Case Study

Bridging the Generational Divide: Improving Communication to Enhance Patient Care

Jim Smith, Boston Children’s Hospital

Jim Smith, Director of Workforce EDI at Boston Children’s Hospital, will share a behind-the-scenes look at how the organization is addressing communication challenges across generations in the healthcare workforce. Drawing from work with nursing and intensive care unit teams, he will explore how differing communication styles and expectations between tenured and early-career nurses created gaps in collaboration, potentially impacting patient care. Attendees will learn how Boston Children’s identified these challenges, bridged generational perspectives, and developed strategies to strengthen team communication and improve care delivery.

Case Study

Embedding Inclusion into Core Business Operations: Moving from DEI Programs to Business Practices

Earl Jackson, Assistant Vice President Strategic Diversity Initiatives at Enterprise Mobility

As organizations continue to evolve their DEI strategies amid shifting business priorities and external pressures, many leaders are asking how to sustain progress by embedding inclusion into the way work gets done—not as a standalone initiative, but as a core business capability. In this session, Earl Jackson of Enterprise Mobility will share how his team has integrated inclusion into everyday business operations, leadership practices, and decision-making processes. Earl will discuss how Enterprise Mobility builds shared ownership across the business, aligns inclusion with operational priorities, and focuses on sustainable practices that improve the employee experience while advancing business outcomes. Attendees will gain practical insights into embedding inclusion across the employee lifecycle, strengthening partnerships with business leaders, and ensuring inclusion remains an integral part of how the organization operates.

Case Study

Partnering with Legal and Public Affairs in 2026–2027

Angela Marshall Hofmann, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Catalyst Brands

As DEI leaders navigate an increasingly complex environment, success increasingly depends on strong partnerships with Legal, Public Affairs, Government Relations, ESG, and other key stakeholders. In this session, Angela Marshall Hofmann of Catalyst Brands which represents iconic US brands – JCPenney, Aeropostale, Brooks Brothers, Lucky Brand, and Nautica – will share how the organization has worked across functions to adapt its inclusion strategy amid evolving legal requirements, heightened public scrutiny, shifting stakeholder expectations, and a rapidly changing external landscape. Drawing on both U.S. and international considerations, Angela will discuss how her company collaborates across Government Affairs, Legal, Communications, HR, Sustainability and Compliance to assess risk, shape communications, inform strategy, and maintain momentum on inclusion priorities. Attendees will gain practical insights into building trusted cross-functional partnerships, navigating complex decisions with confidence, and positioning inclusion work to remain resilient, compliant, and business-aligned in 2026 and beyond.

Case Study

Global Inclusion in a Fragmented World

Karen Morrison, Director, WWT For ALL (Global Enterprise) & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at World Wide Technology

As organizations navigate growing cultural, political, and geographic complexity, creating a shared sense of inclusion across a global workforce is becoming increasingly challenging. In this session, Karen Morrison of World Wide Technology will facilitate a discussion on how organizations are using employee storytelling to amplify voices across roles, locations, and lived experiences; increase visibility of underrepresented experiences; build empathy across teams and regions; and partner across functions to scale authentic, inclusive communications that resonate globally. Attendees will gain practical insights for adapting storytelling across different formats and markets, sustaining employee engagement over time, and creating meaningful connections that strengthen inclusion across an increasingly fragmented world.

Case Study

Wired for Inclusion: Small Changes, Systemic Shifts for Neurodivergent Associates

Nikita Rhodes, VP of Diversity & Inclusion at Penske

Nikita Rhodes, Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion at Penske, will share how the organization is moving beyond neurodiversity awareness to build more inclusive systems and experiences for neurodivergent associates. Drawing on a cross-functional effort led by HR and D&I, she will explore how Penske is rethinking onboarding workflows, increasing access to neurodiversity-related benefits, enhancing adaptive learning capabilities, and leveraging existing technology to better support inclusion. Attendees will gain practical insights into how small, intentional changes across processes and systems can create meaningful outcomes, while learning what’s working, what challenges remain, and how an iterative approach can help organizations build a scalable framework for neuroinclusion.

Case Study

Advancing Talent Engagement Through Transformation

Bria Griffith, Senior Director Talent Engagement, Honeywell

As organizations navigate large-scale transformation, DEI and talent leaders are being asked to keep employees connected, supported, and motivated while preparing for an uncertain future. Amid Honeywell’s transition from a diversified conglomerate into separate businesses, Bria Griffith will share how her team is strengthening talent engagement during a period of significant organizational change. She will discuss how to create meaningful employee experiences, equip leaders to sustain connection and trust, and align engagement efforts with shifting business priorities. Attendees will gain practical insights into building a resilient talent engagement strategy, supporting employees through transformation, and leading with clarity, empathy, and purpose while keeping people at the center of change.

Case Study

Navigating the External Landscape: Building a Sustainable, Business-Aligned Approach to Inclusion

Shareem Annan, Staff VP of Belonging & Inclusive Experiences at Elevance Health

As organizations navigate increasing scrutiny of DEI efforts, leaders are being challenged to evolve their approach in ways that are sustainable, business-aligned, and responsive to a changing external landscape. In this session, Shareem Annan of Elevance Health will share how the organization is in the early stages of refining its inclusion strategy by focusing on practical approaches that support long-term impact while remaining aligned with regulatory, reputational, and stakeholder expectations.

Drawing on lessons from a highly regulated industry, Shareem will discuss how Elevance Health is approaching this work with intentionality: assessing the external environment, strengthening governance considerations, and identifying where inclusion can be embedded into the organization’s core portfolio. This includes an expanded focus on areas where inclusion and belonging can create meaningful impact across the enterprise, including associate and consumer experience, recognizing that sustainable inclusion efforts must support the people who deliver the work as well as the members, customers, and communities the organization serves.

Attendees will gain insight into how organizations can thoughtfully navigate external pressures, build durable cross-functional partnerships, align inclusion efforts with business priorities, and evolve DEI work in ways that are practical, compliant, and connected to measurable outcomes.

Case Study

Driving Impact and Sustainability: Right-sizing CRGs and Strengthening Leadership Pipelines

Agnes Godwin-Hall, Macy’s

Employee and colleague resource groups can be powerful drivers of inclusion and engagement—but sustaining their impact requires thoughtful evolution. In this session, Agnes Godwin-Hall shares how Macy’s right-sized its CRG portfolio and redefined its leadership model to drive greater focus, accountability, and sustainability. From streamlining the number of CRGs to introducing a more structured and transparent co-lead selection process, Agnes will share the key decisions, trade-offs, and lessons learned. Attendees will gain practical insights into aligning CRG structure to business priorities, strengthening leadership pipelines, and managing change while creating opportunities for new voices to step forward.