• Be aware of conversations in meetings. Notice who is actively participating, being ignored, or getting interrupted. If you are one of the leaders, make sure to check in with everyone in the room, especially women of color who may not have support to share their ideas. Even if you are not the leader, you can encourage participation by stating something like “I would really like to hear what Maria thinks about this issue” to encourage a more equitable discussion.

• Examine policies or the lack thereof. Many times, it is the unwritten rules that cause the biggest problems for disenfranchised members of an organization. How are career-advancing projects assigned? How are resources allocated that can support the progress of a leader? Where can you go to get professional development and additional support? Do we plan last-minute happy hours where important business relationships form in which women are least likely to attend due to family care responsibilities?

• Give or ask for specific, actionable feedback in performance appraisals. Be wary of vague statements that someone “doesn’t appear to be a leader” or the classic, “she doesn’t fit in the organization.” Research shows that managers give less specific feedback to women and URM, which impedes their ability to advance in an organization.

• Become a mentor or champion for a promising woman of color. Remember that everyone needs support, but majority men often receive this support from other majority male leaders without asking. This is a natural occurrence to surround ourselves with people who look and think like us. Thus, to break this vicious cycle, we must make sure to support women of color. As a woman of color, you must seek out support and mentoring from a wide variety of leaders. Many of my mentors have been older, white men.

• Read leadership and management books covering topics such as coaching, dealing with conflict, and strategic planning. 

• Develop a “brain trust” of people that can advise you on various issues that you will face. Make sure that this group is diverse to ensure a well-rounded set of opinions. Always be humble enough to listen. 

• Listen more than you speak. Try to get the opinions of others before you voice your own thoughts to get unbiased advice.

• Work to improve your emotional intelligence. Reading the room and other people is always valuable.

• Examine your organizational policies and decisions in terms of inclusivity. Build a culture of inclusion by visibly practicing inclusive behaviors.

• Take a stand about what you believe is right, even though it might not be popular point of view. 

• Do not neglect your or your staff’s physical and mental health. Take your weekends and vacation time to recharge your batteries. 

• Make integrity your north star. 

All GlobalMindED 2021 events are also on our YouTube channel. 

FIRST GEN WEEK

First Gen Role Models: What Does Success, Inclusive Leadership and Contribution Look Like?

Merritt McKenzie; President, Therapy / Applied Behavior Analysis Division, Aveanna Healthcare moderates the panel discussion with Zuleika Johnson; VP of Opportunity and Outreach, El Pomar Foundation, Vanecia Kerr; Chief Impact Officer, Mile High United Way, Kwesi Edwards; Board Member, Foundation for California Community Colleges, Lan Phan; Founder & CEO, Community of SEVEN, Anthony Newton; Microsoft Alumni Entrepreneur, Owner, Ancott, and Serita Liles; Senior Intern Coordinator, North Carolina A&T State University

What Industry Leaders Look for in Students/Graduates: Inside Secrets for Promotion Pathway Success

Ken Epps; CEO, ThreeNineteen moderates this panel with Ken McNeely; President, Western Region AT&T, Kathleen Schaum; Executive Director, University Talent Acquisition, KPMG, Guy Primus; CEO, Valence Community, Al Baker; Vice President, Siemens Enterprise Communications and Steve Zimba; Founder & CEO, Nulia

Where Are They Now? First Gen Leaders’ Insights as Young Professionals

Rocio Perez; Inclusion and Diversity Thought Leader and Trainer, Inventiva Consulting leads the panel discussion with Nima Shahab Shahmir; Application Developer, TC Energy, Betty Hailu; Research Assistant, George Washington University, Conner Sturgeon; Graduate Supervisor, Indiana University Residential Programs, and Amelia Mawlawi; Global Product Manager, HP

How to Be a Mentor and How to Be Mentored

Kwame Johnson; President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta leads the panel with GlobalMindED Ambassadors and mentors Shannon Stone; Senior Relationship Manager, AMG National Trust Bank, Hector Ramos Diaz; Mathematics Student, University of Portland, Yonus Harris, Aerospace Engineering student, University of Michigan, and Phuong Dinh; Population Health Program, Manager, University of Colorado Medicine

GlobalMindED/Every Learner Everywhere First Gen Student Ambassadors: Freshman Year Success Secrets

Alicia Sepulveda, PhD; Academic Coach, University of Colorado, Boulder leads the discussion with Tomozia Graves; Peer Advising Assistant and recent graduate, Harford Community College, Hannah Petronek; Undergraduate Research Assistant, recent graduate West Virginia University, and Sochima Ifedikwa; Computer Science Student, Texas Tech Student, Texas Tech

