Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business will host the fifth annual and first virtual Diversity and Inclusion Conference Oct. 30. With racial equity and social justice at the forefront of public discourse, this year’s conference provides a forum to discuss how these issues impact the workplace.
The annual conference is designed to increase awareness, dialogue and skill-building around issues of diversity and inclusion as they relate to the business world, where consideration of diverse perspectives is a critical leadership skill.
This year’s conference includes a keynote address by Rice Business alumna Subha Barry, president of Working Mother Media; a panel of senior executives discussing how they lead in challenging times; and a panel of young alumni sharing how they are influencing change within their organizations.
Panelists will include Sonya Reed, senior vice president of human resources and corporate communications at Phillips 66; Donald Bowers, vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas’ Houston Branch; Nick Tran, senior manager of corporate social responsibility at Schlumberger; Debra Langford, executive director of business development and advancing Black pathways at JPMorgan Chase; and alumna Julian Duncan, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The virtual conference titled “Sparking Success: The Intersection of Business and Diversity and Inclusion” will take place 9:30 a.m.-2p.m. CDT on Friday, Oct. 30.
The event is open to everyone online, but registration is required.
"Rice offers an incredibly supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem, filled with classmates, faculty, mentors, and alumni who are eager to advise and open doors. Whether the venture becomes a breakout success or simply an invaluable learning journey, Rice is one of the best environments to take that leap."
“Felix embodies the best of Rice Business. He leaves communities stronger than he found them, and I am confident his impact will continue well beyond our campus,” said George Andrews, associate dean of Degree Programs.
"I think part of what I’m hoping to accomplish here is to put Rice on the map for some of these firms who might not have otherwise thought of it as a place to recruit,” says Robert Dittmar, associate dean of the Virani Undergraduate School of Business.
