2024 Virtual Conference Agenda

Hosted by: Wells Fargo 2024 marks a decade of the impact of the Disability Equality Index and Inclusion Works (IW). Since their inception, participation in the Disability Equality Index has grown 6x – from 80 companies in the inaugural year to 485 in 2023, and Inclusion Works companies have hired nearly 400,000 employees with disabilities over the last ten years. We kick-off the 2024 Global Conference & Expo by mapping business inclusion trends around the world with insights from the Disability Equality Index, featuring the wisdom of participating  Inclusion Works companies that have made disability inclusion a strategic business priority. We will dive into the future of building inclusive businesses for all as well as the growing importance of publicly reporting your disability data Speakers: 

• MaryAnn Beebe – Lead Accessibility Program Engineer at General Motors
• Ebony Burt – Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Wells Fargo
• David Casey – Chief Inclusion and Social impact Officer at Tapestry
• Jesse Cortez – Chief Diversity Officer at McKesson
• Camille Chang Gilmore – VP Human Resources, Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at Boston Scientific
• Robert Dolan – President & CEO at Cashman Photo Enterprises
• Jill Houghton – President & CEO at Disability:IN
• Katherine Lees – CEO at Dozanü Innovations
• Brendan Nelson – President, Boeing Global at Boeing
• David Sneddon – Vice President at Google
• Leslie Wilson – Executive Vice President, Global Workplace Initiatives at Disability:IN
• Marissa Woodbeck – Head of Digital Accessibility for Experience Design for U.S. Bank

Breakout Session Tags: Self ID/Disclosure; Global; Employee/Business Groups; Culture; Marketing & Communications Self-identification campaigns enable organizations to better understand their global workforce, facilitate dialogue, and create programs that support diverse employees. Employees with disabilities, however, might be reluctant to self-identify for a variety of valid reasons. A disability-focused self ID campaign can help shape the narrative surrounding global self-identification and inspire employee participation. This session will explore the basics of building a disability self ID campaign, including how to secure legal and leadership support; create effective marketing through storytelling; and considerations on how to collect and report data. Learning Objectives:

1. Define self-identification and self-disclosure and gain an understanding of how effective self-disclosure through storytelling can translate to increased rates of voluntary and confidential self-identification.
2. Learn best practices for effective global self ID campaigns, including selecting a platform for data collection, crafting an enterprise communications campaign, navigating legal and privacy considerations, and establishing governance for appropriate data stewardship and transparency.
3. Identify internal stakeholders who can play a pivotal role in self ID initiatives, including Legal, Human Resources, Corporate Communications, and Employee/Business Resource Groups, and strategies for effective collaboration to maximize impact.

Hosted by: Regeneron

Moderator: 

• Jennifer Williamson – Senior Director Culture and Diversity at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals 

Panelists:

• Ann Anaya – SVP & Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Cencora
• Dennis Malinis – Director for Global Disability Inclusion at Expedia
• Damu McCoy – Executive Vice President, Head of Talent Acquisition at Wells Fargo
• Hillary Wool – Partner at Boston Consulting Group

1. The Impact of Culture on Disability Inclusion in LATAM Workplaces
2. Approaches to Disability Etiquette and Language for Colleagues, People Managers & Recruiters
3. LATAM Accommodations/Adjustments Policies and Practices  

Panelists:

• Margarita Abella – LATAM Corporate Disability Inclusion Consultant at Disability:IN
• Gabriela Burgardt – Head of Diversity Equity Inclusion Latam at Adidas
• Leonardo Knittel Dias – ENABLED Global President at Chevron
• Ezequiel Massa – Head of Diversity & Inclusion, Latin America & Carribean at SAP
• Pamela Trevino – Talent & Development Director at DHL

