Programs & Events

 

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2026 Impact Accelerator – June 3, 2026

Announcing the 2026 DFA Impact Accelerator

June 3, 2026 | 9:30 – 4:00 PM CT | Chicago, IL

Every leader we talk to has at least one idea or initiative that matters deeply to their organization and isn’t gaining the traction it should.

The challenge usually isn’t knowing what needs to happen. It’s building alignment, navigating resistance, and sustaining momentum when everything else keeps competing for attention.

The DFA Impact Accelerator is designed for exactly that.

On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in Chicago, a small cohort of leaders will work through DFA’s S.P.A.R.K. Framework for Igniting Change and apply it directly to a real idea or initiative they are leading. They’ll leave with a concrete strategy, clear priorities, and a practical 90-day plan for execution.

The Impact Accelerator is limited to 40 participants to ensure a focused, high-value experience.

Eligibility: This event is open to DFA members and non-members.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER
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Signature Session: Upward Reviews in Practice – May 19, 2026

Signature Session

Upward Reviews in Practice: Building Cultures of Accountability and Trust

May 19, 2026 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

Featuring:

What does it actually take to give employees a meaningful voice in shaping the leadership around them? This candid panel brings together people leaders from organizations that have successfully embedded upward feedback into their performance cultures.

By treating feedback as a two-way conversation rather than a top-down exercise, these firms have built cultures of reflection, accountability, and continuous learning that benefit employees and leaders alike. Panelists will share the real-world decisions behind their programs including how they earned buy-in, created psychological safety, and connected feedback to growth rather than consequence.

Whether you’re exploring upward reviews for the first time or strengthening an existing process, this session delivers practical takeaways from firms that have turned upward feedback into lasting cultural change.

Eligibility: This event is open to DFA members only.

Members: Register in the Member Resource Center or by contacting us.

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Innovation Circle: Navigating AI through the Lens of Change Management – April 29, 2026

Innovation Circle

Navigating AI through the Lens of Change Management

April 29, 2026 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

As organizations continue to explore the possibilities of AI, leaders are also facing the human side of adoption. In this Innovation Circle, DFA members will come together in a confidential, collegial setting to discuss how AI initiatives intersect with change management, leadership, and workplace culture.

Eligibility: This session is designed for Diversity, Talent, HR, and Wellbeing leaders, as well as those responsible for overseeing change initiatives at the director level (or the equivalent thereof) and above. This event is open to DFA members only.

Participants should come prepared to have their cameras on and ready to share and participate in the facilitated conversation.

Members: Register in the Member Resource Center or by contacting us.

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Signature Session: The Art & Science of Constructive Disagreement – March 26, 2026

Signature Session

The Art & Science of Constructive Disagreement

Feat. Julia Minson, Ph.D., Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School

March 26, 2026 | 1:30 – 2:30 PM ET

In this session, Harvard Professor and behavioral scientist, Julia Minson, will discuss key ideas from her new book, How to Disagree Better. Based on decades of rigorous research, the book offers practical tools to help people discuss opposing views with authenticity, engagement, and care. How to Disagree Better is a must-read for anyone who understands the necessity of robust disagreement for our society, our businesses, and our families and yet does not want to have a life filled with misunderstanding and conflict. Research offers us a better way to disagree, and Julia distills it into clear frameworks and actionable tools.

You can pre-order a copy of How to Disagree Better (out March 24, 2026) using this link.

Eligibility: This event is open to DFA members only.

Members: Register in the Member Resource Center or by contacting us.

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Signature Session: Cultivating A Culture of Connection in Today’s Workplace – March 5, 2026

Signature Session

Cultivating A Culture of Connection in Today’s Workplace

March 5, 2026 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

In today’s evolving and distributed workplaces, connection doesn’t happen by accident. It has to be designed, modeled, and practiced at every level of an organization. In this Signature Session, we will explore how intentional moments of connection can create meaningful cultural change across individuals, teams, and organizations. Together, we’ll look at how connection shows up at the me, we, and us levels, and how leaders can strengthen trust, belonging, and shared purpose through everyday interactions. Participants will leave with practical ways to foster deeper connection that scales, even as work continues to change.

Eligibility: This event is open to DFA members only.

Members: Register in the Member Resource Center or by contacting us.

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Innovation Circle: Best Practices for Affinity/Employee Resource Groups – February 17, 2026

Innovation Circle

Best Practices for Affinity/Employee Resource Groups

February 17, 2026 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

This Innovation Circle is a collaborative session focused on how affinity/employee resource groups have evolved and what it takes to help them thrive today. We’ll explore best practices for designing affinity groups for success, improving engagement, clarifying purpose, and supporting sustained participation in changing organizational contexts.

Eligibility: This event is open to DFA members only. This session is designed for Diversity, Talent, HR, and Wellbeing leaders, as well as those responsible for overseeing affinity groups at the director level (or the equivalent thereof) and above.

