,

Action Step – Leverage Hybrid & Virtual Events to Enhance Connection & Collaboration

The Alliance’s Action Steps are designed to assist organizations with implementing practical strategies and policies related to diversity and flexibility. Members can access full versions of all of the Alliance’s Action Steps in the Member Resource Center.

Many organizations are adopting hybrid/flexible work environments. For these new work environments to succeed, organizations must change much more than just their flexible work policies – organizations need to undergo a significant culture change which includes leadership support, communication guidelines and team agreements, trainings, technology, mentoring and other support structures. Organizations should also leverage hybrid/virtual events both to support the new work environments, but also as a general practice regardless of where they fall in terms of work locations (i.e. fully in- person; hybrid; or fully virtual). However, these hybrid/virtual events must be orchestrated thoughtfully and require resources, just like in-person events – most importantly, all attendees (virtual and in-person) need to be active participants and not just spectators so that these events are impactful for all. Hybrid/virtual events can have various benefits when implemented properly, including fostering cross-office connections; promoting connections despite budgetary constraints; securing powerful speakers and participants with time constraints; and gaining access to broad audiences. The following are the Alliance’s recommendations for hosting successful hybrid/virtual events:

Members: continue reading this Action Step in the Member Resource Center

To read this entire Action Step become a member of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. To learn more contact Manar Morales.

,

Diversity & Flexibility Alliance Announces its 2022 Award Honorees

Awards to be Presented During Virtual Annual conference on 11/3

 Washington, DC (October 12, 2022) – Today the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance announced its 2022 Award honorees.  The awards will be presented virtually during the Alliance’s Annual Conference, Cultivating a Holistic Work Culture: The Power of People, Purpose & Productivity on Thursday, November 3.  Registration links and more information are available here.

“Each year, leaders and professionals responsible for diversity & inclusion, talent recruitment and retention, professional development and human resources come to our conference to connect with peers and experts and learn about best practices, cutting-edge research and the latest innovations in diversity and flexibility,” said Manar Morales, President & CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. “We are thrilled to be honoring the trailblazers, visionaries and innovators of 2022 who are leading their industries towards a more flexible and inclusive future of the workplace.”

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance will be honoring the following individuals and organizations:

  • Anne Chow, Former CEO, AT&T Business, will receive the Alliance’s 2022 Luminary Award for her consistent dedication to combating unconscious bias, advancing diversity and inclusion, and developing strong future leaders. (See the full press release here.)

 

  • Jason St. John, Managing Partner, Saul Ewing LLP, will receive the Alliance’s 2022 Flex Leader Award for his passionate support of and unwavering dedication to offering flexible working options to all employees.   (See the full press release here.)

 

  • The 2022 Flex Impact Award will go to law firm, Sheppard Mullin for its Unplug & Recharge Program which provides Associates and Special Counsel with up to 40 hours of “recharge time” annually. In addition to Sheppard Mullin, an international professional services firm will also receive the 2022 Flex Impact Award. (See the full press release here.)

 

  • The 2022 Flex Success Award honorees will be: Sheehan Sullivan, Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine and her client Carolyn Glenn, Senior Counsel, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan; and Sarah D. Rodriguez, Partner, Shutts & Bowen LLP, and her client Jamie Smith, Partner, MHP Management, LLC. This award recognizes Partners at Diversity & Flexibility Alliance member law firms who have achieved success while working a reduced hours schedule as well as a client who has been integral to making workplace flexibility so successful. (See the full press release here.) 

 

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance’s annual conference brings together General Counsel, Chief Diversity Officers, Human Resources executives, Chairs and other leaders from corporations, trade associations, financial services firms, and prominent law firms, who network and collaborate on issues related to diversity, flexibility, talent retention and the future of work.  During the conference, the Alliance will reveal the latest research and trends in diversity & inclusion and work flexibility, as well as innovative leave and hybrid working initiatives.

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance is a think tank that collaborates with organizations to develop non-stigmatized flexible work policies that promote inclusive work cultures and help to advance more women into leadership positions.  The Alliance provides practical research-based solutions, training workshops, and strategic advisory services that increase organizational effectiveness through diversity and flexibility.

Contact: Manar Morales

manar@dfalliance.com

202-957-9650

,

Law Firm Partners and Clients to be Honored for Attorney-Client Partnerships That Support Flexible Schedules

Diversity & Flexibility Alliance 2022 Flex Success® Awards to Be Presented Virtually on Nov. 3

Washington, DC (October 12, 2022) – Today the Diversity and Flexibility Alliance announced that its 2022 Flex Success® Award honorees will be: Sheehan Sullivan, Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine and her client Carolyn Glenn, Senior Counsel, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan; and Sarah D. Rodriguez, Partner, Shutts & Bowen LLP, and her client Jamie Smith, Partner, MHP Management, LLC.

