You are invited to join us for a Leadership Unscripted Speaker Series event in Rosslyn on Monday, 2 March, featuring Melissa Thomas-Hunt and Erika James. Please register here by 24 February.
In honor of Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March, join UVA Darden Professor Laura Morgan Roberts as she hosts Airbnb Head of Global Diversity and Belonging Melissa Thomas-Hunt and Emory University Goizueta Business School Dean Erika James for an interactive discussion about What’s Holding Business Back from Achieving Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace? Learning From Intersections of Race and Gender.
Join these global experts as they explore why achieving a truly diverse and inclusive workplace still seems so elusive in many organizations — and what businesses and society can do to move the dial.
Melissa Thomas-Hunt, Erika James and Laura Morgan Roberts will speak from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the UVA Darden Sands Family Grounds, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 30th Floor, Arlington, VA. Registration and networking will take place from 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., which includes refreshments and hors d'oeuvres.
Melissa Thomas-Hunt leads the strategy and execution of Airbnb’s global internal diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging programs. An expert on building inclusive, global teams, Thomas-Hunt joined Airbnb from Vanderbilt University, where she served as vice provost for inclusive excellence. Prior to her work at Vanderbilt, Thomas-Hunt served as global chief diversity officer at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. For 25 years, Thomas-Hunt has taught MBA students and executives leadership, team dynamics and negotiations. She has also conducted research on the factors that unleash, leverage and amplify the contributions made by individuals — particularly women, underrepresented individuals and numerical minorities.
Erika James has served as the John H. Harland Dean at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School since 2014. An award-winning educator, accomplished consultant and published researcher, she was the first African American woman to be appointed dean of a Top 25 business school and has paved the way for women in leadership, both in education and corporate America. James has been instrumental starting various executive education programs, including the women’s leadership program at the Darden School. As dean of Goizueta, James places an emphasis on what higher education, particularly business education, can do to be of service to industry.
The Darden School seeks to make this an inclusive and accessible experience for guests. Should you require special accommodations, please email your request by 24 February so we can make any necessary arrangements.