Organizational leaders in today’s world must be equipped with enhanced skills and traits that may have been considered as required twenty or more years ago. Leading in today’s world requires leaders to understand concepts such as empathy, equity, diversity in the workforce as well as diversity in policy and execution, generational and cultural aspects of inclusion, societal expectations, and social media influences. These are a few of the attributes that will be a portion of an effective DEI program. Leaders must learn to enact processes that help shift mindsets, individual and team behaviors, and processes that build equitable and inclusive leadership. Every leader is different but no matter your style, industry, role, or personality; part of leading with DEI includes effectively communicating across all areas of your organization. Leaders must build and strengthen their coaching and discussion skills with a view to committing to building a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive culture. This session will focus on direct actions leaders can take to gain acceptance and buy-in for their DEI programs and ensure they are embedding the concepts effectively. Ensuring organizational practices are equitable is critical to maintaining a sustainable DEI program and retaining top talent. Topics Covered • Skills imperative to a strong DEI leader • Leader requirements to develop the proper culture of a diverse DEI program • Leadership expectations by personnel of their DEI leaders Field of Study: Behavioral Ethics