Sessions of the day covered topics such as inspiring leadership, transformative change, effective strategies to address biases, and ways to develop a deeper understanding of authenticity and imposter syndrome. While TEDxColumbiaUniversity provided an opportunity to showcase the School’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), many other activities on campus reach beyond such events, with relevant research, curricular enhancement, community connections, and more. Of note is Phillips Pathway for Inclusive Leadership, a co-curricular program to help students develop the skills and strategies to lead in an inclusive and ethical manner in any industry.
CBS has also identified and developed course materials and cases that can improve DEI conversations in the classroom. At the same time, CBS faculty have been producing thought-provoking research that helps move DEI forward. Highlights include “Diversity thresholds: How social norms, visibility, and scrutiny relate to group composition” by Professor Modupe Akinola, faculty director of the Bernstein Center for Leadership and Ethics at CBS, and “Maximizing the gains and minimizing the pains of diversity: A policy perspective,” led by Adam Galinsky, CBS’s vice dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Paul Calello Professor of Leadership and Ethics.
By bringing together researchers, practitioners, and leading voices on DEI, both from within CBS and the larger community of professionals and people sharing experiences, the TEDx sessions aimed to expand the understanding of varied perspectives. Compelling stories, like Maeve DuVally’s transgender transition while a managing director at Goldman Sachs, can elevate important thinking and encourage acceptance. In advance of her TEDxColumbiaUniversity presentation about her sobriety and transition, DuVally shared this thought: “Anything worth striving for is ultimately unachievable in totality, but the nobility of striving and approaching the ideal gives meaning.”