Webinar Series 2012
The National Diversity Council is offering a series of webinars this year. State Corporate Partners participate at no cost! FREE! To become a partner, please contact Angeles Valenciano at angeles.valenciano@nationaldiversitycouncil.org.
- $69 per person (There is a $39 discounted rate for students)
- $99 per group
- Corporate Partners FREE
2012 Webinars (1 hour sessions):
Julia Wai-Yin So, Ph.D.
Principal of So Garcia Associates, LLC.
"(mis)communicating with Asian Americans(?)"
March 23, 2012
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. CST
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The Principal of So Garcia Associates, Dr. Julia Wai-Yin So has been speaking to national audiences on diversity & inclusion, leadership & change, and Asian & Latino cultures since 1995. With decades of international experience working with people from culturally diverse backgrounds while living in Hong Kong, Japan and Ecuador, she is an expert on UNRAVELling the Three Cs to debunk certain cultural communication codes that one uses or presenting the Asian/Latino Parallels about the similarities of the
two fastest growing ethnic minority groups in the US. Her other professional background includes diversity training, strategic planning, research and data analysis, and program evaluation.
While living in Dallas Texas, Dr. So had successfully managed a $30-million scholarship program for the Dallas County ommunity College District. A compassionate volunteer, she had served as chairman of the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce and president of North Texas Chapter of the Texas Diversity Council. Some of her recent public recognition include the 2006 National Institutional Excellence Award of the National Organization of Chinese Americans, the 2007 Distinguished Alumni Award of the Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, and the 2008 Civil Servant Award of the Asian American Citizens Council in Dallas.
Certified in non-profit management, Dr. So received her B.A. and M.A. in Sociology from the University of Texas at Arlington, and Ph.D. in Public Policy and Political Economy from the University of Texas at Dallas. She resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and serves as president-elect of the National Speakers Association of New Mexico.
Shanta Proctor, Ph.D.
Director, National Women’s Council
"When Women Succeed, America Succeeds"
February 23, 2012
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CST
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Dr. Shanta Proctor has a lifetime mission of being a catalyst for change and positively affecting people’s lives. Shanta joined the National Women’s Council in 2011 and is dedicated to progressive leadership. She was the Top Graduate of Political Science for the Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Southern University; and obtained a master’s and doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in Vocational Education and Human Resource Education and Workforce Development, respectively, from Louisiana State University (LSU). She has worked extensively with community development organizations, nonprofit leadership and Women’s organizations.
Shanta’s professional career includes a wide array of experiences, including the Louisiana State Senate, LA Legislative Black Caucus, international organizations, and teaching at LSU. In 2006, she was appointed as Executive Director of the Governor’s Office on Women’s Policy for Louisiana. As the first African-American and youngest person in this role, her leadership was essential in establishing strategic partnerships, statewide women’s conferences and helping to develop “Louisiana’s Women Leaders,” a campaign to highlight amazing talent amongst women. After working in an executive capacity for two governors, she transitioned to independent consulting, focusing on evaluation and data reporting.
Dr. Proctor has received numerous awards and is involved with various community activities. Currently, she serves as the Vice President of Katy Two-Way Immersion Support Team (TWIST), is a member of the Women of Color Network, and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Doctoral Scholars Association. Additional Board involvement includes the Louisiana Women’s Foundation, Waller Pregnancy Care Center, Center for Women and Government and the Amobi Okoye Foundation. She was formerly designated as a Celebrity Waiter benefiting Youth Oasis, a truancy organization dedicated to helping homeless youth. Shanta has authored several magazine and research articles and takes pride in writing, parenting, book club, and travel.
Tim McRay
30 Minutes To Change The World (pdf)
February 9, 2012
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CST
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Tim McRay began managing people at age 17 and has over 20 years of experience in functional and operational leadership positions with Fortune 100 companies. Currently, Tim is responsible for Leadership and Culture at Daimler Financial Services in Fort Worth, TX. He holds a Bachelors degree in Business Administration, an MBA in Management and Marketing, and is now pursuing a Doctorate degree in Leadership Studies. He is an adjunct professor of Human Resource Administration at Southern New Hampshire University, is a frequent speaker at local businesses and universities and is active in the community serving on boards and in civic organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Jennifer Thibeaux, Ph.D. (abd), SPHR
UareWhatUTweet.com! The intersection of Social Media & Diversity (pdf)
January 31, 2012
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CST
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A long-time advocate of education and the empowering effects on personal development, Jennifer Thibeaux has developed a keen expertise for personal, professional, and performance intelligence. Jennifer began her growth and development early in life as a U.S. gymnast – most notably medaling three times in a 1988 US Junior Olympic competition. While pursuing her dream to compete in the 1992 Olympics, Jennifer suffered a career-ending wrist injury at fifteen years old. She carried the lessons of dedication, goal attainment, determination, and passion for success to college where she attended Texas A&M University and earned a BBA in Marketing.
