In today’s rapidly changing global economy, companies with the best talent are at a competitive advantage -- and that talent is increasingly diverse in many dimensions. Yet, as challenges during the recent pandemic have highlighted, long-time structural and cultural factors continue to limit the movement of diverse talent into leadership positions. According to a 2019 McKinsey report, women and people of color hold 65% of entry level positions, but their numbers decrease at every successive level across sectors. For example, in financial services, only 2.4% of executive committee members, 1.4% of managing directors, and 1.4% of senior portfolio managers are black. Women, who have been over half of college graduates in the U.S. for over 30 years, are still only 21% of C-suite executives. Lack of diversity above the entry level creates an expensive revolving door and limits organizations' capacity for innovation and creativity. Research shows that, in order to create and maintain a diverse leadership pipeline and inclusive work culture, frontline managers are key. Yet most companies do not help managers develop the skills they need to lead a diverse team in an inclusive way.

This course is designed to address this gap and help develop the skills needed to become a more impactful frontline manager and leader. Participants will develop an inclusive leadership mindset, with a focus on working with others across differences of multiple types, including gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and age. The course examines how to surmount the negative impact that implicit bias can have on performance, team dynamics and efforts to create inclusive environments. Through self-reflective exercises, interactive sessions and group work, the course will move from building awareness of practices that foster diversity and inclusion, to helping participants create an inclusive leadership plan that results in stronger teams and organizations.

Professors Anne Weisberg and Linda Basch share their teaching methodology and why they believe middle managers hold the keys to more inclusive and equitable workplaces. Download Resource

Upon completion of this course, participants will receive a Certificate of Achievement.