HEALTH WEEK

Isolation to Compassionate Connection, How Organizations Support Their Employees in Crisis and Beyond

Liz Sweigart, PhD; Partner, PwC leads the discussion with Zachary S. Nunn; Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Impact, SurveyMonkey, Tilak Mandadi; EVP, Digital & Global Chief Technology Officer, Walt Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Lizette Ojeda, PhD; Founder, Work-Life Lab, Texas A&M University, Lisa Giuroiu; Vice President, Pharma & Life Sciences, Susan G. Komen, and Conner Sturgeon; Graduate Supervisor, Indiana University

Emerging Covid Strong: Resilient Connections and the Indomitable Spirit

Dr. Paul Miller; Principal and CEO, Green Tech High Charter School leads the discussion with Dr. Marck Abraham; CEO, MEA Consulting and Principal, Buffalo Public Schools, Rina Patel; Founder & CEO, The Thinkers, Dr. Joe Martin; Founder and Creator, Real Men Connect, and Dr. Latoya Johnson; Special Education Coordinator, Green Tech High Charter School

Women and Alcohol: Epidemic in a Pandemic

Ann Dowsett Johnston; Bestselling Author: Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol, moderates the discussion with Lisa F. Smith; Author: Girl Walks Out of a Bar, Saumya Bharat; Biology student, Georgia State, University, Monica Swahn; Dean, Wellstar College of Health & Human Services, Kennesaw State University, and Harshita Yepuri; Graduate Neuroscience Student, Georgia State University

Growing the Diverse Talent Pipeline Across the Health Professions

Carol Carter, Founder, GlobalMindED leads this panel discussion with Merritt McKenzie; President, Therapy/Applied Behavior Analysis Division, Aveanna Healthcare, Dr. Connie Kim Yen Nguyen-Truong, Assistant Professor, Washington State University, Dr. Sameer Sood; Primary Care Physician, Strive Health, Dr. Dula F. Pacquiao; Professor Emerita, Rutgers University, and student Hana Mawlawi; Colorado School of Mines

NSF INCLUDES WEEK

Next Steps for Increasing Minority Representation in Engineering: Systemic Change

Dr. Miguel Velez-Reyes; Professor and Chair, University of Texas at El Paso, Dr. Peter Romine; Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering & Computer Engineering, Navajo Technical University, Nader Vadiee; Professor, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Dr. Mohamed Chouikha; Executive Professor and Executive Director, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Prairie View A&M University

NSF Includes and Other Broadening Participation Initiatives

Dr. Don Millard; Deputy Division Director, National Science Foundation, Dr. Christine Grant, Associate Dean Faculty Advancement, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NC State, and Dr. Tori Rhouloc Smith, Program Director, National Science Foundation

Diversifying Engineering - Deans’ Perspectives

Dr. Clay Gloster, Jr.; Dean of the Graduate College, North Carolina A&T State University moderates the discussion with Dr. Preselfannie E. Whitfield McDaniels; Dean, Div. of Graduate Studies, Jackson State University, Dr. Dana A. Williams; Dean of the Graduate School, Howard University, Dr. Oscar Barton, Jr.; Dean, School of Engineering, Morgan State University, and Dr. Stephanie G. Adams; Dean, School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Texas, Dallas

Ubuntu: A Non-Western Perspective on How Collective Impact Can Broaden Participation in STEM

Moderator Dr. Kemi Ladeji-Osias; Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Morgan State University interviews Keynote speaker Dr. Ivory Toldson; President and CEO, Quality Education for Minorities Network

Diversifying Engineering: An Industry Perspective

Dr. Kenneth Connor; Professor EMeritus, ELectrical, Computer & Systems Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Danyel Wimberly; Senior Director, NetApp, Victor S. Gavin; Head of Federal Technology Vision and Business Development, Amazon Web Services, Robin Getz; Director of Systems Engineering; Analog devices, Toffee Coleman; Global Sales & marketing manager, Fluke corporation, Tim Shepard; Vice president, Business development strategy & operations, Lockheed Martin Space

Innovations in the Engineering Curriculum: K-12 College Pathways

Dr. Kamal Ali; Professor, Jackson State University, Dr. Brittany Chambers; Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility, Verizon, Dr. Vemitra White; Education Specialist, NASA Marshall & Stennis Space Flight Centers, Dr. Oludare Owolabi; Assistant Professor, Morgan State University, Dr. Adam Carberry; Associate Professor, Arizona State University, Dr. Medha Dalal; Postdoctorate Research Scholar, Arizona State University

