DEI leaders across our agencies identified managerial competency as the number one impediment to retaining and growing diverse talent. As the conversation went deeper, the group agreed that fear—of difficult conversations and giving feedback—is at the heart of the problem. This year’s UNBIAS series tackled this head on with four focused sessions on fostering a feedback-forward culture that’s designed for everyone who is managing people in our agencies.

Session One: Feedback that Fosters Growth
Wednesday, June 21 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. ET

Linda Davis, Senior Director, Human Resources at JPA Health, will moderate a discussion with diverse professionals to highlight specific pieces of feedback that propelled their trust, commitment, work and careers forward. Although the session is focused on the very positive impact of the “dos,” the group will also share some “don’ts” and the resulting damage.

Panelists: Marcus Braham (Padilla), Aisha Hudson (FleishmanHillard), Shari Smith (BCW) and Eric Winkfield (M Booth)

Session Two: Feedback – Tools & Techniques
Wednesday, July 12 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. ET

Led by Chelsea Williams, Founder & CEO @ Reimagine Talent Co.

In this interactive session, we will explore tools and techniques to provide real-time feedback that is unbiased, balanced and actionable. The benefit? Improving your team’s connection, culture, and performance while fostering a culture that empowers potential.

Session Three: Feedback – Putting Theory into Practice
Wednesday, August 2 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. ET

Led by Chelsea Williams, Founder & CEO @ Reimagine Talent Co.

This session puts theory into practice through role-play scenarios relevant to today’s PR professional. The scenarios will not only highlight the challenges when managers avoid real-time feedback but also the opportunities that emerge when specific and actionable feedback is used as a gift to empower and catapult direct reports.

Session Four: Psychological Safety
Wednesday, September 13 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. ET

Led by Dr. Cree Scott, Founder & CEO @ Serenity Psychological Health & Well-being

Safety is a common basic human need according to Maslow’s hierarchy, so it should come as no surprise that a psychologically safe environment is one of the main drivers of performance in the workplace and key to retaining diverse talent in our agencies. But how do leaders help everyone on their teams feel seen, heard, appreciated and supported? During this workshop, we will outline the essential elements needed to create psychological safety and practical ways to maintain a healthy team culture.