Hosted by: Fable Accessibility directly impacts all aspects of disability inclusion. New developments continuously unlock paths for more people to participate meaningfully and fully. This session explores revolutionary progress in digital accessibility and the critical role of communications leadership in modeling accessibility for all. At the heart of matter, we celebrate the powerful everyday innovations driven by talent with disabilities.   Lunch will be provided. Speakers:

• Ryan Asdourian – Chief Marketing Officer at Lumen
• Dylan Barrell – Chief Product/ Technology Officer at Deque Systems
• Gwennie Cheung – Global Marketing + Communications Lead, Inclusion & Diversity at Accenture 
• Nedra Dickson – Managing Director, Global Supplier Inclusion & Sustainability Lead at Accenture 
• Jenny Lay-Flurrie – Vice President, Chief Accessibility Officer at Microsoft 
• Catherine Nichols – VP, Office of Accessibility at Salesforce 
• John Pluhowski – Senior Vice President, Chief Communications Officer at TD Bank
• Jessica Rafuse – Director, Accessibility Strategic Partnerships & Policy at Microsoft
• Diogo Rau – Executive Vice President- Chief Information & Digital Officer at Eli Lilly and Company 
• Navin Thadani – CEO & Co-Founder at Evinced
• Jeff Wissell – Chief Accessibility Officer at Disability:IN

1. Look ahead at the future of the Disability Equality Index and how it will continually evolve to meet the changing needs of global multi-national corporations that are committed to advancing disability inclusion.
2. Gain insights on how multi-national companies are leveraging the Disability Equality Index to develop and evolve global disability inclusion strategies to engage enterprise leadership and utilize the benchmark to establish and track success metrics.
3. Explore best practices for building inclusive global programs for employees, customers, and suppliers with disabilities.

Moderator:

• Laurie Henneborn – Managing Director at Accenture

Panelists:

• Stuart Persky – Director, EEO & HR Compliance at Sanofi
• Jessica Rafuse – Director, Accessibility Strategic Partnerships & Policy at Microsoft
• Dominique Sellers – VP, Supplier Diversity & Sustainable Sourcing at Paramount
• Jessica Vanscavish – Head of Disability, Absence, Life & Support Health Products at Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

1. Understand the concepts and principles of accessible design for all and how they relate to physical space accessibility, including an examination of global best practices in strategic development and implementation.
2. Learn how to make work life healthier, safer, and more productive while promoting a sense of belonging and engagement.
3. Discover how to secure executive support, navigate challenges, and achieve measurable results.

Moderator:

• Andrew Houghton – Principal at Disability Inclusion Solutions

Panelists:

• Angel Enriquez – Director, Inclusive Experiences & Technology, Employee Experience at Amazon
• Emily MacKinnon – Director of Emerging Experiences at Starbucks
• Andrea Snead – Director, DEI at United States Tennis Association
• Don Watson – SVP Real Estate and Facilities Management at Oracle

Hosted by: Deloitte

Celebrate ten years of the Disability Equality Index by honoring the Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion around the world in 2024 and recognize the Inclusion Award Winners. This year, the benchmark opened to companies in eight markets around the world: Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This awards ceremony acknowledges today’s top scoring companies while looking toward tomorrow’s multinational trends in disability inclusion.

Speakers:

• Joyce Bender – Chief Executive Officer at Bender Consulting Services
• Tony Gladney – Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at MGM Resorts International
• Angela Harrell – SVP, Chief Diversity & Corporate Impact Officer at Voya Financial
• Jill Houghton – President & CEO of Disability:IN
• Supriya Jha – Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at SAP
• Sarah Loucks –  Autism at Work Global Lead at SAP
• Liliana Robu – Principal | Purpose & DEI Leader at Deloitte
• Russell Shaffer – Executive Vice President, Programs and Strategy at Disability:IN

