In our popular course Principles of Communication and Leadership, Professor Kathleen Cashman teaches her students that leaders are learners. And on October 24th, we invited students and members of our Industrial Advisory Board to learn about dimensions of diversity. Our IAB comprises over 30 industry leaders, many of whom are MBS alumni, who use their expertise to help us shape our curriculum and keep our programming and initiatives cutting-edge. Professor Kathleen started the night off with an energy assessment.
Keynote speaker Shawn Pelletier led students and IAB members alike in an interactive, hybrid lecture. Pelletier, founder of Let’s Change the Equation, used the allegory of an aperture to examine diversity. An aperture lets light in and dramatically affects the photo it produces, said Pelletier. We can widen the aperture of ourselves by exploring the different dimensions we have inside of ourselves that have influenced and shaped our beliefs. She led attendees in an exercise to learn more about themselves, acknowledging that raising your self-awareness is always beneficial when it comes to understanding diversity and being a leader.
Diversity isn’t something that you do, said Pelletier; it’s about who you are.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are essential. Cashman noted that these values are integrated into our Principles of Communication and Leadership class. Leadership is about listening and lending an ear to someone who needs to be heard.
The event also included a panel discussion moderated by Jim Andahazy, an MBS alumni and member of the IAB. The panelists were representatives from various industries and backgrounds who shared their insights and experiences.
At the Rutgers Inn and Conference Center, MBS students mingled with MBS faculty, staff, and IAB members. Virtual attendees mingled via breakout rooms. Professor Cashman ended the night by giving attendees a challenge: to meet someone new who’s different from themselves.
“[This event] inspired me to take action and have influence in my career and influence DEI policy wherever I work,” said Akino Tomizawa, an MBS student concentrating in Food Science. “That’s something I may have hesitated to do in the past because I felt awkward or uncomfortable about it, but this opened my eyes to see how important it is, and this is something I want to do moving forward.”
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