Scenes from D CEO’s 2021 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Symposium

Author, speaker, and executive coach L. Michelle Smith of No Silos Communications brought the message home in her closing keynote, “Uncommon Times. Uncommon Action: 5 Ways to Break the DEI Paradigm,” at the D CEO DEI Symposium.

Business leaders gathered at D CEO’s 2021 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Symposium for a timely and necessary conversation on creating a more inclusive workplace.

D CEO welcomed nearly 400 guests on Sept. 9 for its third annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Symposium. The event was held in person at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel and virtually brought together the organizations and leaders working to make workplaces more inclusive and equitable. 

D Magazine Partners Editor-in-Chief and CEO Christine Allison welcomed the guests. At the same time, D CEO Editor Christine Perez and Managing Editor Will Maddox moderated the panels and led the Q&A sessions. The opportunities for connections were strengthened through in-person networking (speed-networking rooms for virtual attendees and Q&As with speakers).  

Candid keynotes and panels from top leaders on these critical issues provided a crucial backdrop for insightful conversations, lessons learned, and key takeaways. 

James Fripp of Yum! Brands gave the opening keynote, “Without the ART; We Can’t Win the Talent War.” A panel discussion followed, “The Future Workplace and the Intersection of DEI,” featuring Michael Thomas of My Possibilities, Cherice Williams of Maker’s Mark, and Porsche Wilson of Haynes and Boone. 

DEI leaders Beth Gerwe of Deloitte and Stephen Metoyer of Deloitte Tax LLC held a fireside chat on “Navigating the New Landscape: A Leader’s Perspective from the Front Line.” A second panel discussion, featuring Margy Elliot of Amazon Studios; Darwin Bruce of Haynes and Boone; Cedric Rockamore of American Airlines; and Marisol Romany of Dallas College, focused on the lessons learned from DEI efforts over the past two years in “Progress, Not Perfection.” 

Author, speaker, and executive coach L. Michelle Smith of No Silos Communications brought the message home in her closing keynote, “Uncommon Times. Uncommon Action: 5 Ways to Break the DEI Paradigm.” She spoke about finding the collateral beauty amidst the current social and economic upheaval and challenged attendees to break the paradigm on DEI and lead through change.  

A huge thank you to series sponsor Maker’s Mark, and title sponsors Amazon, American Airlines, Bank of Texas, Dallas College, Deloitte, Haynes and Boone, and Yum! Brands for their help in making this incredible event possible.

This article originally published on DMagazine.com 

Written by BIANCA R. MONTES