Diversity, Inclusion + Equity Symposium

Diversity, Inclusion + Equity Awards Event Banner

VIEW SYMPOSIUM RECORDING

On March 17th, the Los Angeles Business Journal hosted a series of panel discussions featuring companies and individuals who have shown an exceptional commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace and business leadership. Executives explained the importance of leading and developing a diverse workforce and how they achieved company goals.

Symposium Polling Results:

PANELISTS & TOPICS

Master Class on Diversity, Inclusion & Equity

Kandee Lewis

Chief Executive Officer
Positive Results Center

“Business success is a direct result of understanding your company’s talents, skills, and benefits. Having a diverse staff and actively engaging them in your organization’s leadership builds a culture of inclusion.“

Teresa Maxwell

DBE Compliance Manager
Skanska USA Inc.

“Providing economic opportunities to talented minority, women-owned, disabled, veteran and disadvantaged businesses is a huge part of living our values and commitment to being a diverse and inclusive company.”

Dr. Lois Shelton

Professor of Management
CSUN David Nazarian College of Business and Economics

“The business case for diversity and inclusion is mind-boggling. Forward-thinking leaders understand this, and are strategically investing in the people, policies, and initiatives that will position their organizations for top performance for years to come.”

Ken Wiseman

Chief Workforce Development Officer
AMS Fulfillment

“Change starts with a culture of respect, acceptance and encouragement; and progresses on the basis of providing opportunity and education while instilling confidence and trust.”

Renee Young

Co-Founder
Quigley-Simpson

“Our people are a reflection of the diverse communities we come from. This is something that we are more than proud of; we consider it our greatest strength. We applaud the Los Angeles Business Journal for celebrating companies that understand the incredible importance of diversity and inclusion.”

Growth, Diversity, Inclusion & Equity – Why It Matters

E'Tiffany Jones

Production and Community Engagement Lead
OneLegacy

“We live in a time of heightened awareness of the significance of diversity and inclusion in every walk of life. With ever-increasing understanding, we are appreciating the fact that the splendor in our differences makes us a better and stronger society.”

Olga Mireya López

Senior Representative, Strategic Business & Construction Careers
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

“We believe small businesses are essential to building and maintaining our fast-growing transportation network. We are going to need large and small businesses to help do the work taxpayers have entrusted us to do – build and operate a world-class transportation system in LA County.”

Avygail Sanchez

VP Government Relations Director, West Division
HNTB Corp

“Through our HNTB Partners Program, we aim to be intentionally inclusive on every project and around everything we do to provide meaningful roles, equitable opportunities, and build diverse teams to create a positive impact on the regional economy and the communities we serve.”

Tony Tavares

District 7 Director
Caltrans

“Caltrans recognizes our leadership role and unique responsibility in State government to eliminate barriers and to provide more equitable transportation for all Californians. As a public agency we have a responsibility to improve people’s lives and communities.”

Creating Diversity, Inclusion & Equity Through Top Leadership

Dr. James Kyle

Medical Director, Quality, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
L.A. Care Health Plan

“Unless and until top leadership is committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion, your efforts will ultimately go nowhere. Checking the box is not enough.”

Ken Le

Principal, Risk Consulting and Los Angeles CDI Leader
RSM US LLP

“At RSM, we believe inclusion starts with ‘I.’ This means each professional at RSM is committed to doing our part to advance racial understanding and inclusion across the firm and within our communities.”

Tom McCabe

Managing Director - US CEO
DBS Bank Ltd.

“Diversity, equity and inclusion is only the first step, creating a culture of psychological safety and support allows those with diverse backgrounds to feel like they belong, which creates value for a company and their shareholders.”

Michael Ormonde

Region Bank President
Wells Fargo Bank

“As a leader, I am committed to building an environment where diversity, equity and inclusion is supported. For me that means ensuring that my team is representative of the communities that Wells Fargo serves and encouraging them to show up as their best selves to reach their full potential.”

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL 2021 NOMINEES!

Individuals
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Companies
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Inside This Supplement

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: The Importance of Seeking to Improve
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Building a Culture that Embraces Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
You would be hard pressed to find a company that does not declare a strong intent to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion, but many of these same businesses often lose their way with misguided aspirational outcomes... Read More

Tackling the Challenge of Healthcare Inequities
We live in a time of heightened awareness of the significance of diversity and inclusion in every walk of life... Read More

Learning from the Challenges of 2020
George Floyd’s death was a tragic inflection point. The world reacted with horror, millions took to the streets and change was demanded... Read More

Creating and Maintaining a Diverse and Inclusive Culture
Los Angeles-based advertising agency Quigley-Simpson is the largest WBENCcertified, woman-owned agency in the country, and as one of its clients recently said, Quigley-Simpson is the gold standard for how a company should approach diversity and inclusion... Read More

Existing Health Inequities Exacerbated During the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
Three COVID-19 vaccines are now going into arms across the United States – the best hope for an end to the pandemic that has devastated this country for more than a year... Read More

Inclusion, Diversity & Equity: Perspectives from Thought Leaders
Diversity is a collection of differences. Inclusion ensures that all those differences are heard. Equity means that every employee and project partner have what they need to be their best and most successful... Read More

Opening the Door to Greater Opportunities for Diverse Businesses
This year, nearly 30 small, minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses in Southern California are investing in their futures and opening the door to new opportunities through their participation in Clark’s Strategic Partnership Program (SPP)... Read More

Using Incentives to Capture Greater Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Gains
The headlines keep flashing through your mind – “Greater Diversity Drives Greater Innovation,” “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Bolsters the Bottom Line,” “Inclusive Companies Have the Edge in Attracting Top-Notch Talent.”... Read More

Seven Steps to Starting Your DEI Journey
Like many organizations across the country, this year we felt an immense responsibility to ensure that our workplace was measuring up to high standards of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)... Read More

Marathon Petroleum Fuels Success Through Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) believes diversity, equity and inclusion are an integral part of their success... Read More

Focusing on Meaningful, Transformative and Sustainable Change
Racism has been a painful and insidious part of the American experience since our nation was founded. Its soul crushing impact was thrust into the forefront of our collective consciousness... Read More

At RSM, Inclusion Starts with “I”
At RSM US LLP (RSM), we believe inclusion starts with “I.” This means that each of our 13,000+ professionals across the U.S. and in Canada is committed to doing our part to advance racial understanding and inclusion across our firm and within the 87 communities where our people... Read More

In a Year of Profound Change, Over 1,100 Leaders Convene to Accelerate Commitments to Diversity
CEOs, CHROs and CDOs are taking action to create a more equitable future for employees, stakeholders and society at large In the midst of a global pandemic, a divisive election and civil unrest, when CEOs could have pulled back on diversity and inclusion commitments... Read More