Diversity & Talent Leader Innovation Circle:

Revisiting Hybrid Work Policies

April 25, 2025 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm ET

This Innovation Circle will focus specifically on Revisiting Hybrid Work Policies. Please come ready to share and participate in the facilitated conversation.

We invite individuals at member organizations who hold the following roles (or the equivalent thereof in your organization) to register:

  • Chief Diversity Officer or Director
  • Chief Talent Officer or Director
  • Chief HR Officer or Director

Not a member? Contact Angela Whitehead Quigley to learn more.

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. 

February is always a busy time for organizations, which means it is an even busier time for caregivers juggling professional and personal responsibilities. As organizations focus on strategy and planning, now is the time to assess how well they are supporting working parents and caregivers.

The latest 2025 KPMG Working Parents Survey highlights just how much caregiving and work are intertwined. While it’s well known that caregiving responsibilities can contribute to stress and burnout, the survey reveals deeper trends that should be front and center for organizations aiming to attract, engage, and retain top talent.

Engagement & Support for Working Parents

The study found that 76% of parents reported increased motivation in their careers after having children. However, organizations often overlook this momentum instead of channeling it into meaningful career growth.

Parenthood is a significant life transition that reshapes both personal and professional goals. To support employees through this shift, organizations should:

  • Offer career coaching to help new parents navigate their return to work and explore evolving career aspirations, whether that means stepping into leadership roles, engaging in pro bono work, developing niche expertise, or building a business…

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.

The Alliance invites you to participate in our 2025 Law Firm Flexibility Benchmarking Survey, which examines the types of workplace flexibility, hybrid, and leave policies that law firms have implemented for employees and the types of support available for those who work flexibly/hybrid.

Why take the time to complete the survey? Because the data we collect from you and other firms allows us to analyze industry-wide trends and provide valuable insights on workplace flexibility, hybrid work, parental leave, and well-being policies. These are the areas firms are actively seeking guidance on, and your participation helps ensure that the results are as meaningful and actionable as possible.

Why this matters for you:

  • See where your firm stands on flexibility, hybrid work, parental leave, and well-being compared to industry trends.
  • Get exclusive insights from the completed confidential benchmarking report packed with key takeaways and best practices.
  • Be considered for recognition in workplace flexibility and parental leave based on Alliance best practices.

Organizations say one of the most valuable Alliance initiatives is the benchmarking data—it helps firms see where they stand and how they compare to others in the industry. Your input makes that possible. The more firms that participate, the stronger the insights. Let’s work together to build a clearer, more useful picture of what’s working.

Survey responses will be analyzed and aggregated, and responses will be kept confidential. A report will be published for Alliance members and survey participants containing industry trends, best practices and insights learned, which organizations can leverage to make meaningful changes and publicize their successes.

The deadline to participate is March 21, 2025.

Contact Sejal Shah for access to the survey or with any questions.

2025 Signature Seminar

Defining Culture in a Shifting Landscape

April 3 2025 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm ET

Featuring Manar Morales, Founder & CEO, the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance

In times of uncertainty, leaders often find themselves reacting rather than leading with intention. The way you navigate challenges leaves a lasting impression, shaping how people perceive your leadership and your organization’s identity. It takes shape through values, behaviors, and daily experiences that influence how people connect, contribute, and grow. Whether it’s managing return to office mandates or challenges to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, this program will provide you with a framework to define culture and engage in purpose driven conversations.

This event is open to all individuals at member organizations. Members: Can’t join us on April 3rd? Register to receive a copy of the recording in your inbox the day after the program.

Not a member? Contact Angela Whitehead Quigley for more information. 

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. 

The Current Flexibility Landscape

We find ourselves at a critical juncture in workplace flexibility, with organizations taking dramatically different approaches. Some are mandating full-time office returns, while others are deepening their commitment to flexible work. This division makes building a comprehensive business case more important than ever. Recent data and organizational experiences demonstrate that flexibility isn’t merely a workplace perk – it’s a business imperative driving measurable results across multiple dimensions of organizational success. Organizations that recognize the business value of flexibility remain committed to it – they understand the strong, varied benefits related to business continuity, retention, recruitment, engagement, productivity, diversity, and wellbeing, to name a few.

The Foundation: Starting with Purpose

Alliance CEO Manar Morales’s new book, “The Flexibility Paradigm,” provides an innovative framework to help organizations optimally reflect, design, implement and iterate their flexibility initiatives. The Flex Success® Framework begins with “Reflect” because a clear purpose drives successful implementation. Before examining metrics or crafting policies, organizations must establish why flexibility matters in their specific context. This foundation ensures your business case resonates with leadership and supports sustainable success. Recent research reveals organizations that recognize the business value of flexibility understand its varied benefits across several key areas.

Building Your Business Case: A Strategic Approach

  1. Internal Assessment and Data Collection: Begin by examining your organization’s current state through comprehensive data collection….

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.

An excerpt from Manar Morales’ new book, The Flexibility Paradigm: Humanizing the Workplace for Productivity, Profitability & Possibility, is now available on Porchlight’s ChangeThis column.

