Kellogg hosts inaugural Chief Diversity Officer Summit

10/7/2015 - The Kellogg School of Management convened its first-ever Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) Summit, seeking to foster greater collaboration across sectors and promote the professional development of C-suite diversity leaders.

More than 140 CDOs and human resource managers attended the three-day conference, which was held in partnership with the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education.

The summit included sessions devoted to building diversity across generations, developing professional standards and competencies for CDOs, and identifying industry-specific challenges for diversity leaders.

Kellogg faculty members presented their research on the topic of diversity and inclusion, including Lauren Rivera on hiring practices at elite companies, Nicholas Pearce on religious diversity in the workplace and Brian Uzzi on building strategic leadership networks.

‘Much more work to be done’

Roslyn M. Brock ’99, chairman of the national board of directors for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, kicked off the summit by highlighting the need to increase diversity efforts across sectors to combat systemic racism.

“We have made significant achievements in this nation,” Brock said in her keynote address, referencing President Obama’s 2008 and 2012 elections. “There is still much more work to be done. And that's what makes the work that you do so important to the future of this nation. I would dare say that your positions as chief diversity officers are one of the most pivotal roles of any organization.”

In the months leading up to the CDO Summit, Kellogg also announced that its newest class comprises 43 percent women—an all-time high—and 23 percent U.S. minorities. The school is a Premier Partner with Management Leadership for Tomorrow, a non-profit organization empowering Underrepresented Minority candidates pursuing an MBA, and has one of the longest running partnerships with the Forte Foundation, a non-profit organization empowering women to pursue careers in business.

“Kellogg has a deep commitment to diversity through every aspect of our school, including students, faculty, administration and alumni,” said Anise Wiley-Little, chief human capital and diversity officer at Kellogg. “We’re proud to be the only business school currently convening a CDO Summit, and we will continue to take a leading role in the advancement of diversity leaders across sectors.”

Related reading:

• Transformation through diversity
• Kellogg faculty discuss bias in hiring practices
• Diversity in Teams