Post Event Recap | Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Forum

Last night, the Calgary Chamber was pleased to host our sold-out Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Forum for a thought-provoking panel discussion. At the event, attendees heard from Alex Gysen, TD Regional Manager of 2SLGBTQ+ Business Development in the Prairies, Daniel Monzon, Entrepreneur and Founder of Catapult Startups and Rachel Wade, Director of DEI & Employee Experience at Alberta Investment Management Corporation.

With Brian Lanier, Founder & CEO of The Leaders Circle moderating the conversation, panelists passionately shared invaluable insights and strategies aimed at fostering positive change and implementing meaningful practices within workplaces and corporate environments.

In the discussion, the panelists touched on the significant correlation between diversity and performance, the vital lens of intersectionality and how internal processes, such as onboarding, can provide key opportunities to get to know potential employees beyond a brief meeting.

With attracting and maintaining talent remaining a significant obstacle for many local organizations, they also highlighted the powerful advantage of being an employer of choice for immigrants and underrepresented communities. As research continues to support the strength of diverse perspectives in an organization, executives and business leaders were encouraged to take initiative and reach out to grass roots organizations that represent or have connections to diverse communities. As organizations begin to take advantage of the many opportunities that come along with investing in diversity, finding a starting point and engaging intentionally is essential to continue learning about and realizing the potential of all employees.

Thank you to all who attended, our panelists and our supporting sponsor Axis Connects for helping make this event possible.