SHRM Diversity Conference & Exposition - October 28, 2008 (Day 2)
Posted by JasonDay #2 at the annual SHRM Diversity Conference general session started off with the Chief Diversity Officers Panel. Key messaging included focusing on Diversity as a competitive advantage, executive support, and positioning yourself as a business leader – just as a head of a product or business line would.
The highlight of Tuesday hands down was the general session with Frans Johansson. Frans makes Tony Robbins look calm on stage, any day!
Frans recent best-selling book “The Medici Effect” has sparked “The Medici Game” – a way for organizations to drive a conversation about innovation. One of the stats used to kick off the session was the length of time a company used to be part of the S&P 500. The answer is 25-35 years, but that was then – this is now. The average length today is between 10-15 years. Thus, the need for innovation. The point: Diversity drives innovation. You’d expect that while attending a Diversity Conference, right? An example used to drive the point was Sony invented the Walkman. In theory, they could/should be “the music company”. Which computer company took their place? Apple comes to mind…
Frans made linkages with products, people, and organizations you would have never thought possible – and how they resulted in amazing success – in hindsight.
See you in Orlando next month at The Recruiting Conference. Not attending? Follow the conference highlights here.
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