Why Attend?
We've got a thousand reasons why, but click here to see the "top" reasons you should attend this year's conference.
2007 Conference Highlights
The 2007 Conference brought participants top-notch keynote speakers, invaluable information and of course a GREAT TIME! To see some of the highlights, click here.
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Founder's Welcome
Welcome to the Fourth Annual Texas Diversity & Leadership Conference. I am very excited about the opportunity we have in our state not only to celebrate our differences but also to bring attention to issues related to our workplace. Our theme this year is “Deconstructing the Texas Glass Ceiling.” Based on the 2008 Texas Glass Ceiling study, women are significantly underrepresented in both the board rooms and the c-suites of Fortune 1000 companies headquartered in Texas. This is evidence that the “Good Old Boy Network” is still alive and well in our state.
The “Deconstruction of the Texas Glass Ceiling” is both a business and moral imperative for our community. First, from a business perspective, when organizations are not inclusive and thus not making full use of their human capital the implications are detrimental: high turnover, low worker engagement and lower productivity among their employees. Furthermore, a work environment with artificial barriers has the potential to lead to a class action law suit. Such a suit would impact both the bottom line and the corporate brand. In addition, all organizations have a responsibility to the community. A responsibility to create a work environment in which all individuals have an equal opportunity to develop and compete based on merit and not on one’s gender. Finally, discrimination is immoral. To exclude individuals from leadership based on their gender is both immoral and ungodly.
Thanks,
Dennis Kennedy
Founder & CEO,
National Diversity Council