, and the drive to develop the career and life that best fits your aspiration. What are the tools and ways that you can build confidence to self-advocate more effectively?

This panel will explore:

• The positioning of your current success and experience
• Dealing with rejection – every no means you are closer to a yes
• Utilizing peer groups to enhance confidence
• Panelist success stories

Female and minority deal-makers, litigators and leaders have overcome challenges, preconceptions and prejudices that can provide valuable insights and lessons learned.  In the current landscape more opportunities for women and minorities could be opening up.  What skills will you need to rise in your career today and the future? 

This panel will explore: 

• Will more opportunities be opening up for women and minorities?
• What were the obstacles and challenges you faced that surprised you?
• What are the keys to gaining the best mix of work and personal/family life?
• What do you notice as more females and minorities move into leadership roles?

Roundtable 1: Increasing the Diversity of Legal & Corporate Leadership

Roundtable 2: Dealing with Unconscious Bias & Discrimination

Roundtable 3: Succeeding in Male Dominant Environments

Roundtable 4: Sponsors, Influencers & Career Engineering

Click here for more info.

With less than 20% of female equity partners, law firms are under pressure to become more diverse. Combined with 52% of recent graduating classes being female and current associates also asking for change – change is being forced on law firms. What responsibility do both law firms and their clients have in creating a more diverse future? 

This panel will explore: 

• What are the pressures that in-house counsel face when choosing a firm?
• How to engage your current firm?
• How to show your clients that you are implementing change?
• How is credit given at law firms?
• What responsibility do in-house counsel have in helping law firms become more diverse?
• What can law firm do to become more diverse?