| Abstract Scope |
This talk will focus on the importance, challenges and benefits of diversity to individuals in professional settings. The value of diversity in professional settings is often linked to the workplace benefits it brings: diversity increases the creativity of teams, increases revenues, enhances productivity, evades public criticism, and attracts top talent, among others. While this business line of reasoning has helped drive workplace initiatives, it often fails to capture the importance of individual and interpersonal motivations, which underpin long-term success of diversity initiatives. Inclusive environments rich in empathy and support are created at the individual level, where they aid in growing self-esteem and building relationships. This presentation will summarize relevant research and present several short stories from individuals within the materials workforce to demonstrate the benefits of diversity on an individual-level. |