Success and Education in Graduate Mentoring

Dr. Clay Gloster Jr.; Dean, North Carolina A&T State University ; Keynote Speaker: Howard Adams; Founder and President H.G. Adams and Associates

Women in Engineering: Increasing Representation

Dr. Cindy Ziker; Executive Director, Ziker Research, Panelist: Dr. Cheryl Talley; Professor of Psychology at Virginia State University, Panelist: Dr. Heather Metcalf; Director of Research and Constituent Relations, Women in Engineering ProActive Network, Panelist: Dr. Roberta Rincon; Assoc. Director of Research, Society of Women Engineers, Panelist: Dr. Rochelle Williams; Sr. Director of Programs, National Society of Black Engineers

Broadening Participation in the Engineering Pathway: Research on Critical Transitions

Dr. Cindy Ziker ; Executive Director, Ziker Research, Panelist: Dr. Steve Efe ; Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering at Morgan State University, Panelist: Dr. Pamela Leigh-Mack; Professor & Chair, Department of Engineering at Virginia State University, Panelist: Dr. Julius Davis; Associate Professor of Mathematics Education, Bowie State University

Creating a Climate for Post Pandemic Success for Minorities in Engineering

Keynote address by Dr. Gregory Washington, President of George Mason University

STEM Around the World: Student Led Success

Aaron Aaron Cortes; Northeastern Illinois University, Alexandra Agudelo Ruiz; Secretary of Education for Medellin, Columbia, Cüong Trän; NASA Electrical Power Systems Engineer, Dr. Alyssa Lenhoff-Briggs; Director of STEM Learning Ecosystems; Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM, Jen Iriti; STEM Push Network, and Matthew Cua; Director of Innovation Help, NGO

ONE HE GLOBAL HIGHER ED WEEK

Person-Centered Learning: Teaching the Skills Needed to Support People

Olivia Fleming; Founder & Director of Partnerships, OneHE moderates the conversation with Dr. Erik Blair; Senior Lecturer, Higher Education Research and Practice, University of West London, Dr. Julie Hulme; reader in Psychology, Keele University, Cleo Keeling Ball; BSc (Hons) Psychology student, Keele University, and Emma Crabb; student, Keele University

Equity Unbound: Building Online Communities

Dr. Mia Zamora; Associate Professor of English, Kean University, Dr. Maha Bali; Associate Professor, American University in Cairo, Autumm Caines; Instructional Designer, University of Michigan

The Future of Higher Education: A Global Perspective

Olivia Fleming; Founder & Director of Partnerships, OneHE leads the conversation with Dr. Hilligje van’t Land; Secretary General International Association of Universities, Warren Kennard; Founder & CEO ConnectED, and Dr. C. Edward Watson; CIO and Associate VP, Association of American Colleges and Universities

Creating an Inclusive Community - New Faculty and Radical Empathy

Olivia Fleming; Founder & Director of Partnerships, OneHE leads the discussion with Dr. Terri Givens; Founder and CEO of Brighter Higher Education, Devin Gaines; Account Executive, SurveyMonkey, and Chantelle George; Founder and CEO of CG Consulting

Develop a Growth Mindset in Students: The Challenge and How to Meet It

Olivia Fleming; Founder & Director of Partnerships, OneHE leads the conversation with Dr. Steve Joordens; Full Professor University of Toronto, Scarborough, and Nadeem Abdi; 3rd Year Neuroscience Student, University of Toronto, Scarborough

HIGHER EDUCATION WEEK

Latinos as Inclusive Leaders in Higher Ed - Working with All People Creates the Strongest Latino Leaders

Jose R. Rodriguez; Partner (ret.), KPMG LLP leads the discussion with David Lopez; First Gen Student, University of Colorado Boulder, Dr. Donna Blancero, Provost and VP of Academic Affairs Bentley University, Jeffrey Vargas; President & CEO Generationology, Dr. Cristina Alfaro; Assoc. VP for International Affairs, San Diego State University, and Carlos Contreras; Sr. Dir. Americas, Global Partnership and Initiatives Intel Corporation

Infusing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Across the Curriculum: How and Now

Dr. Susan Swayze; Founder & CEO, Diversity Think Tank leads discussion with Nadia N. Butt; Doctoral Student, The George Washington University, Dr. Wendy Cukier; Founder and Director, Diversity Institute, Ryerson University, Dr. Terri Hinkley; CEO, Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses, and Dr. Arlen Meyers; President and CEO, Society of Physician Entrepreneurs

HBCUs Leading Innovation, Inclusivity, and Ingenuity: Defining the New Normal Post COVID

Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover; President, Tennessee State University leads the discussion with Bernie Milano; Founder, PhD Project, Cece Rodgers; Student, Tougaloo College, and Dr. Harold Lee Martin Senior; Chancellor, North Carolina A & T State University.