Participants should come prepared to have their cameras on and ready to share and participate in the facilitated conversation.

Members: Register in the Member Resource Center or by contacting us.

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Flexibility Benchmarking Summit – February 4, 2026

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 | 1:00 – 2:30 pm ET

The 2026 Flexibility Benchmarking Summit is an invitation-only opportunity to unpack the findings from DFA’s 2025 Law Firm Flexibility Benchmarking Study. We will highlight what the results mean for your organization and share actionable strategies for putting the data into practice. It’s a chance to learn, reflect, and get ahead of what’s coming next.

Members: Register for the Summit in the weekly Friday Forecast. 

Not a DFA member? Contact us to inquire about receiving an invitation to this event.

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Defy: The Power of No in a World that Demands Yes – December 2, 2025

Defy: The Power of No in a World that Demands Yes

A Fireside Chat featuring Dr. Sunita Sah, Professor of Management & Organizations at the Cornell University SC Johnson School of Business, and Manar Morales, Founder & CEO of DFA.

December 2, 2025 | 1:00 pm ET

More information and registration coming soon!

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2025 DFA Annual Conference – November 5, 2025

Registration is now open for the 2025 DFA Annual Conference! Here are 5 reasons you won’t want to miss it.

We’re thrilled to invite you to the 2025 DFA Annual Conference, a day designed for leaders who are ready to meet this moment of change with clarity, courage, and connection.

Work is evolving at a rapid pace. From AI and automation to rising expectations around flexibility and return-to-office policies, the future demands a new kind of leadership: bold, human-centered, and prepared for what’s next.

That’s exactly what this year’s conference delivers.

Held in Washington, DC on November 5th, this high-impact event brings together trailblazers and thought leaders for a full day of learning, insight, and action.

Here are five reasons you’ll want to be in the room:

  1. Learn from bold, future-focused leaders: Hear how top organizations are navigating change, driving innovation, and building cultures that work for both people and performance.
  2. Get tools you can use right away: Walk away with practical resources, compelling data, and strategies that can immediately strengthen your talent, culture, change management, and flexibility efforts.
  3. Make the business case for change: Access new research and real-world examples to help you advocate for high-impact policies inside your organization.
  4. Build your network: Connect with senior peers across industries who share your challenges and your commitment to leading with purpose.
  5. Be part of something energizing: Past attendees consistently call the conference inspiring, strategic, and refreshingly real. This is the room where ideas spark and momentum builds.

DFA members receive two complimentary tickets. Be sure to reserve yours by September 19 to ensure availability.

View full conference details and register here.

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2025 Leadership Symposium – September – December 2025

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance’s Leadership Symposium is a series of virtual seminars for individuals at member organizations looking to expand their personal leadership style and business acumen. The 2025 curriculum includes:

Session 1:

Living Your All™: Empowering Individuals to Lead Well, Live Well and Stay Well

Featuring Manar Morales, Founder & CEO, DFA

September 30 | 1:00 pm ET

Living Your All™: Empowering individuals to Lead Well, Live Well and Stay Well will introduce a new way of thinking about success, one where personal well-being and professional excellence work together. You’ll explore how to support your own energy and purpose while creating the conditions for your team and organization to thrive. We’ll also walk through the PRISM™ framework, a practical tool to help you apply these ideas in your daily leadership.

Session 2:

Becoming A More Conflict-Intelligent Leader

Featuring Dr. Jeanine W. Turner, Professor, Georgetown University

October 22 | 1:00 pm ET

Successful conflict can be a necessary and integral part of innovative and creative organizations. However, leaders can find it difficult to create a space where constructive disagreement can lead to breakthrough opportunities. The first step towards this environment involves gaining self-awareness about your own conflict style and developing a curiosity about how the rest of your team approaches conflict. This seminar will explore the five conflict styles that individuals bring to a conversation and provide strategies for addressing these styles and communicating about them in your team.

Session 3:

HumaAIn – Empowering Inclusion with Technology

Featuring: Noelle Russell, CEO, AI Leadership Institute

September 11 | 1:00 pm ET

AI innovator Noelle Russell has dedicated her career to helping organizations understand AI’s capabilities, as well as how it can be implemented to create revenue-generating opportunities while maintaining the human element within their teams. Russell will discuss the real, tangible ways artificial intelligence can be utilized every day to improve businesses and the world. She will also walk participants through what it takes to build solutions that spark growth within organizations and serve more people by creating inclusive teams that are empathetic, courageous, and leverage varying perspectives as the foundation of innovation. She will also address the implications of building AI solutions that augment human ingenuity in business — thus improving the employee and customer experience.

Organization-wide registration is included with DFA Leader and Champion memberships. Champion & Leader Members: Register in the Member Resource Center.

Not a member? Contact us for more information.