The Flex Success® Award recognizes partners at Diversity & Flexibility Alliance member law firms who have achieved success while working a reduced hours schedule along with a client who has been integral to making workplace flexibility so successful. The Awards will be presented on November 3 during the Alliance’s virtual annual conference, Cultivating a Holistic Work Culture: The Power of People, Purpose & Productivity, during which all honorees will be speaking.  Registration is available here.

“These highly-respected law firm leaders are a true testament to the value that flexibility can bring to an organization,” said Manar Morales, President & CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. “With the support of their clients and firms, these exceptional partners have managed high-profile case loads, held leadership positions within their firms, mentored colleagues, and volunteered their time, while also devoting time to their personal commitments.” she added.

Sheehan Sullivan, Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine and her client, Carolyn Glenn, Senior Counsel at Kaiser Foundation Health Plan.

Davis Wright Tremaine partner, Sheehan Sullivan is a nationally recognized employment litigator and valued member of her firm’s leadership, serving on the Executive Committee, as a founding member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, on the DEI Client Engagement Committee, as current Chair of the Attorney Evaluation Committee, as the firm’s Reduced Hours Coordinator and as Chair of the Flexible Schedules Attorneys Affinity Group.

Sheehan began working at an 85% reduced hour schedule twelve years ago when her first child was 2 years old.  Since then, she has developed a successful employment litigation practice and maintained a high-profile client list including Fortune 100 companies. Sheehan has served in the Wage and Hour Defense Institute and on the Editorial Board of the leading treatise on the FLSA (The Fair Labor Standards Act published by Bloomberg/BNA).  She also volunteers in her kids’ classrooms and serves on the boards of Special Olympics of Washington and Seattle Arts and Lectures.

Her client, Carolyn Glenn, Senior Counsel at Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, has been a longtime advocate for Sheehan and takes every opportunity to support Sheehan’s career and personal goals. Carolyn regularly refers her to colleagues and looks for opportunities to bring her in on Kaiser employment matters. Carolyn’s support of Sheehan has led to her becoming one of the Relationship Partners overseeing Kaiser work across the firm.

“I am honored to receive this recognition. Davis Wright Tremaine continues to be a leader in valuing and elevating attorneys with a flexible or reduced hours schedule,” said Sheehan Sullivan. “My relationship with Carolyn has been pivotal to my success – she is always championing me within Kaiser and with other clients. I am fortunate to have such a supportive environment at DWT and wonderful clients like Carolyn,” she added.

“As a single mom myself, I so appreciated having a reduced-hour schedule when my child was younger so I could combine the demands of my work as an employment litigator with raising a child on my own. During the 10 years I have worked with Sheehan, she has exemplified how to litigate at the highest, most sophisticated level with a flexible schedule that has enhanced the quality of her work product without sacrificing an iota of customer service,” said Carolyn Glenn. “I commend Sheehan and DWT for being role-models in our profession and for providing Kaiser with such an excellent strategic partner for our expanding employment law needs,” she added.

“I am thrilled to see Sheehan receive this very well-deserved recognition. Sheehan has championed Davis Wright Tremaine’s efforts to provide workplace flexibility for our lawyers. As noted above, Sheehan herself works on a reduced hours schedule, and has achieved tremendous success as a practicing attorney and as one of our firm’s outstanding lawyer leaders,” said Scott MacCormack, Firmwide Managing Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. “We are truly fortunate to have Sheehan as a partner at Davis Wright Tremaine,” he added.

Sarah D. Rodriguez, Partner, Shutts & Bowen LLP, and her client Jamie Smith, Partner, MHP Management, LLC.

Well-respected by her colleagues, clients and local community, Shutts & Bowen Partner, Sarah Rodriguez, has successfully tried complex cases, including a federal trial and multiple complex arbitrations while working a reduced hours schedule. Selected as a 2019 Super Lawyer, Rising Star, Sarah has maintained an active and intense caseload spanning construction litigation, construction contracting, and business litigation.

A mother of four young children, including two-year-old identical twins, Sarah has been working a reduced schedule since 2013 while managing family life, a thriving legal career and serving the local community as an active member of the Orange County Bar Association, Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers, mentoring organizations, and her church.

Sarah was a valuable contributor to the inaugural Attorney Development Committee for her firm, spearheading the firm’s formal mentorship program. She has dedicated countless hours to meeting with mentors and mentees, matching experienced attorneys with young mentees, and planning mentorship events, including social events and educational seminars. Sarah also serves as a Mentor for the Support Our Scholars (“SOS”) Scholarship and Mentoring Program, a non-profit that provides financial and emotional support to disadvantaged young women with extraordinary potential during their college journey.

