Disrupting the Noah’s Ark Approach to DEI: Creating a Culture of Inclusion
We are proud to have sponsored CenterForce's Diversity in Law Series: Driving Diversity in Law & Leadership, which took place on April 27, 2022 in Houston, TX. This conference examined how leadership is evolving to meet the challenges of the post-pandemic world and whether companies are doing enough to create a culture of inclusion that goes beyond metrics. Speakers discussed best strategies for recruiting and retaining diverse talent and how diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives will affect the career paths of women and underrepresented professionals in legal and corporate America.
Patricia de la Peña, partner and chair of our DEI Committee, was a featured panelist for the session “Disrupting the Noah’s Ark Approach to DEI: Creating a Culture of Inclusion.” This panel of speakers examined how law firms and companies can engage in more creative diversity and inclusion initiatives to foster a truly inclusive work environment, beyond merely including a few token representatives of underrepresented groups into their firms, companies or boardrooms. The speakers further discussed ways in which firms can show clients that they are sincerely implementing change. From the other side of the equation, the panelists also explored the question of the responsibility in-house counsel may have in helping law firms become more diverse.