Dimensions of Diversity

On this episode of Dimensions of Diversity, host Lloyd Freeman is joined by college friends Latonya Clark, Patrice Clark, and Tamra Berry. While all of them attended Howard University, they have different backgrounds and experiences that shaped them along the way.

The group discusses the legacies that historically black colleges and universities have/will continue to have in the future. They talk about the culture of Howard as well as the ever-growing network it provided them. HBCUs are both relevant and sustainable, something that many students will carry with them throughout their lives.
 
 To learn more about Lloyd Freeman, click here: https://www.bipc.com/lloyd-freeman.

To learn more about Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, visit www.BIPC.com.

May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month – a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. This month provides an opportunity to reflect on this history, and integrate these stories into a renewed understanding of our American narrative.
 
 On this special episode, host Lloyd Freeman, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney speaks with Cindy Hinkle, Fayezeh Haji Hassan and Tina Hu as they bring awareness to the layers of diversity within the Asian American community. The trio gives their unique perspectives surrounding their Asian heritage, lineage, cultural observations, challenges and triumphs. 
 
 To learn more about Lloyd Freeman, click here: https://www.bipc.com/lloyd-freeman.

To learn more about Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, visit www.BIPC.com.
 
To learn more about, Tina Hu, click here: https://www.bipc.com/tina-hu-rodgers 
 
To learn more about Fayezeh Haji Hassan, click here: https://www.bipc.com/fayezeh-haji-hassan 
 
To learn more about Cindy Hinkle, click here: https://www.bipc.com/cindy-hinkle 

Diversity & Inclusion is wider than the workplace. The most successful businesses know that by creating diversity in their supply chains as well, they can unlock innovation and agility, and improve their ethical credentials. Supplier Diversity is defined as, “a proactive business program, which encourages the use of minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, LGBT-owned, service disabled veteran-owned, historically underutilized business, and Small Business Administration (SBA)-defined small business concerns as suppliers.”

On this episode of Dimensions of Diversity, host Lloyd Freeman is joined by Dr. Karmetria Dunham Burton, Sr. Director, Global Supplier Diversity and Inclusion, McDonalds; Kerry L. Kirkland, Deputy Secretary for Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities, Pennsylvania Department of General Services; and Lee E. Lewis, Jr., Director of Supplier Diversity & Inclusion, Highmark Health.

The group discusses supplier diversity best practices, how supplier diversity works to combat racial/social injustice, how to eliminate barriers for minority suppliers, and ways to measure the effectiveness of supplier diversity programs.

To learn more about Lloyd Freeman, click here: https://www.bipc.com/lloyd-freeman.
To learn more about Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, visit, www.BIPC.com.
To learn more about Kerry Kirland, click here: https://www.dgs.pa.gov/About/Pages/Bio-Kerry-Kirkland.aspx
To learn more about Lee Lewis: https://f.datasrvr.com/fr1/522/29450/MLK-2022-Bios_Lewis.pdf
To learn more about Karmetria Dunham-Brown - https://f.datasrvr.com/fr1/722/35016/MLK-2022-Bios_Burton.pdf

Host Lloyd Freeman is joined by two guests to discuss the impact of the United States’ first black woman Supreme Court Justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson. 
 
 On this episode Adara L. Combs, Esq., and Kia Ghee detail their experiences of watching the historic confirmation hearings. Combs serves as the Victim Advocate of Philadelphia and, as leader of the Office of the Victim Advocate, she works to amplify the voices of victims and co-victims of crime in Philadelphia. Ghee is lifelong Philadelphian and seasoned social justice advocate. In June 2021, she was appointed by Mayor Jim Kenney as the Executive Director for Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, the City’s official civil rights agency.

The conversation highlights how inspirational the nomination and subsequent confirmation of Brown-Jackson is for minorities, and specifically black female attorneys.

To learn more about Lloyd Freeman, click here: https://www.bipc.com/lloyd-freeman
To learn more about Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, visit www.BIPC.com
To learn more about Adara Combs, click here: https://www.phillybarristers.com/board/adara-l-combs/
To learn more about Kia Ghee, click here: https://www.nbawldphila.org/personnel/kia-ghee/

While the national conversation around Critical Race Theory has been largely focused on the Black-white binary, the Latinx point of view is an important one with many dimensions of diversity embedded within it.

On this episode of Dimensions of Diversity, host Lloyd Freeman is joined by Victoria Méndez, the City Attorney of Miami, and Pedro Suriel from Raymond James Financial, who share their experiences in the workplace as members of the Hispanic community. Our guests discuss the cultural landscape that faces the Hispanic community and how it has changed over time. We wrap up the episode by discussing awareness and best practices when handling stereotypes, stigmas, racism, and cultural knowledge gaps that consistently pop up throughout the country.

To learn more about Lloyd Freeman, click here: https://www.bipc.com/lloyd-freeman.

To learn more about Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, visit, www.BIPC.com.

