Gender Bias Panel at ASD 2015

Gender Bias: When, where and how it influences leadership success—examples of how to get on the operational track from corporate leaders

Four top corporate diversity inclusion leaders discussed Gender Bias mid-morning at ASD 2015. The Panel members  shared best practices, the journey’s bumps and successes, and the guideposts to engage white males and all others in the effort.  The audience joined the discussion of areas critical to a successful inclusion program with:

• Karen Sweeney, Turner Construction, SVP Diversity, Inclusion and Community
• Rhonda Bolton, Esq.,  Kia Motors, Head of Corporate Diversity Initiatives
• Ed McFalls, BNSF Railway, AVP Human Resources and Diversity
• Ryan McDay, Head of Diversity & Inclusion for Bayer U.S.

The presentation was moderated by Dr. Lucille Maddalena.

The discussion  addressed areas critical to a successful inclusion program:

1. Creating a Company-wide diversity Model
a. Survey/Assessment tools to identify gaps
b. Process of managing and monitoring progress
2. Developing strategy to address and close gaps
a. Organically evolving vs corporate mandate
b. Deeper dives for anecdotal vs empirical feedback
3. Methods of implementation
a. Pilot and test strategies for formal implementation
b. Deciding what gets traction and how to proceed
4. Follow-up
a. Continuous improvement
b. Measurement/evidence to support initiative

KAREN SWEENEY

Karen Sweeney

Panel Member Karen Sweeney is Sr VP Diversity, Inclusion and Community for Turner Construction Co. She has over 34 years of construction experience, all with Turner. During her 28 yrs in operations including field and engineering, she became the first women VP, general manager, overseeing business units in Ohio and Maryland. In 2009, she turned her focus to diversity, inclusion and community for Turner, where she works to establish and engage ERGs, provide training input company-wide, and leads MWBE utilization efforts and community outreach.

RYAN MCDAY

Ryan W. McDay is a results oriented diversity and inclusion subject matter experts with over 15 years of corporate and non-profit experience advancing diversity and inclusion within organizations, and a successful track record of leadership, project management, and team execution.

Ryan McDay

McDay currently serves as Head of Diversity & Inclusion for Bayer U.S. where he is responsible for developing and implementing strategies aimed at advancing Bayer’s diversity & Inclusion objectives across the U.S. In this role, he advises senior management, directs and facilitates activities of Bayer’s the diversity & inclusion councils, and employee resource groups. He also drives efforts to cultivate pipelines of diverse talent and strives to expand internal and external awareness of Bayer strong commitment to fostering a culture of meritocracy.

RHONDA BOLTON

Panel Member Rhonda Bolton, Esq. heads the development and implementation of policies that are aligned with Kia

Rhonda M. Bolton, Esq

Motors America Inc.’s philosophy to promote diversity and inclusion within its workforce, its dealer network, customer base, supplier base, and local community. She is currently Vice Chair, U.S. Council of Diversity and

Inclusion Executives, is an Advisory Board Member of the California Diversity Council, serves on the Leadership Council of the United Negro College Fund-Los Angeles, and the Board of Directors for Community Partners Board Orange County California HR Council.

ED MCFALLS

Panel Member Ed McFalls, AVP-Human Resources & Diversity with BNSF Railway, has over 40 years of business experience spanning four industries. He presently has responsibility for BNSF’s diversity and employment

Ed McFalls

compliance initiatives, human resource information systems plus provides HR Generalist services for five of BNSF’s business units. He has amassed a wealth of experience and knowledge in many areas of Human Resources with particular expertise in employee relations, human resource operations and diversity management.

LUCILLE MADDALENA

Panel Moderator: Dr. Lucille Maddalena has coached corporate leaders for more than twenty-five years. Working  with top level leaders, her clients are often in the C-suite of firms in the construction, pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries.  As the developer of TRANSITION TO MANAGEMENT, a series of workshops held

Dr. Lucille Maddalena

annually at several global firms, she has worked with more than 6,000 high potential executives in transition, preparing for their future success as corporate leaders. Dr. Maddalena holds an interdisciplinary doctorate in Labor Education and Human Communications, with post-graduate work at several professional organizations.