The Humber International Graduate School (IGS) hosted a panel discussion on creating inclusive workplaces as part of the EnVision the Future World of Work series.

Moderated by Humber’s inaugural Vice-President, Inclusion and Belonging, Jason Seright, the audience heard from leaders in the field, Delany Satheeswaran, Karen Craggs-Milne, Rianna D'Silva, and Shalise Goffe, who spoke about what their organizations are doing to support the important work of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) to build better workplaces for all.

The session proved thought-provoking with participants engaging in discussion well into the evening.

Ophelia Chen, a second semester student at the IGS, started the evening with a land acknowledgment that provided an opportunity for participants to reflect on what the acknowledgment meant to them.   

Seright kicked off the discussion by highlighting the importance of EDI for the work that Humber is doing and emphasizing that this has been and continues to be a core focus for the College. Through the discussion, panellists shared strategies that they are using to create inclusive and diverse workplaces while highlighting some of the challenges and tactics used to address these challenges.   

Satheeswaran, a diversity, equity and inclusion and corporate social responsibility consultant at CGI, talked about their practices and programming to promote diversity and inclusion along with addressing unconscious bias. Though programming exists, as she highlighted, this is not without challenges in an industry governed by billable hours. But how is this changing?  Satheeswaran said clients expectations are changing, and they are seeking to work with companies who prioritize EDI.   

For Goffe, a senior manager for campus strategy and recruitment at CIBC, it’s not just about recruiting a diverse workforce for CIBC but ensuring that employees feel that sense of belonging once they join. Through employee resource groups, CIBC’s employees can find community which, in turn, the bank sees as essential for retention, said Goffe.

As a diversity business partner at Google, D’Silva has supported the development and launch of their five-part action plan to create positive and systemic changes within the organization. At Google, D’Silva is often the point person and recognized as a subject matter expert on EDI.  Sometimes this means having difficult conversations with leaders as they navigate this space together, said D’Silva.

Craggs-Milne said there is an emphasis on challenging the status quo and having intentional conversations and actions to address racism, equity and inclusion in her work. Craggs-Milne emphasized that conscious equality and her passion and commitment to this work comes through in everything that she does.   

“As an HR manager responsible for a smaller Canadian firm, I attended this event with the intention of gaining practical insights and actionable steps,” said Jawwaad Mailik, a country human resource manager at Fugro. “The distinguished EDI panel shared their experiences of integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion within their large corporate environments, which left me feeling empowered. Their stories highlighted the significance of weaving EDI into the fabric of an organization and ensuring its cascading impact throughout. This event proved to be invaluable for employers who may feel uncertain about where or how to begin crafting their EDI strategies. I am eagerly anticipating future opportunities to attend and further enhance my knowledge in this area.”

Inspired by the importance of this work and supporting the learners at the IGS, Mailik signed up to be a mentor as a part of the IGS Career Mentorship Program.

Participants also learned about Humber’s Continuous Professional Learning Certificate, Transformative Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Leadership, as a way to further their knowledge and skills in this area.   

The EnVision series is offered through Humber’s Industry and Community Connector Hub at the IGS in downtown Toronto. It looks at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on societies, economies and businesses and brings together leaders to discuss issues and possible paths forward to adapt to new realities, ways of thinking and doing, learning and working.

Future sessions will explore the pandemic’s impact and paths forward leveraging AI, key issues around cybersecurity, and what the trajectory for the future in work means for space, conceptualization and leadership competencies.

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