Inclusive HR Directors Improve Life for Higher Ed: Celebrating the Unsung Heroes on College Campuses

Dr. Ryan Ross; Associate Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System leads the discussion with Christina Cecil; Chief Human Resources Officer, Colorado Community College System, Cheng Yu Hou; Chief Human Resources Officer, San Mateo County Community College District, Bill Dial; Chief Human Resources Officer, College of Southern Nevada, and Kyra Welch; Student, Bethune-Cookman

Native Higher Education Leaders: Transforming COVID Caused Challenges

Dr. David Yarlott, President of Little Big Horn College leads the discussion with Dr. Twyla Baker, President of Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, Dr. Carma Claw, Assistant Professor of Management, Fort Lewis College, Dr. Billie Jo Kipp, Associate Director Research and Evaluation, Aspen Institute Center for Native American Youth, Dr. Joseph Gladstone, Professor of Business Management University of New Haven, and Dominik MorningDove, a current student from Fort Lewis College

K-12 WEEK

Building the Diverse Talent Pipeline in K-12, Master’s, and PhD: First Gen and Diverse Success

Dr. Tania Hogan; Director of Undergraduate Student Success, University of Colorado Denver leads the discussion with Richard Maez; IB Diploma Program Manager - Denver Public Schools, Dr. Maria A. Castro Barajas; Assistant Director, Pre-Collegiate Development, Univ. of Colorado Boulder, Dr. Robin Brandehoff; Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Colorado Denver, and Joselyne Garcia-Moreno; student, University of Colorado Denver

Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in K-12: Moving the Big Rocks of Equity Forward

Jonathan Cooper; Superintendent - Mason City Schools leads panel discussion with Soroya Smith; DEI Learning Experience Designer - Mason City Schools, Kori Harris; Online Content Designer - Second Grade Teacher, Mason Early Childhood Center, Amie Switzer; 4th-grade teacher - Mason City Schools, Mariah Norman; Senior, Mason High School, and Bena Kallick; Co-Founder, Institute for Habits of Mind

Developing the Principal and Superintendent Diverse Pipeline in PK–12: Looking Ahead 

Dr. Mort Sherman; Associate Executive Director - AASA, The School Superintendents Association leads this panel discussion with Dr. Maria Ott; Executive in Residence, University of Southern California, Dr. Michael Conner; Superintendent - Middletown Public Schools, and Dr. Khalid Mumin; Superintendent - Reading School District. Includes Kid Superintendent video

Latino Leaders as Learning Changemakers: The Future of Work is Diverse, Inclusive, Just, and Equitable 

Adrian Rosado; President - Zion Leadership Group with Yecenia Tostado; Executive Director - Project Azul, Sixcia Devine; Business Development Specialist - Grow with Google, Alissa Santana; McNair Scholar, Senior, Business Major University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and Jaime Ivan Lopez-Rivera; VP for Student Affairs - Antillean Adventist University, Puerto Rico. Register below Renay's story.

TECHNOLOGY WEEK

STEPS to Skills on the Go: Cell Phone Learning Advancing Equity for Adult Students

Waukecha Wilkerson; Director of Coaching, Cell-Ed leads the panel discussion with Vickie Hay; CalWORKs Coordinator, Student Success, Orange Coast College, David A. Croom; Asst. Director, Postsecondary Achievement, Aspen Institute, Portia Polk; Director of Learning and Advocacy, Generation Hope, and Rachel Mercott, Student, Cell-Ed STEPS

Driving Change through Intersectional Philanthropy: Increasing Representation and Leadership

Dwana Franklin-Davis; CEO, Reboot Representation leads discussion with Carina Weyer; Program Manager, F5 Global Good & F5 Foundation, Taliah Givens; Sr. Director, Student Professional Development, UNCF, Jamie Schwartz; Director of Major Gifts, American Indian College Fund, and Debbie Marcus; Senior Director, Break Through Tech, Cornell Tech

Student Leaders Speak To College Presidents, CEOs, and Government Leaders

Dr. Jessica Rowland Williams; Director, Every Learner Everywhere leads the discussion with GlobalMindED Every Learner Student Ambassadors Jair Flores; Student, Colorado State University Pueblo, Serita Liles; Student, North Carolina A&T State University, Hector Ramos Diaz; Student, University of Portland, and Kyra Welch; Student, Bethune-Cookman University

Advancing Equity in Highly Selective HS and College Admissions-Ed Equity Lab, Partners, and Students 

