Howard Ross

Overcoming Unconscious Bias: The Journey to Inclusion

Over the past 20 years, the study of unconscious bias has exploded into the diversity and inclusion field, built on breakthroughs in the neurocognitive sciences and hundreds of new studies. What insights do they provide into how we think and how that thinking shapes our workplace behavior? Are these insights being misunderstood or misused? And how can we examine the data—and our own biases—to prosper in an increasingly diverse and global workplace, society and competitive landscape?

In this game-changing presentation, based on his best selling book, Everyday Bias: Identifying and Navigating Unconscious Judgments inour Daily Lives,  unconscious bias expert Howard Ross shares proven strategies that both individuals and organizations can use to create more culturally competent and inclusive organizations. Revealing new research, case studies and practical applications that have diversity practitioners re-thinking old strategies, Ross shows how we can overcome unconscious bias to truly transform the way we work on both a personal and organizational level. This highly reflective and often inspiring presentation gives participants the opportunity to explore their own relationship with bias and its presence in their own organizations—beginning the journey toward self-discovery that is at the heart of inclusion. 

Creating a Culture of Belonging

We are living in a world of almost unparalleled division, separation and tribalism. People are no longer disagreeing, but disavowing each other’s rights to an opinion. What is driving this polarization and how can we overcome it in our daily lives? In his new book, Our Search for Belonging: How our Need to Connect is Tearing Us Apart, Howard Ross examines this fractured landscape and finds a beacon of hope: the modern workplace. After all, we don’t choose who we work with. These relationships cut across race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, education levels and political perspectives—the very impetus needed for community and belonging to exist.

Building upon a foundation of cutting edge research, Ross shares best practices from some of America’s most successful and admired companies. He also guides audiences through the eight pathways to creating a culture of belonging, including the specific behaviors that people in organizations can embrace in order to make them happen.  As one CEO said about Our Search for Belonging, “Howard Ross offers actionable steps on how we can begin to dismantle the walls between us for the benefit of our workplaces and our society. An insightful read for all leaders.”

The Six Elements of Inclusive Leadership

The growing relevance of diversity and the increasingly diverse demographics of our culture call for a new kind of leader. Diversity and unconscious bias expert Howard Ross walks audiences through the essential traits, outlining the six elements of inclusive leadership:

• Commitment. How can leaders find their own “why” about diversity and inclusion, one that can inspire them to inspire others?
• Team Focus. How does diversity impact team performance and what can you do as a leader to create effective inclusion on your teams?
• Mindful Decision-making. What is unconscious bias and how does it impact leadership decision-making?
• Innovation. How can you leverage diversity and inclusion to inspire and expand innovation?
• Cultural Competency. In a new age of globalism and diversity, leaders have to develop an understanding of how culture impacts employee values, beliefs and behaviors.  It can also be an important element in understanding the needs of customers or clients.
• Courage. How do we move forward in the face of criticism, challenges or people who resist the message of diversity and inclusion?

Reinventing Diversity for the 21st Century

Almost 40% of US residents are now people of color. Percentages of women and “out” LGBT people continue to grow. As more people with disabilities enter the workforce, accessibility issues loom. As always, generational dynamics create challenges. Yet most interventions and solutions that we are using have not changed in decades. 

This conversation is vityslly important now as the conversation about DEI has become more and more controversial.

Based on his book, Reinventing Diversity: Transforming Organizational Community to Strengthen People, Purpose, and Performance, Howard Ross focuses on three major paradigm shifts that are needed to create a 21st century approach:

• Moving from a U.S.-based, reparative framework to an understanding of cultural competency and global diversity. Are your diversity programs trying to “fix” problems of the past rather than addressing the emerging realities of globalism? 
• Moving from “blame and shame” to a deeper understanding of the unconscious mind and how that impacts people’s behavior. Are your diversity programs dividing people and using guilt to motivate them? Or, do you acknowledge that bias is driven by unconscious beliefs that we are not aware of? 
• Moving from “diversity events” to transforming organizational culture. Are your programs focused on events and training programs vs. activities proven to create long-term strategic change?

The Evolution of the Diversity Conversation – with Dr. Johnnetta Cole

Workplaces have always mirrored our larger society, facing the same issues, challenges and divisions.  In this thought-provoking presentation, Howard Ross and his colleague, Dr. Johnnetta Cole, President Emerita of Spelman and Bennett Colleges, examine the evolution of the racial and diversity conversation in America and its workplaces. What does it take to create real and lasting change? How have diversity and inclusion efforts advanced social justice and equality?

With sights set on a future that will be increasingly diverse and global, these two diversity and inclusion veterans from very different personal backgrounds guide us through the challenges to come. At a time when the level of racial tension and polarization is so high, these two long-time colleagues present a hopeful example of how people can bridge across race, gender, and religion to create true ally-ship and organizational environments of inclusion, trust, and collaboration

The Power of Nice: How Basic Civility and Respect Can Be Tools to Create Organizational Community

We have seen a general pattern of decay in our public discourse over the past generation.  In a world in which our most senior leaders resort to name calling and pettiness, common decency and civility seem to now be seen by many as “soft” or “weak.”  In fact, the greatest leaders do not have to be mean or rude to get things done. This talk will focus on a deep understanding of human motivation, uncovering decades of research as to why and how people respond to each other.  We will talk about the neuro-science research and on strategies to build more civil relationships and cultures.

Mindfulness: Clearing Out the Distractions to Be Able to Be Here Now

Over the past decades, the practice of mindfulness has moved from the domain of wellness and health to the mainstream of our society.  Corporations offer yoga and meditation for employees; even world leaders have been known to develop some of these practices.  This session will focus on the science and practice of mindfulness. Participants will leave understanding why it works, and how to use it in their daily lives.

Rewiring Our Lives: Moving into Aging With Vitality and Purpose

Most people have bought into the notion that the “senior” years of life are a period of steady decline…but it doesn’t have to be that way.  New breakthroughs in understanding the physical, emotional and psychological aspects of aging have given us the ability to stay vital and productive for longer than ever before.  This talk will focus on how we let go of the conditioning that makes aging so frightening to so many, and move into this period of life with consciousness and optimism.  We explore mindset, physical and mental health, and longevity medicine among other related topics.