Sarah’s client, Jamie Smith, Partner, MHP Management, LLC, is respectful of Sarah’s time restraints, especially given the legal successes she has achieved on their behalf.  Over time, Jamie has developed a high level of trust and respect for Sarah and the quality of her work.

“Having a flexible schedule has meant the world to me. My reduced hours have allowed me to spend more time with my family while remaining fully devoted to my legal career. I’m truly grateful to have my clients’ support and to work for a firm that values inclusion, hard work, and flexibility in the workplace,” said Sarah Rodriguez, Esq.

“Raising four small children while providing excellent professional services is no small feat.  Sarah Rodriguez is journeying through a season of life where she has significant demands on her time in the home and in the office.  As clients, we value that she is able to maintain her priorities in her household with a flexible schedule while also providing excellent work during the hours that she is in office,” said Sarah’s client, Jamie Smith, Partner, MHP Management, LLC. “From one mother of four to another mother of four, well done!” she added.

“At Shutts & Bowen, we take pride in our flexibility options and the high-performance partners thriving in our program. Sarah is a testament to the success of the DFA program, and we applaud her dedication to her clients and her accomplishments,” said Jack McElroy, Shutts & Bowen LLP’s Firmwide Managing Partner.

The Diversity and Flexibility Alliance is a think tank that collaborates with organizations to develop non-stigmatized flexible work policies that promote inclusive work cultures for all and help to advance more women into leadership positions. The Alliance provides practical research-based solutions, training workshops, and strategic advisory services that increase organizational effectiveness through diversity and flexibility.

 

Contact: Manar Morales

manar@dfalliance.com

202-957-9650

,

Sheppard Mullin to be Honored for Its Flexible Working Initiative That Promotes Wellness

Award will be presented during the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance Virtual Conference on Nov. 3

Washington, DC (October 12, 2022) — The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance announced today that it will present its 2022 Flex Impact Award to law firm, Sheppard Mullin. The Flex Impact Award, which recognizes initiatives that demonstrate a significant impact on the culture of workplace flexibility, will be presented during the Alliance’s virtual annual conference on Thursday, November 3.  Registration information is available here.

Sheppard Mullin will be recognized for its Unplug & Recharge Program which provides Associates and Special Counsel with up to 40 hours of “recharge time” annually. These hours, which can be taken by attorneys who bill at least 1750 client chargeable hours, are considered billable credit.

The Unplug & Recharge program, which has been extremely well received by Sheppard Mullin employees, allows attorneys the flexibility to take time to recharge at times that work best with their personal commitments. The program was born out of a design thinking workshop attended by senior members of firm management.  Although the firm has always encouraged unplugging and recharging, the workshop gave leadership a platform to turn practice into policy.

“While many law firms have implemented flexible working policies, we were impressed by Sheppard Mullin’s demonstrated commitment to creating a positive firm culture focused on the health and wellbeing of their employees,” said Manar Morales, president & CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. “We are pleased to see a firm putting financial resources behind their commitment to mental health and wellbeing, particularly in light of the increased stress brought on by the pandemic,” she added.

“We are very grateful to receive this award.  We are committed to mental health and wellness for all our attorneys and staff.  Our Unplug & Recharge program is one of the ways we support our attorneys’ well-being, and its successful adoption is a testament to our people and our culture,” said Lucantonio (Luca) Salvi, Partner & Chair of the Executive Committee, Sheppard Mullin.

In addition to Sheppard Mullin, an international professional services firm will also receive the 2022 Flex Impact Award.  See our website for more information.

The Diversity and Flexibility Alliance is a think tank that collaborates with organizations to develop non-stigmatized flexible work policies that promote inclusive work cultures and help to advance more women into leadership positions.  The Alliance provides practical research-based solutions, training workshops, and strategic advisory services that increase organizational effectiveness through diversity and flexibility.

 

Contact: Manar Morales

manar@dfalliance.com

202-957-9650

 

,

SAUL EWING MANAGING PARTNER, JASON ST. JOHN TO BE HONORED FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT TO FLEXIBILITY

Flex Leader Award to be presented During Virtual Conference on November 3

Washington, DC (October 12, 2022) – The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance has announced that Jason St. John, Managing Partner of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr will receive its 2022 Flex Leader Award. The Flex Leader Award recognizes an executive who is moving their organization toward a more inclusive workplace through holistic flexibility. The Award will be presented on Thursday, November 3 during the Alliance’s virtual annual conference Cultivating a Holistic Work Culture: The Power of People, Purpose & Productivity. Registration is available here.

Jason St. John is being honored for his passionate support for and unwavering dedication to offering flexible working options.  Jason’s compassionate leadership has been integral to the creation of Saul Ewing’s new hybrid working plan, 4+4, which applies to all employees, including attorneys and business professionals.