Beginning her professional career at Allstate Insurance Company in their Claims Department, Jennifer was exposed to the intricacies of customer and human relationships. Jennifer credits her work ethic and structure to the leadership at Allstate Insurance Company who were very committed to employee development and achievement. Early in her career, Jennifer transitioned to Deloitte & Touche LLP to work as a Technical Trainer and Writer. While at Deloitte & Touche she taught hundreds of e-Learning courses to audiences logging in all over the world. Additionally, Jennifer gained exposure on a global stage teaching onsite classes in multiple countries regarding International Human Resources Tax.
Leveraging her consulting experience at Deloitte & Touche, Jennifer founded Primary Consulting LLC in 2004. The business focuses on adult education and Performance Intelligence. Jennifer has worked with large clients such as AIG, ConAgra Foods, Mary Kay, Inc., PepsiCo, and American Airlines to name a few. Working as a Performance Consultant, she has also worked with professional athletes in both the NBA and NFL to assist with Performance Development, Career Transition, and Readiness programs. It was indeed her exposure to a wide variety of organizational issues that influenced Jennifer to gain her Master of Arts in Education with a dual specialization in Adult Education and Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix.
Currently working on her Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in Training & Performance Improvement at Capella University she has become an expert in Adult Performance Improvement and Diversity Intelligence. Her dissertation research focuses on Organizational Structure, Leadership and Process that influence Ethnic Minority Recruitment, Retention, and Promotion. Her post doctoral goal is to offer education that focuses on viable career choices for professional and scholar athletes beyond their sport.
Jennifer is certified to administer B-level psychological assessments such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (a Personality Inventory Tool) and the Strong Interest Inventory®(A Career Interest Tool). Additionally, she is certified as a Senior Professional Human Resources® (SPHR®), a designation earned by only a small number of professionals each year.
Jennifer’s mission in life is to affect transformational change in society through education. Her success is truly defined in other’s triumphs and growth. Managing to uniquely divide her time, she serves on a non-profit organization Advisory Board (North Texas LEAD); serves as a Diversity Intelligence Consultant to Fortune 100 Executives; and through her virtual training center manages over 80 e-Learning courses all of which she uniquely authored. When not in the virtual classroom, Jennifer serves as a professional speaker and lecturer on leadership, emotional intelligence, diversity intelligence, and Performance Intelligence.
Nancy A. Ruth
TO DIVERSITY and BEYOND: Building Bridges through Cultural Competence (pdf)
January 24, 2012
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CST
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Nancy Ackley Ruth was born and raised in Africa as a child of American parents. She grew up speaking Arabic and several tribal languages as well as English, having a foot in at least 3 worlds. This provided the foundation for Nancy’s current passion – building bridges of understanding through developing cultural competence.
Nancy earned an interdisciplinary Master’s degree in counseling and Human Resource Development. She put this degree to good use, serving such organizations as Lear Siegler, Mervyn’s, MJDesigns, and Boeing as well as several smaller companies in varying HR roles, from generalist to SVP. In each successive position, Nancy became increasingly aware of the impact of culture on the work force.
One manager even said “don’t hire any more of XYZ ethnic group – they are liars and untrustworthy.” When asked why he believed that, he responded that they would not look him in the eye (don’t traditional American mothers say to their children “you look me in the eye young lady when I’m speaking to you?”) and they often said “yes” when the accurate answer was “no.” Because of her cultural awareness, she understood the manager was seeing the behavior through an American cultural lens and subsequently developed and facilitated a cultural awareness training for the managers, with observable positive results.
Nancy has worked one-on-one with expats of all levels to build these bridges. She has also worked with companies with significant interest in the USA, Africa and the Middle East to guide them in the development of strategies for increasing their effectiveness in meeting their initiatives when working with non-Westerners. In recent years, she has applied this knowledge and her over 30 years of professional HR experience into turning diversity programs into skill building sessions – building cultural competency to support and enhance diversity!