Alexandra Slack; Chief of Staff, National Education Equity Lab, leads this panel discussion with Asheley Siewnarine; Student Success Director - National Education Equity Lab, Di’Zhon Chase; Student, Columbia University, Michaell Santos; Student, The Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice, and Favi Olmedo; Student, Bronx Career & College Prep. High School

Tech Empowering Students Before, During, and After Covid: Closing the Digital Divide

Dr. Michael Torrance; President, Motlow State Community College leads panel discussion with Elise Shea; Founder & President, Conversations Unbound, Robert Joseph; President, Team MindShift, Rishi Kanjani; Analyst, Data Insights, Salesforce, and Cala Estes; Director of Education, Blind Institute of Technology

The Benefits of Global Internships: How, Why, Where

Adrian Rosado; President, Zion Leadership Group leads panel with Mara Luna; Director, TRIO Upward Bound. Univ of Puerto Rico, Mitzi Damazo-Sabando; CEO, TinkerHouse Inc., Manila, Philippines, Tree Xu; Community Manager, Education First, Wuxi, China, Erika Aquino; Executive Director, Infinit-O Group Foundation, Raymond Cabrera; Director, TRIO Upward Bound, Univ. of S. Florida, Ayessa Weems; Student, TRIO Student Support, Purdue Univ. NW

EARTH WEEK

International Youth: Strategies for Inclusive, Just, and Equitable Climate Leadership 

Ash Pachauri; Co-Founder and Senior Mentor, Protect Our Planet Movement and Drishya Pathak; POP Movement, India lead this panel of international students including Summer Benjamin; POP Movement Peter Gruber International Academy, US Virgin Islands, Caroline Sandberg; Tahoe Expedition Academy, USA, Tsague Dongfack/Willy Endelson; POP Movement, Cameroon, Ricardo Delgado; POP Youth Mentor, Arturo Michelena Univ, Venezuela, and Zoe Ricardo Rivera; CEI Univ, México

How Environmental Justice and Equity Can Help Solve the Climate Crisis Part 1 

Courtney Knight; Founder and Managing Member, Capstone Capital Advisors and Susan Kidd; Executive Director, Center for Sustainability, Agnes Scott College lead discussion with Anamarie Shreeves; Environmental Education Programs Manager, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, Eriqah Vincent; Network Engagement Director, Power Shift Network, Dr. Dana Williamson; EPA Environmental Health Fellow, Assoc of Schools and Programs of Public Health, and Gwendylon P. Smith; Exec Director, Collier Heights Association for Revitalization, Resilience, and Sustainability.  

How Environmental Justice and Equity Can Help Solve the Climate Crisis Part 2 

Dr. Kyle Whyte; Professor of Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, leads panel discussion with Ka’illjuus / Lisa Lang; Executive Director, Xaadas Kil Kuyaas Foundation, Dr. Kelsey Leonard; Assistant Professor, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, Brittany Judson; Just Growth Consultant Partnership for Southern Equity, and AJ (Andrea) Grant; President, Environmental Communications Associates.

• Communities represented included BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), first generation, living with disabilities, white poverty-affected, LGBTQ+, Veteran, Online, and ESL/Immigrant.

• 100 percent acknowledged two or more barriers such as lack of internet access, lack of focused learning environment, no personal device, health concerns, unemployment, language barriers, learning from their beds/bedrooms and/or managing younger siblings.

• 100 percent described absent or unavailable campus support systems beyond the instructor, equating the learning experience and cost of same as being grossly out of alignment.

• 80 percent disapproved of the online learning experience, citing inconsistency in faculty ability to educate using technological tools and practices. In essence, the virtual environment was not mirroring or upholding the most important elements of the in-person environment, as some faculty were not adequately trained in the COVID-caused emotional/social needs of students.

• 70 percent relied on peer support as compared to more formal support systems. Students were learning and growing by being together – something critical to note during times of both social and physical distancing.

• Colleges should do a better job of providing a platform for the voices of poverty-affected and first generation students to be heard.

• Faculty needs to gain a better grasp of digital tools, technologies and strategies.

• Advisors should recruit student coaches and peers to help newer students from diverse communities.

• Policy makers must improve access to transportation, housing, child care, financing, lower tuition/debt and career opportunities for first generation/diverse students.

• Annual Inclusive DEI Virtual Conference for Faculty and Students
• Monthly Equity Events led by leaders of color with diverse panelists
• First Gen Student Leadership Class - June 14-18, 2021 applications open now
• Summer Success Bridge in to College for incoming freshmen
• Daily of newsletter focusing on diverse and First Gen success stories