Understanding that the firm’s culture is built on relationships, Jason and firm leadership took the time to research best practices, benchmark data and gather input from firm members before launching their hybrid initiative. The 4+4 plan specifies that employees are expected to come into the office each Wednesday, in addition to four additional days per month. This extremely popular policy provides employees with the option to work from home all other days, allowing for each individual to work when and where they choose. Wednesdays have also been marked as “Zoom free” to encourage in person interactions on these days.

In addition to the 4+4 plan, Jason has championed the implementation of several other workplace flexibility initiatives including: extending paid parental leave to 16 weeks for all firm members; adding a one-month ramp up period after leave; as well as providing backup childcare, reimbursement for breastmilk shipping and more robust fertility benefits. Additionally, a staff tuition reimbursement policy and expanded gender transition services have been created.

“We have tried to craft a policy that allows for the greatest flexibility while still fostering the collaboration that fuels relationships, mentoring and trust,” said Jason St. John. “Our people appreciate the flexibility and know that the firm cares about their well-being. We believe that our 4+4 Plan is fostering the kind of engagement, connection and collaboration that translates into outstanding client service,” he added.

“Under Jason’s leadership, Saul Ewing has created an excellent hybrid working plan that provides all of its employees with flexibility and autonomy, while maintaining its excellent client service,” said Manar Morales, President & CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance.  “By offering the same options to both attorneys and business professionals, Jason has created a more inclusive and equitable culture. We are proud to recognize this inspiring and empathetic leader as a trailblazer in the legal community,” she added.

The Diversity and Flexibility Alliance is a think tank that collaborates with organizations to develop non-stigmatized flexible working policies that promote inclusive cultures and help to advance more women into leadership positions. The Alliance provides practical research-based solutions, training workshops, and strategic advisory services that increase organizational effectiveness through diversity and flexibility.

Contact: Manar Morales

manar@dfalliance.com

202-957-9650

,

ANNE CHOW TO RECEIVE PRESTIGIOUS LUMINARY AWARD FOR HER COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Award to be presented at the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance Virtual Conference on November 3

Washington, DC (October 12, 2022) – The Diversity and Flexibility Alliance will present Anne Chow, former CEO of AT&T Business, with its 2022 Luminary Award. This award recognizes a global thought leader who is consistently and uniquely devoted to the advancement of diversity and whose vision will leave a legacy of inclusivity for future leaders. The Alliance will present the award to Anne on Thursday, November 3, during its virtual annual conference Cultivating a Holistic Work Culture: The Power of People, Purpose & Productivity. Registration is available here.

One of the world’s most effective corporate leaders, Anne is being honored for her consistent dedication to combatting unconscious bias, advancing diversity and inclusion, and developing strong future leaders. She has broken barriers as the first woman of color CEO in AT&T’s 140-year history.

Anne led AT&T Business, a $35B global operating unit comprised of over 30,000 people through the pandemic during unprecedented market upheaval across the world, serving customers across all sectors with communications solutions. Currently, she is Lead Director on the Board of Directors of FranklinCovey, a company dedicated to organizational transformation through leadership, individual effectiveness, execution, and culture. Anne is also an Adjunct Professor of Executive Education at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Widely recognized for her inclusive leadership, Anne was named to Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business twice, Forbes inaugural CEO Next List of Leaders set to revolutionize American business, Most Inspiring Woman in Communications by Light Reading, and received a Gold Stevie Award as Female Executive of the Year – Business Services. She has also been chosen as one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Gender Equity.

Throughout her impressive 32-year career at AT&T, Anne has focused on creating cultures of inclusion which enable strategic growth, forging relationships and discovering and developing future leaders, while also systemically ensuring a vital pipeline of connection and talent. She was the creator and executive sponsor of the AT&T Women of Business, a global employee network that is now some 5,000 people strong, as well as a champion of AT&T’s Women of Color initiative. The co-author of The Leader’s Guide to Unconscious Bias, she has spent her career raising awareness, reframing, and leading through unconscious bias in the workplace.

“Throughout her career, Anne Chow has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion and creating a healthy, people-centered culture,” said Manar Morales, President & CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. “We are proud to be honoring such a trailblazer and visionary leader whose legacy will surely leave a lasting impression on the leaders of tomorrow,” she added.

“I’m honored and humbled to receive the 2022 Luminary Award, as I believe that one of my primary purposes in life is to lead inclusively and create cultures of belonging so that individuals, teams, and organizations can realize their greatest potential,” said Anne. “I believe that inclusive leadership is vital for progress in all facets of society,” she added.

The Diversity and Flexibility Alliance is a think tank that collaborates with organizations to develop non-stigmatized flexible work policies that promote inclusive work cultures and help to advance more women into leadership positions. The Alliance provides practical research-based solutions, training workshops, and strategic advisory services that increase organizational effectiveness through diversity and flexibility.

Contact: Manar Morales
manar@dfalliance.com
202-957-9650