The Flexibility Paradigm covers many of the most pressing issues facing today’s workplaces, including:

  • The growing disconnect between employee and employer expectations around return-to-office
  • Creating meaningful connection and culture in work environments
  • Preventing burnout while maintaining high performance
  • Attracting and retaining top talent in a competitive market
  • Building sustainable flexibility that drives business success
  • And much more!
READ THE EXCERPT

Individual copies can be ordered through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Porchlight. **A reminder that 2024 conference attendees will receive a complimentary copy directly from the Alliance.

Why not make sure your entire team is on the same page when it comes to flexibility and organizational culture by ordering a copy for all of your colleagues? Order 100+ copies by January 24, 2025, and get access to an exclusive virtual fireside chat with Manar Morales!

For bulk orders and to schedule your fireside chat, complete this form or email Manar Morales for more information.

Master the Art of Leading Change: A Bootcamp for Forward-Thinking Leaders

May 8, 2025

Change is inevitable—how you lead through it defines success. Our 2025 Driving Change Boot Camp equips you with the strategies, tools, and confidence to face organizational challenges head-on and emerge stronger.

Driving Change: A Deep Dive Into Change Management is your opportunity to gain practical, actionable insights to inspire your teams, build resilience, and achieve meaningful transformation.

Expect an intensive, hands-on experience for leaders determined to thrive in the face of change.

Why attend?

  • Gain proven strategies to lead through uncertainty with clarity and impact.
  • Learn from real-world case studies and cutting-edge research.
  • Build a network of peers who are facing similar challenges.

The 2025 Driving Change Boot Camp has been approved for 5 SHRM Professional Development Credits each. The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.

Don’t wait—secure your spot today and transform the way you lead change!

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

2025 Signature Seminar

Building Self-Reliance: Lessons from 7 Rules of Self-Reliance

February 18, 2025 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm ET

Featuring Maha Abouelenein, founder of Digital & Savvy, best-selling author of 7 Rules of Self-Reliance, and host of the Savvy Talk podcast

As the CEO of Digital & Savvy, a global communications consulting firm with offices in the United States and United Arab Emirates, Maha has been instrumental in orchestrating transformations in communication strategies for clients that include global corporate giants, high-growth startups, sports organizations, top governments, CEOs, and high-net-worth individuals. Raised and educated in the United States to Egyptian parents, Maha is at home in both Western and Arab worlds, offering a global perspective that translates into her work.

Maha’s 2/18 webinar will be based on her book, 7 Rules of Self-Reliance: How to Stay Low, Keep Moving, Invest in Yourself and Own Your Future, a USA TODAY bestseller that provides a transformative guide on mastering self-reliance. In this fascinating presentation, Maha will share her top strategies that fuel resilience, empower leaders, and inspire people to create their own opportunities.

This event is open to all individuals at member organizations. Not a member? Contact Angela Whitehead Quigley for more information. 

Have you ordered your copy of Manar Morales’ new book, The Flexibility Paradigm: Humanizing the Workplace for Productivity, Profitability & Possibility, yet?

Already a top seller on Amazon, this insightful guide offers the tools you need to create an agile, resilient, and successful organization with people at the center!

Why not make sure your entire team is on the same page when it comes to flexibility and organizational culture by ordering a copy for all of your colleagues? Pre-order 100+ copies by January 24, 2025, and get access to an exclusive virtual fireside chat with Manar Morales!

The Flexibility Paradigm covers many of the most pressing issues facing today’s workplaces, including:

  • The growing disconnect between employee and employer expectations around return-to-office
  • Creating meaningful connection and culture in work environments
  • Preventing burnout while maintaining high performance
  • Attracting and retaining top talent in a competitive market
  • Building sustainable flexibility that drives business success
  • And much more!

Individual copies: can be ordered through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Porchlight. **A reminder that 2024 conference attendees will receive a complimentary copy directly from the Alliance.

For bulk orders and to schedule your fireside chat: Complete this form or email Manar Morales for more information.

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. 

As we begin 2025, energize your team and set the foundation for success through purposeful team retreats. These gatherings, whether in-person or virtual, provide an ideal platform to strengthen team bonds, align priorities, and create shared momentum for the year ahead. Here’s your roadmap for a productive kickoff:

1. Pre-Retreat Engagement: Set the stage for meaningful discussion by gathering team insights before the retreat. Team members often have valuable insights that may not surface in group settings. Pre-retreat questions allow for thoughtful reflection and help identify themes that might otherwise be missed. This step ensures all voices are heard and helps leaders identify common themes and concerns before the retreat, leading to more productive discussions.

Questions to send:

  • What accomplishments from 2024 should we celebrate and build upon?
  • What didn’t work well in 2024?
  • What opportunities do you see for enhancing our effectiveness in 2025?
  • What priorities should shape our vision for the year ahead?

Review responses carefully to identify themes and incorporate insights into your retreat agenda.

2. Choreographed Connection Activity: Begin with an engaging choreographed team connection that deepens team relationships. Choose questions that reveal professional and personal dimensions, such as “Share a favorite holiday tradition” or “What’s one activity outside of work that energizes you?” These conversations build connections and understanding across the team.

 

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.