On October 29, 2015, Sheryl L. Axelrod, President of The Axelrod Firm, spoke with students at Immaculata University about “What it takes: Tips from the top about an unspoken skillset –cultural competency.” Her interactive discussion covered:
- Unconscious & confirmation gender and minority bias: What it is, and what we know about it;
- The scope of the damage: The extent to which unconscious bias has negatively impacted the economic competitiveness of our country;
- The profitability of diversity: How equality, diversity, and inclusion multiplies organizations’ success; and
- Breaking through: How to grow your success and that of your organization by building your cultural competency.
The group stayed to ask questions and engage on the topic further. They found the numbers — the scope of the damage — particularly surprising. The numbers are indeed shocking. The hope is that by spreading awareness and strategies to break through, things will improve, and at an increasingly faster rate.