Over the last 18 months, it has been difficult to sustain community within the workplace. There is less opportunity to see the familiar faces of coworkers as we have become accustomed to seeing colleagues over video chats rather than bumping into them at the office. The overload of virtual meetings and conference calls have created a weaker bond between employees, and has also made it more difficult for employees to feel engaged. As calendars become congested with numerous meetings and the hybrid work environment persists, it is necessary for companies to not lose sight of the importance of inclusivity.

On this episode of Dimensions of Diversity, host Lloyd Freeman is joined by Aneesh Mehta and Rebecca Benavides from Microsoft, who share their best practices for conducting inclusive and engaging meetings within a hybrid work environment. The two speakers will provide insight into Microsoft’s research-driven guide on how to run inclusive meetings and share tips on how to engage employees. Further, they will share their thoughts on the importance of meeting-leaders properly preparing their teams prior to meetings, setting the tone, setting expectations, and challenging themselves to think beyond surface-level involvement so that productivity can continue to thrive in the workplace.

To learn more about Lloyd Freeman, click here: https://www.bipc.com/lloyd-freeman.

To learn more about Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, visit, www.BIPC.com.

On this episode of Dimensions of Diversity, our host, Lloyd Freeman, is joined by Sherika Ekpo to discuss the importance of a company’s commitment to belonging, equity, and inclusion. The two examine methods companies can utilize to retain talent through inclusive processes, discuss the best practices that allow businesses to appeal to a new generation of socially responsible interviewees, and provide insight on the positive outcomes of implementing intentionality in the hiring process.

Diversity is essential in all aspects of life and business is no exception. It is clear why diversity is good in a business, but improvements in diversity will not happen with companies being passive in their recruiting processes. In this episode, our speakers discuss what true intentionality looks like and how to systemically create opportunities for everyone in the workplace.

The pandemic period has sparked an increased awareness of self-care practices and the importance of taking time for yourself. The difficult part for many is finding time around busy work schedules to properly rest.

On this fascinating episode of Dimensions of Diversity, host Lloyd Freeman is joined by past president of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association in New York and current CEO of PGE Consulting Group LLC, Paula Edgar, who discusses her recent decision to find the time to reset. Paula is a woman who, like many others, wears many hats, and therefore has a lot on her plate. She is a dedicated lawyer, consultant, speaker, mother, wife, and resourceful peer. Paula is accustomed to living a fast-paced life as she constantly dedicates herself to navigating her clients’ challenges and works every day to leave a significant impact on the world around her. With such passion for the workforce, Paula was familiar with saying “yes” to everyone, but what she was uncomfortable with was saying “yes” to herself. This past summer, Paula made a decision that was difficult at first, one that many might find surreal for a legal professional: she took a two-month sabbatical. In this episode, Paula and Lloyd examine the trajectory of the past year and how it played a role in Paula’s decision. The two will also discuss the benefits that proper reflection-periods can bring to the workplace, and how taking time for yourself can actually amplify your work upon your return.

To learn more about Lloyd Freeman, click here: https://www.bipc.com/lloyd-freeman

To learn more about Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, visit, www.BIPC.com.

Host Lloyd Freeman is joined by Gigio Ninan, a Rutgers law school alumnus, and founder of Shankar Ninan & Co., who shares his perspective on the South Asian American Community and its role in America’s ongoing conversation about race. On this episode, the two discuss the “recent minority” aspect of this community as Asian American discrimination and hatred continues to be pushed to the forefront. The conversation focuses on Gigio Ninan’s personal experiences, and the importance of becoming educated on the different dimensions of diversity within the South Asian community, in order to better prepare the American population in dealing with racial issues.

To learn more about Lloyd Freeman, click here: https://www.bipc.com/lloyd-freeman

To learn more about Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, visit, www.BIPC.com.

It is evident that the pandemic has permanently influenced how we do business. The blurring of the work-life balance has fostered a new type of environment that is rather inconsistent. With some employees working remotely and others returning to the office, it is important for companies to adapt and continue to make inclusivity a priority. As we enter the next phase of the pandemic, it is essential for businesses to accommodate, communicate, promote inclusive work environments, and properly mitigate potential biases.

On this episode of Dimensions of Diversity, host Lloyd Freeman is joined by Buchanan’s Chief Talent Officer, Dani Rosetti, to discuss how Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney is tackling the potential inequities in the workplace that have resulted from the pandemic. The two will discuss how businesses can make productive accommodations, mitigate biases, and encourage an inclusive work environment even among these unfamiliar elements. Further, Lloyd and Dani will touch-on the importance of retaining and adapting programs even amidst the pandemic and discuss the benefits of exercising emotional intelligence in the workplace. Learning how to navigate the “new normal” will allow companies to remain productive while also creating an environment that continues to value all employees.

To learn more about Lloyd Freeman, click here: https://www.bipc.com/lloyd-freeman

To learn more about Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, visit, www.BIPC.com.