KU students engage with workplace cultures at the fourth annual Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access and Leadership Summit
More than 60 KU students gathered at Capitol Federal Hall for the annual Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access and Leadership Summit (IDEALS), presented by the business school’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) team on Friday, March 8.
The summit aimed to create a space to celebrate all identities while fostering learning opportunities to share knowledge and experiences with professionals, alumni and campus partners.
The event prepared attendees to effectively engage an increasingly diverse workforce, while contributing to student success and healthy and vibrant communities through workshop sessions, a networking lunch and a panel discussion.
“IDEALS creates a space to celebrate identities and experiences that don’t always get the recognition and appreciation they deserve,” said Morgan States, the School of Business DEIB program coordinator. “It’s important to host and continue to grow this summit every year because it supports the holistic development of our future leaders.”
The summit, now in its fourth year, began with a welcome breakfast, followed by a keynote address by Paige Freeman, KU Alumni Association’s director of student programs, who shared her experience with DEIB and the importance of leadership summits like this one.
Participants then were able to choose from nine different workshop sessions that each focused on an aspect of DEIB led by powerful guest speakers. More than 20 employers were also presented and engaged with students to share what DEIB means to their organizations.
Workshop Sessions
- Two-Hour Zine Workshop with Monty Coash-Johnson (he/him & she/her) | Zine Fellow, KU Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity
- Business Diversity vs. Supplier Diversity with Taylor Overton | President and Owner, Black:30; Art Love Collective; Diverse Link
- Leveraging Traditional Education for Entrepreneurial Success with Kasi Ross II (he/him) | CEO, Wiz Kid Consulting
- Inclusive Leadership Training with Olivia Brice (she/her) | Assistant Director of Student Belonging, Washburn University
- Create Your Own DEIB Strategy with JP Ameryun (he/him) | Client Partner, Spotlight
- Leveraging the Jayhawk Career Network for Career and Professional Development withHoward Graham (he/him) | Director, Jayhawk Career Network at KU Alumni Association
- A Space to Be You with Kassandra Hegg (she/her) | Senior HR Representative, PepsiCo
- Crafting Your Digital Persona: Personal and Online Branding 101 for Workplace Success with Alexus Scott, M.Ed. (she/her) | Bridge + Grace Management Consulting
- Professionalism from a Nonbinary and Trans Perspective moderated by Sam Azzaro (they/them) | Program Coordinator, KU School of Business Office of DEIB
Throughout the workshops, participants interacted with and listened to speakers to gain knowledge, advice and understanding of how DEIB plays a part in every aspect of the business and real-world. Samantha Garcia, a third-year majoring in finance appreciated the different viewpoints in and out of the classroom that the summit brought.
“The most useful thing that I found about IDEALS this year was that they had speakers that came to talk more about perspectives as a student and how you can apply that in the workforce. They gave examples of what to look for in a company, what to start asking and the type of resources that are available in each company and what a company should be able to provide for you.” Garcia said.
Following a networking lunch, participants engaged in the DEIB IRL (In Real Life) panel moderated by business administration student, Eve Bertoncino. The panel featured employers, professionals, KU employees and alumni who shared their valuable insights and stories about the importance of DEIB and how it functions in our world today.
DEIB IRL (In Real Life) Panelists
- Alicia McDougal, MBA, PHR | Employee Services Supervisor, Kiewit
- Kasi Ross II (he/him) | CEO, Wiz Kid Consulting
- Siney Zavala (she/her) | Assistant Director of Community Engagement Initiatives, KU Office of Admissions
- Breona Ward, M.A. (she/her) | Director — College and Career Progression, DeLaSalle High School
Students directly engaged with the panelists through questions and discussions, gaining perspectives and connections that will translate into their futures in the workplace. Many speakers shared personal experiences and gave new meaning to the roles that every person can play in DEIB, regardless of their position.
“I think it’s important to have events like IDEALS because it allows students and professionals to learn more about DEIB and things they can use in their lives and in the workplace,” Elvin Lin, second-year accounting major, said.
Attendees ended the day with new perspectives, connections and tools they can apply to their everyday lives and use to better navigate the ever-changing professional world.
“I see myself applying these lessons in my life and future career by knowing what to ask for in a company and what a company can give me in return, and knowing what it takes to be a mentor to someone and ultimately knowing what my job will entail,” Garcia said.
To learn more about DEIB at the School of Business, visit business.ku.edu/DEIB.
By Lauryn Zebrowski
