DMi Partners is on the continual journey to become a more inclusive and diverse company. Our initiatives include empowering our team members with resources and competence to participate thoughtfully in meaningful discussions on experience with diversity and inclusion. We value having our executive team share their thoughts and experiences, which is why DMi Partners CEO Patrick McKenna recently participated in a panel discussion led by the Realize Leadership Group. The discussion was centered around the topic “It Happened Again: Your Organization’s Crisis Response Strategy.”

At DMi, Patrick’s goal is to maximize growth in everything from revenue increases for clients and employee performance, DMi’s top and bottom lines, and enhancing company diversity. As a lifelong community service volunteer and leader, Patrick deeply supports giving back to and helping others.

Patrick was joined by three other panelists, also business experts challenging themselves and their companies with initiatives to improve diversity and inclusion. The panel was a space to share insight and best practices on what has been working at different enterprise levels. In addition, the panel discussion aimed at exploring approaches to challenge and support with equitable and inclusive business practices in light of current social and political events. The audience and moderator asked the panelists questions and engaged them in a discussion around not only the logistics of the initiatives but also their “why” around the matter.

Other panelists included:

A.J. Hubbard: Global Senior Director of Inclusion and Diversity at GE Appliances. In his role, A.J. aims to attract the best talent for GE and grow the talent in an inclusive environment that allows team members to thrive. A.J. advises the GE Appliances Executive Inclusion and Diversity Council and leads multiple project teams in collaboration with internal and external partners.

David Wagner: President, CEO, and Member of the Board of Directors of Zix. Previously David served in multiple roles at Entrust including President and Chief Financial Officer, leading the company’s successful acquisition by Datacard and delivering revenue growth and cloud transformation strategies.

Dr. Carla Thomas: President of the Realize Leadership Group. Dr. Thomas specializes in diversity and inclusion services, working with nonprofit and Fortune 500 organizations in sectors such as higher education, technology, life sciences, financial services, retail, and wholesale consumer goods. Dr. Thomas is on the advisory boards for Saint Joseph’s University’s Organizational & Leadership Development graduate program and the National Academy of Sciences. She is also an active member of numerous other professional organizations.

The event, moderated by Dr. Tanya O'Neill, Senior Consultant at the Realize Leadership Group, explored thought-provoking questions like: “How do we move from crisis response to a sustained, inclusive transformation?” and “How are your leaders being held accountable for embracing the diversity of thoughts, ideas; for promoting inclusive work environments (especially during the pandemic), ensuring equity in pay as well as growth and development opportunities; and what kinds of tools and resources are made available to your leaders?” This panel was to be a dialogue around the consistent injustices that have gained social recognition recently because companies are having a hard time executing their DEI strategies. The panelists shared how they plan to make sustainable efforts that support their most valuable resource… employees. This panel was for organizational leaders, DEI practitioners, and the general public to engage in dialogue around making genuine efforts for transformational shifts to a more equitable and inclusive workplace.