Our disabilities provide us with highly valuable skills such as creativity, critical thinking, communication, empathy, adaptability, and flexibility to thrive in an ever-evolving employment landscape. For many of us, pride in being is fostered through mentorship and connection to other people with disabilities. This session celebrates #DisabilityTalent at every level of an organization and career stage. Hear pitches from Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (DOBEs) with the next big idea to launch their business forward and from our NextGen Leaders who have been innovating new ideas throughout the conference. Lunch will be provided. Hosted by:  Bank of America DOBE Pitch Challenge Hosted by: Vistra NextGen Innovation Lab Hosted by: Experian Lunch Hosted by: Merck  Speakers:

• Rachel Ardoin – Supply Chain Advisor- US Supplier Diversity at Shell USA, Inc. 
• Chiril Calin – AI/ML Software Engineer at Pfizer
• Fiona Dawson – Founder & Director at Free Lion Productions
• Antoine Hinton – Director, Supplier Diversity at Dollar General 
• Brian Horn – Chief Operating Officer at Disability:IN
• Wil Lewis – Global Chief DEI & Talent Acquisition Officer at Experian
• Manisha Mehrotra – EMEA Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Bloomberg
• Rich Prange – Vice President – Real Estate, Facilities, Sustainability and Professional Services at Discover 
• Julie Rakes – Senior Manager, Supplier Diversity at Capital One
• Amanda (Mandy) Scipione – Head of Global Diversity and Inclusion at Fidelity 
• Tiffany Solberg – SVP, Life Event Services Manager – International Operations & Disability Strategy at Bank of America 
• Annette Underwood – Chief Diversity Officer at Vistra Corp

Breakout Session Tags: Accommodations; Recruitment & Hiring; Retention & Development; Accessibility – Digital; Accessibility – Physical; Global; Sustainability & Policy Hosted by: Dow Chemical Company Reasonable accommodations policies are often viewed as the forerunner of workplace disability inclusion programming. Yet as corporations are increasingly global, a compliance-centric, “one size fits all” approach to accommodations is becoming antiquated and constraining for the dynamic modern workforce. Companies are taking a myriad of approaches to their accommodations processes as evidenced by just 58% of 2023 Disability Equality Index respondents reporting that they utilize a centralized accommodations fund and/or allow managers a budget margin for accommodation expenses. This session explores contemporary legal considerations impacting workplace accommodations for today’s globalizing marketplace as well as evolving accommodation solutions and best practices for maximizing inclusion and effectiveness. Learning Objectives:

1. Examine legal frameworks that impact workplace accommodations, including significant country- and region-specific policies, and how to ensure compliance with disability and anti-discrimination laws.
2. Learn practical strategies for assessing reasonable accommodations/productivity tools requests and implementing effective solutions that take into consideration the diverse needs of employees with disabilities.
3. Explore various strategic models for structuring a reasonable accommodations program, including optimum organizational positioning and governance; centralized vs. decentralized; global vs. market-specific; in-house vs. outsourced; blending proactive accessibility with reactive accommodations; and more.

Moderator:

• Christine Vanek – Director, Global Accommodations & Accessibility at Otis

Panelists:

• Nikki Alphonse – Sr. Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Operations at Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Ina Charles – Inclusion & Diversity Partner at Lyft
• Melissa Sape – Digital Accessibility Service Manager at Dow Chemical Company
• Janet Skaalrud – Occupational Health Lead at Johnson & Johnson

1. Disability Inclusion in the Workplace: Overcoming Challenges Employees with Disabilities Experience
2. Etiquette and Language for Colleagues, People Managers & Recruiters
3. Impactful APAC Accommodations/Adjustments Policies and Practices

Moderator:  

• David Casey – Chief Inclusion and Social Impact Officer at Tapestry

Panelists: 

• Sam Giese – Manager, Business Systems Analytics Digital Channels at Fiserv
• Ching-Shiuan Jiang – APAC Lead Disability Inclusion Consultant at Disability:IN
• Chaitanya Nangia – Director – Compliance & Operational Risk Executive at Bank of America
• Miriam Sera Paul – Diversity and Inclusion Director at Micron Technology

1. Gain an understanding of and appreciation for the strengths and unique perspectives of neurodiverse individuals across the workplace, marketplace, and supply chain.
2. Learn how to implement inclusive practices that can create an environment that accommodates and leverages different cognitive styles.
3. Equip managers with tools to lead neuroinclusive teams effectively, including tips on how to optimize HR processes such as recruiting, onboarding, performance evaluations, development, and advancement.

