Designing the Diversity Symposium

In spring of 2011 the Committee won our second grant from the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity. Our proposal was sound and had been endorsed "off the record" by both the Dean of LCB and the VP of OIED. Our goals were clear:

Create a high-quality, intimate event that was both fresh and engaging and would set LCB as a leader for the campus and community in thought and practice for building diversity in the workplace.

Posters designed by students all over campus

I knew the project was going to be a great showcase for LCB and it would help improve relations between other units on campus and some of the local community. But I had under estimated it as an opportunity for me to grow as a leader and as an individual.

I discovered the true strength of my leadership during this process. To accomplish our vision with limited time and resources truly demanded I was efficient with my task management and effective with my communication. I held tight to a vision of the day but gave all authority and power to my other committee members to do their part to accomplish the vision. Inspiring other players in the roles we couldn't fill on our was ongoing.

On the eve of the event, I felt confident- I had pulled together an "A" team of organizers, presenters, caterers, sponsors and allies. All I had to do was set them on the field and let them play their part.

So now what? What is ironic is we choose the theme of the inaugural conference as "rewriting narratives" I in the process of designing that experience for our audience I have re-written my own narrative. One year ago I couldn't imagine anything bigger- now its only a matter of time before I will take this event to a higher level.