Leading Diverse and Inclusive Workplaces   

About this course

While diversity and inclusion (D&I) may often be touted as buzzwords in organizational mission statements, they are undeniably crucial in today’s cultural landscape. Social issues such as racism, sexism, and xenophobia have a profound impact on workplace environments, and yet organizations and their leadership play a pivotal role in addressing these issues within the broader society. In modern workplaces, leaders at every tier are anticipated to interact and collaborate seamlessly across cultural divides, both within and outside their organizations.

Understanding the nuances of diversity and inclusion, and being equipped with the tools to address D&I challenges, is not just beneficial but increasingly essential for a broad spectrum of professionals. This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the theories and concepts surrounding D&I, emphasizing cultural diversity and inclusion. Through a blend of lectures, interactive sessions, and participant-driven discussions, attendees will delve into the intricacies of leadership within diverse and inclusive settings. Participants will walk away with actionable insights and tools, whether they are top-tier leaders formulating D&I strategies, team leaders setting examples for their units, or individual members championing the cause of the less privileged and advocating for a more inclusive workplace environment.

Course objectives

Participants will acquire research-based knowledge of diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the workplace, as well as a toolbox of D&I methods and exercises to implement in their own organizations as change agents. Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to:

• Define and discuss concepts and frameworks related to diversity and inclusion in teams and organizations
• Analyze and assess current approaches to work with diversity and inclusion in the workplace
• Develop strategies to foster diversity and inclusion in the workplace

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Main topics

This interactive course on how to lead diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the teams and organizations offers participants a dynamic mix of “D&I Theory”, “D&I Tools”, and “D&I Training”.

In the modules on “D&I Theory”, we will overview the history of the field, define notions such as equity, equality, diversity, and inclusion, discuss how we can measure them, and introduce key ideas from the sociology and psychology of D&I such as intersectionality, power and privilege, voice and silence, identity, categorization, stereotyping and bias, tokenism, marginalization, and stigma. We will also discuss how D&I fits with both human resource management (HRM) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies.

In the modules on “D&I Tools”, a diverse team of specialists will introduce methods to work with key diversity dimensions (“Dimensions x methods”) such as nationality, ethnicity, language and culture, disability, gender, age, socioeconomic status and class. Participants will get a glimpse of a wide range of data and methods that can facilitate the analysis and redesign of D&I in teams and organizations (e.g., HR data, surveys, interviews, vignettes, mixed and visual methods, among others).

As a final goal, participants in the course will practice leading diverse and inclusive workplaces. We will achieve this within modules on “D&I Training”. In small groups enabled by experienced facilitators, participants will design—for their own teams and organizations—diversity structures, policies, and practices that produce inclusive and equitable climates. Participants will present their D&I plans/ideas, and receive feedback from peers and instructors. As part of the process, participants will practice key skills such as working in culturally diverse teams, effective communication, and having difficult conversations.

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Target groups

Managers and leaders at all organizational levels, HR specialists, people and culture partners, Diversity and inclusion staff, Union representatives, Consultants, Anyone interested in fostering diversity and inclusion in their organization.

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Subject background

Diversity and inclusion (D&I) have become buzzword in organizational mission statements, but they are also contemporary cultural imperatives. Social issues such as racism, sexism, and xenophobia increasingly affect workplace cultures. And vice versa – organizations and their leaders increasingly shape how such issues are addressed in society. Leaders at all levels of contemporary workplaces are expected to communicate and collaborate effectively with a variety of people, crossing cultural boundaries in and around the organization. Acquiring the knowledge and vocabulary around diversity and inclusion, as well as a toolbox to tackle D&I issues and contribute to the creation of more inclusive and socially sustainable organizations, is beneficial–and increasingly required–for a wide range of practitioners.  

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General course fee and cancellation information

The courses and workshops vary in price. The course fee is invoiced after the registration deadline.

Cancellation policy

Cancellations received by 6th of May 2024: full refund
Cancellations received by 7th of May 2024 or later: no refund

NIVA will issue an invoice or send information on how to pay the course with credit card (depending on the option chosen in the registration form) after the registration deadline.

The price is subject to minor changes.

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Contact persons

Course leader

Minna Paunova, PhD, Associate Professor, Management, Society and Communication, Program Director, Business, Language and Culture, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark 
email: mp.msc@cbs.dk

In practical matters please contact:

Nathalie Räihä
Project Manager
NIVA
email: nathalie.raiha@niva.org