Moderator:

• Anthony Pacilio – Vice President Neurodiverse Solutions at CAI

Panelists:

• Chris Grous – Inclusive Technology Specialist at Texthelp 
• Sarah Loucks – Autism at Work Global Lead at SAP 
• Amy Root – Director of Strategic Initiatives, Optum Technology at UnitedHealth Group 
• Hiren Shukla – Global Neurodiversity & Inclusive Value Leader at Ernst & Young 

1. Dive into disability reporting trends and insights from the European, Global, and U.S. Fortune 500 lists.
2. Examine the various ways in which disability is reported on such as qualitative and quantitative disclosures across workforce initiatives, inclusive procurement, and accessibility programs.
3. Develop a foundational knowledge of how market forces and legislative updates are requiring companies to build organizational capacity around disability data – and what you can do to keep up-to-date.

Moderator:

• Reid Jewett Smith – Director of Research & Policy at Disability:IN

Panelists:

• Lisa Bickel – Chief L&E Counsel Honeywell Aerospace Technologies at Honeywell
• Kelly Copes-Anderson – VP-Head of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Diversity Equity and Inclusion & Talent Management at Eli Lilly and Company
• Jessica Truman – Head of Voya Cares at Voya Financial
• Katie Vlietstra Wonnenberg – Principal at Public Private Strategies

1. Understand the global supplier diversity and inclusion landscape, including legislative, regulatory, and privacy considerations, and how to navigate effectively.
2. Learn the key elements for building impactful global supplier inclusion initiatives beyond the United States, including how to recognize, react to, and recover from critical challenges.
3. Discover trends and best practices for developing and accelerating global supplier diversity strategies gleaned from the 2024 Disability Equality Index.

Moderator:

• T.J. Lewis – Sr. Director of Supplier Diversity & Sustainability at Ally Financial

Panelists:

• Trevor Boylston – Supplier Diversity Manager at Boston Scientific
• Valencia Cooper – Supplier Diversity Specialist at Cargill
• Ron Tate – Head of Supplier Diversity & Sustainability at Wells Fargo
• Timo Worrall – Director- Global Supplier Diversity & Inclusion at Johnson & Johnson

1. Techniques to Plan and Launch Global Self-ID in EMEA, Considering Privacy Restrictions
2. EMEA Accommodations/Adjustments Policies and Practices, Including Physical Accessibility
3. Growing Business/Employee Resource Group Chapters in EMEA to Engage Employees with Disabilities
4. The Importance of Digital & Product Accessibility

Panelists:

• Elaine Carroll – Program Manager/ Regional Lead Disability Alliance ERG at Google
• Neil Griffiths – Global & Europe DEI Director at Kearney
• Frank Justus – BRG Enable Global Co-Lead at Bayer
• Bruce McAlister – General Legal Counsel at GE Aerospace
• Manisha Mehrotra – EMEA Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Bloomberg

Speakers:

• Joyce Bender – Founder and CEO at Bender Consulting Services
• Cathy Donnelly – Chief People Officer at Texthelp
• Dyan Ferraris – Head of Global People Science & Strategy | Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at Uber
• Scott Hoesman – CEO at inQuest Consulting
• Jill Houghton – President & CEO at Disability:IN
• Heather Lavallee – CEO at Voya Financial
• Brad Loftus – Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group
• Daniel Tanchez – Manufacturing Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Celeste Warren – VP, Global Diversity & Inclusion Center of Excellence at Merck