DEI Leaders to Receive Awards at Alliance Conference on October 24
Washington, DC (September 18, 2024) – The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance announced today that Sylvia James, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Winston & Strawn LLP, and Michelle Patterson Wimes, Senior Vice President & Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at Children’s Mercy Kansas City , will receive their 2024 Culture Catalyst Awards.
Created in 2023, the Culture Catalyst Awards are presented to Talent, Diversity, or Human Resources professionals who have led significant efforts to transform their organizational culture and embrace innovation, inclusion, and/or flexibility. The Awards will be presented on Thursday, October 24 during the Alliance’s annual conference in Washington, DC, Harnessing the Power of Your Organizational Culture. Registration is open to non-members and is available here.
“Our 2024 Culture Catalysts personify the powerful skills and unwavering passion needed to drive cultural change and prioritize inclusion even amidst challenging political times,” said Manar Morales, President & CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. “We’re honored to recognize Sylvia James and Michelle Wimes, two extraordinary DEI trailblazers who have proven track records of thoughtfully and strategically transforming organizational cultures and humanizing their workplaces.”
Sylvia James
A law firm DEI professional for nearly twenty years, Sylvia James serves as Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for international law firm, Winston & Strawn, where she develops and implements an integrated, metrics-driven DEI strategy to enhance the firm’s diversity and inclusion programs, performance, and profile. Prior to joining Winston, Sylvia served as the diversity lead for a national law firm and practiced law as a labor and employment attorney for more than a decade.
Sylvia masterfully collaborates with key stakeholders to ensure that diversity and inclusion are woven into all aspects of the firm’s recruiting, development, retention and advancement efforts, as well as communications and client relations. She has successfully fostered an inclusive culture that attracts top talent, fosters loyalty, values diverse perspectives, and drives innovation, creativity and growth. Throughout her impressive career, Sylvia has been a steadfast champion of diversity, equity and inclusion and has tirelessly advocated for women and diverse professionals in the legal field. Her self-described “proudest moments” have been witnessing former law students and associates who she championed thrive as leaders, highlighting the power of creating pathways to success for those who might otherwise be overlooked.
Sylvia is a former President, and current co-chair for the Training and Development Committee, of the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals (ALFDP); a member of the Advisory Board for the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession (IILP); a member of Duke Law School’s inaugural Diversity Committee; a former commissioner on the American Bar Association’s Diversity and Inclusion 360 Commission; and, the current Director and Vice President for DEI for the National Association for Law Placement (NALP). She has also been named to VERCIDA’s Global Diversity List: Top 50 Diversity Professionals.
“Receiving the Culture Catalyst Award from the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance is a tremendous honor that underscores the importance of fostering a culture of inclusion within the legal profession,” said Sylvia James. “Throughout my career, I have been driven by a passion for creating environments where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. This award is a testament to the collective efforts of so many dedicated professionals who share this vision. Together, we are paving the way for a more diverse and inclusive future, where innovation and flexibility are embraced, and all voices are heard.”
“Winston is incredibly proud—and I am personally thrilled— about Sylvia receiving the Culture Catalyst Award from the Diversity and Flexibility Alliance,” said Stephen D’Amore, Chairman of Winston & Strawn. “The award recognizes many qualities, including innovation, in advancing the goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. I can say on behalf of so many that Sylvia’s unwavering commitment and pioneering work in DEI has been transformative for our firm and the legal profession. She has enriched our world. This well-deserved recognition reflects the impact of Sylvia’s extraordinary contributions.”
Michelle Patterson Wimes
As the inaugural Senior Vice President & Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, Michelle Wimes has developed systems, initiatives and policies that ensure an inclusive and equitable environment for both patients and employees. She has been instrumental in creating a positive culture where employee recruitment, engagement and retention, supplier diversity and health equity are prioritized. During her four-year tenure at the hospital, Michelle has implemented a new DEI action plan and infrastructure, diversity workforce assessments, cross-cultural media assessments, comprehensive diversity education and training, a supplier diversity policy and program, a health equity action plan, community health equity council and much more.
In recent years, under her leadership, the hospital has been named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women by Newsweek; a Top Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker’s Review; a Best Place to Work for Diversity by Newsweek; and earned a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index (CEI).
Prior to joining Children’s Mercy, Michelle had an impressive career in the legal industry where she practiced law over 14 years and most recently served as the inaugural Chief Diversity and Professional Development Officer at Ogletree Deakins for nine years. While at Ogletree, Michelle built both a professional development and diversity and inclusion program from the ground up, successfully instilling a culture of inclusion to attract, develop, train and advance a diverse group of lawyers around the world.
Michelle has received countless honors for her impact on diversity and inclusion, in recent years most notably she received the Mid-America LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce’s Ally of the Year Award; a Top Black Healthcare Leaders to Know award from Becker’s Hospital Review; the 2024 Women Transforming Business Award for Community Impact from CBIZ, the Becker’s Hospital Review Top 86 Chief DEI Officers to Know award; and, the Inaugural Deans Kramer & Clayton Award for Leadership in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion from her alma mater, Tulane Law School.
“When I heard that DFA had created this award and that my dear friend, Maja Hazell, was one of the first recipients last year, I was thrilled for her as I know the very serious work she’s done in her new industry to build a culture of inclusion,” said Michelle Wimes. “Doing this work in this climate is not easy. There are so many challenges, and the work can often feel overwhelming. But, we must remain steady and steadfast. Now, more than ever, DEI champions and gamechangers are needed to drive organizational success and sustainability. This award means the world to me. To be recognized by an organization who has always passionately championed innovation, flexibility, and inclusion motivates me to continue this work at the highest level possible,” she added.
“Michelle is the epitome of a culture catalyst. She champions the equity and inclusion strategy for Children’s Mercy and advises leadership on how to use data to close gaps in cultural competency and health disparities,” said Paul Kempinski, MS, FACHE, President and CEO of Children’s Mercy Kansas City. “Even beyond our walls, reducing health disparities in the communities where our patients and families live and building an organizational culture of engagement, diversity and collaboration are crucial steps in this work as we advance our vision of creating a world of well-being for all children.”
For more than a decade, the Diversity and Flexibility Alliance has collaborated with organizations to develop inclusive flexible working cultures that cultivate diversity in leadership, drive workplace wellbeing, and foster a more humanized work experience. The Alliance provides practical research-based solutions, customizable training programs, strategic advisory services and a peer-learning network that increase organizational effectiveness through diversity, flexibility and wellbeing.
Contact: Manar Morales
manar@dfalliance.com
301-580-2490
Register now to join us on 10/24 and hear from these extraordinary DEI trailblazers!
On a more positive note, we did see certain bright spots. Notably, member firms had an average of 1.6% higher share of women partners in their U.S. new partner classes over the last five years. In addition, a nearly 13% increase existed in the share of firms reporting a 50/50 split or greater in favor of women in U.S. new partner classes over the last two years. We also saw a 2% decrease in the share of firms with no women partners from last year. These bright spots suggest that a number of law firms are making concerted, intentional efforts to address gender imbalances during the partnership promotion process.
Manar Morales, the founder and CEO of the Alliance, discussed in her opening remarks how culture is the heartbeat of the organization and so much more than four walls. the critical difference between stated culture and lived experience. The key message resonated clearly: organizational culture isn’t merely a buzzword or website content—it’s the heartbeat of your organization, defined not by physical walls but by clear answers to fundamental questions. These essential questions include who we serve (Stakeholders), what we do (Mission), what we stand for (Values), what we expect of our people (Accountability), why we do what we do (Purpose), and where we’re headed (Vision).
