In the modern landscape of work, diversity and inclusion have evolved from mere buzzwords to essential cornerstones of success. The simple fact of the matter is that diverse teams outperform homogeneous ones in nearly every way, from increased innovation and creativity to higher employee morale and productivity.

So, what steps can leadership teams actually take to foster more inclusive workspaces? Executive Speakers Bureau has curated four experts: Charlene Wheeless, Hannah Ubl, Chris Dyer, and George Randle to bring their unique perspectives and actionable steps to achieve more inclusive workspaces.

Hannah Ubl: Building Workplaces that Don’t Suck

Hannah Ubl is the co-founder of GoodCompanyConsulting, a firm that is literally dedicated to “building workplaces that don’t suck.” By combining her quick-witted and playful stage presence with hard data garnered from thousands of hours of conversations with employees and corresponding studies, Ubl is able to highlight the different generational attitudes and assumptions towards the workplace. In her keynote address, Ubl demonstrates how employers can better use this data to attract and retain top talent from a variety of backgrounds.

With a keynote that is equal parts inspirational, analytical, and deeply human, Ubl guides companies towards building inclusive workplaces that are “human-centric,” resulting in higher morale, loyalty, and positivity in the workplace. By addressing generational miscommunications and fostering an environment where different perspectives are valued, Ubl's insights pave the way for inclusive workspaces that leverage the collective wisdom and fresh perspectives of all generations.

Chris Dyer: Positive Culture in a Remote Workplace

Chris Dyer is a leadership and culture consultant who has worked with corporate titans ranging from Johnson and Johnson, Citibank, and the BBC to focus on the pivotal role that leadership plays in shaping inclusive organizational culture. In 2009, Dyer made the decision to take his company, People G2, fully remote in response to the WallStreet financial meltdown. As Dyer quickly learned, the ability to recruit and operate remotely resulted in enormous success and benefits for all involved.

With over a decade of experience running a company remotely and building a positive culture where employees feel valued, respected and empowered, Dyer became one of the most sought after voices for organizations and leadership teams looking to hack remote work. His keynotes shed light on the importance of leadership's commitment to openness, diversity, and respect, creating an atmosphere where diverse voices are not only heard but actively sought out.

Dyer's approach relies on the simple realization that by fostering a culture of inclusivity, organizations can tap into a broader range of perspectives, sparking innovation and enhancing problem-solving capabilities. His insights are a reminder that inclusivity is not a one-time initiative but an ongoing effort that requires intentional leadership and continuous commitment.

Charlene Wheeless: Culture is a CHOICE

Charlene Wheeless's remarkable story serves as an inspiration to her audiences and a reminder that good things come through CHOICE not chance. As a woman of color, Wheeless actively had to fight back against the stereotypes that were projected onto her throughout her corporate career. Rising to the rank of VP of a forty billion dollar firm, Wheeless was then devastated by a cancer diagnosis that put her life at risk. Choosing to view the news as a sign to develop more sustainable attitudes towards work and her career, Wheeless now shares her insights with organizations ranging from Lockheed Martin to Boston University.

A deeply empowering speaker, Wheeless believes the things that happen to us — good or bad — are far less important in the long run than how we choose to respond to them. This perspective calls for a proactive, intentional approach to acknowledge and mitigate factors like unconscious bias. By providing tools and strategies to recognize and counter these biases, Wheeless enables organizations to make fairer and more objective decisions. Moreover, her message empowers employees to become allies in actively creating a more inclusive environment, where all individuals are judged based on their merits rather than stereotypes.

George Randle: Winning the Best Talent with Culture

George Randle is a veteran, Human Resources executive, the co-author of the best-selling book, The Talent War: How Special Operations and Great Organizations Win on Talent, and co-host of the Talent War Podcast. His professional journey began as an officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, a role that saw him stationed in Berlin, Somalia, and Central America, among other locations. Upon exiting the military, Randle sought to transition the strategies he had learned to recruit, build, and train elite teams in the corporate setting. He has operated as a Human Resources and Talent Acquisition leader for over 20 years.

Randle’s various keynote speeches revolve around the fact that human capital is the most important asset in any successful enterprise. He believes building an elite team is often more about finding players with the right attitude than with the most impressive resumes. His mantra “Hire for character, train for skill,” emphasizes the enormous premium that should be placed on scouting for individuals who are hard-working, resilient problem solvers rather than employees who can simply check off all the experience boxes. By prioritizing character attributes, this approach opens the way for employers to diversify their workforce by recruiting individuals from a multitude of backgrounds.

Moving Towards a More Inclusive Workspace

In an era where inclusion is no longer negotiable, these four speakers offer valuable insights that organizations of all sizes and industries can integrate into their strategies. To create lasting change, leadership must not simply nod in agreement with the importance of inclusivity, but must actively embed its principles into organizational practices. The insights of our keynote speakers demonstrate the number of different ways to foster inclusive workplaces, from understanding the unique perspectives of different generations to recruiting for attitude over expertise.

We encourage companies to embrace these insights and take action to create more inclusive and diverse workplaces that benefit everyone by contacting Executive Speakers Bureau today.