Highlights from the Alliance’s 2016 Annual Conference – What An Inspirational Day!

In case you missed our 2016 Annual Conference, here’s a rundown of some of the highlights of the day…

Partner-in-Charge of the DC office for Jones Day, Kevyn Orr, set the inspirational tone for the day by sharing his moving story of how he was literally born into segregation after his mother was refused medical care at the hospital when he was born. Now as the Partner-in-Charge of a major law firm, he is “living the American Dream” but always remembers to reach out and help others in his quest for diversity and inclusion. Read more

The First Step to Gender Diversity: Do the Math

Last month we welcomed more than 130 attorneys and corporate executives at our 2016 Annual Conference, Diversity + Flexibility = Talent Success. The day was filled with inspirational stories, sound advice, lessons learned, and expert guidance for organizations looking to improve their diversity and flexibility policies.

As we reflect on the successes of the day, we are proud to have had such a diverse group of participants, including general counsel, law firm chairs, diversity directors, and other leaders in the legal field come together to discuss the importance of having a diverse team and the value in having women in leadership positions. While the mindset of the legal community is clearly evolving, there are still many obstacles to overcome before we can truly say women have equal seats at the table. Read more

Investing In Your Success: Preparing Yourself For Sponsorship

April 2016

Featuring — Ritu Bhasin, LL.B., MBA, Principal & Founder, bhasin consulting inc.

Are you ready to be sponsored and be a sponsor? Sponsorship is a highly effective approach to advancing career development. It’s more than just mentoring or a passive relationship – it’s an investment relationship that requires winning the confidence of others and building and sustaining relationship capital. In this session, global inclusion specialist Ritu Bhasin will discuss key strategies and tools for becoming “sponsor-ready” from the individual and organizational perspectives.

Upcoming Event -Signature Seminar Series

Sponsorship: A Key to Your Career Advancement

Do you have a sponsor within your firm? If not, are you taking the right steps to find one and to build a successful sponsor relationship? These and other questions will be answered next Tuesday during our latest bi-monthly Signature Seminar Series teleconference, “Investing In Your Success: Preparing Yourself For Sponsorship.” Our special guest, Ritu Bhasin, LL.B., MBA, Founder and Principal of bhasin consulting inc., a leading global people strategies firm, will explain the importance of sponsorship and how it can effectively advance your legal career. Read more

There’s Still Time to Register for the 2016 Annual Conference!

Our 2016 Annual Conference, Diversity + Flexibility = Talent Success, is just days away! It’s not too late to register if you want to learn more about enhancing your firm’s diversity and flexibility initiatives.

As a conference attendee you’ll be inspired to help your firm move to the next level and embrace the benefits of optimizing diverse talent and flexible work options. Read more

Overwhelmed? Come and Hear Brigid Schulte’s Advice on Work-Life Control

Did you know that Americans work among the longest hours of any advanced economy?   And, why do we take fewer vacations than the rest of the world? What can we do to balance productivity and profitability with flexibility and leisure?

Join us at our 2016 Annual Conference to hear from a true expert on these issues, New York Times best-selling author, Brigid Schulte. Ms. Schulte will be our special guest for a fireside chat with Manar Morales, President & CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance at 1:15pm on Wednesday. Read more

Davis Wright Tremaine Partners Recognized For Remarkable Success While Working Flexible Schedules

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance to Present 2016 Flex Success™ Awards at Annual Conference

WASHINGTON, DC: March 7, 2016 – The Diversity and Flexibility Alliance has announced its 2016 Flex Success™ Award Honorees, Jenna Mooney and Danielle Frappier, both Partners at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, and their clients, Joe Mattoon, Chief Legal Officer, CLEAResult Consulting Inc., and Steven Fenker, President, Nexus Communications, Inc., respectively. The awards, which will be presented at the Alliance’s Annual Conference, recognize partners at member organizations who are currently on a reduced hours schedule and a client that has been integral to making workplace flexibility a reality and a success. Read more

Thought-Provoking Panels Are Sure to Stimulate In-Depth Conversations on Diversity and Flexibility at 2016 Annual Conference

Do You Need Help Tearing Down Structural and Cultural Barriers To Diversity?

The third panel at our 2016 Annual Conference (Wednesday, March 16) will focus on steps you can take to interrupt unconscious bias and pave the way for the advancement of diverse talent.

The panel, entitled “Effective Change Management Strategies,” features advice from Carter Phillips, Chair, Sidley Austin LLP; Alice Valder Curran, Regional Managing Partner, Hogan Lovells US LLP; Maurice Watson, Chair, Husch Blackwell LLP; and moderator, Maja Hazell, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, White & Case.

This panel, which runs from 2:15pm-3:15pm, will explore how to combat second generation bias (that is, practices that appear neutral but that reflect the dominance of those who created them) in recruitment, evaluation, and compensation. Read more

Inspiring Panels Designed to Equip You With the Tools to Move Your Firm’s Diversity and Flexibility Efforts Forward

Have you registered for our 2016 Annual Conference yet? Here’s a preview of the first two panels of this year’s event:

Optimizing Talent: A Conversation with Women Law Firm Chairs

Hear how four women law firm chairs are literally changing the face of leadership in the legal profession. Kimberly Leach Johnson, Chair, Quarles & Brady LLP; Deborah Read, Firmwide Managing Partner, Thompson Hine LLP; Lisa (Lee) Schreter, Chair, Littler Mendelson P.C; and, Elizabeth Sharrer, Chair, Holland & Hart LLP will share their personal experiences on their paths to leadership.

You’ll hear about the challenges and opportunities they’ve faced, as well as pivotal decisions they’ve made along the way. They’ll also share how they are personally helping to advance women and retain top talent by mentoring and incorporating diversity and flexibility issues into the culture of their organizations. Read more

Benchmarking Data to Support Your Firm’s Flexibility Efforts

Did you miss seeing our 2015 Flexibility Benchmarking Survey Report released two weeks ago?

If so, you may not know that a majority of U.S. law firms in our survey reported having more than one type of flexible work as part of their formal policy. That is, their policies include at least two of the following types of holistic flexibility: reduced hour schedules, telecommuting, flexible start/end times, annualized hours and/or job sharing. Read more