Keeping Employees Engaged During a Historic (and Volatile) Election Year
The 2024 U.S. presidential election will be historic, no matter who is elected in November. With issues like inflation, healthcare, immigration, climate change, and human rights at stake, plus the possibility of a Supreme Court vacancy, proponents on both sides of the aisle are turning up the temperature. The election cycle can sometimes feel all-consuming. You can’t turn on the TV, open social media, or check your email without some sort of political advertisement popping up. The American people – including your employees – are being inundated and influenced every day.
As we draw nearer to the election, leaders must acknowledge that the election will impact their employees. People will have all sorts of feelings and reactions to what’s to come. How then, does a leader manage a team and keep employees engaged with their work in the context of VUCA: volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity?
Join this 1-hour webinar co-hosted by The Diversity Movement and parent company Workplace Options as our expert panel discusses how to:
- Model and maintain effective and civil communication throughout your team
- Ensure well-being and psychological safety through empathy and resilience
- Use relationship-building to manage fallout and maintain employee productivity
Meet the Panel
Susie Silver, CDE
Director of Client Success, The Diversity Movement
Susie is a nationally-recognized DEI thought leader. A Certified Diversity Executive, she has worked with more than 200 clients as a consultant, facilitator, strategist, and speaker. Susie specializes in leadership development, LGBTQ+ inclusion, employee resource group/DEI council development, and organizational business strategy. She works collaboratively with clients in creating culture-centric and business focused goals, as well as facilitates workshops, listening, and discussion sessions. Her reputation for being up-front and authentic about DEI topics has contributed to Susie’s success and she meets each client where they are in their unique DEI journey. Susie’s approach, paired with her down to earth humor, compels groups to share openly and feel safe while they are learning. Her unique perspective and future-ready business strategies are amplified as the Director of Client Success at TDM. Susie’s expertise has deepened recruitment pools, increased employee productivity, and boosted companies’ bottom lines.
Shelley Willingham, CDE
Chief Revenue Officer, The Diversity Movement
Shelley is a serial entrepreneur and business strategist with more than 20 years of corporate and small business experience. In 2003, Shelley founded the National Organization for Diversity in Sales and Marketing (NODSM), a company focused on helping corporate America recognize the increasing purchasing power of diverse segments and helping them market to these groups without using stereotypes or being offensive. In 2006 she partnered with FORTUNE magazine on a special diversity section highlighting her work in this space. Shelley speaks at various business events and conferences, coaches and consults aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners, and is a frequent on-air contributor to CNBC. Shelley is a Certified Diversity Executive and leads the client acquisition strategy and execution while supporting each of the TDM business units in the development of their respective strategies.
Jean-Baptiste Gruet
Chief Revenue Officer, Workplace Options
As Chief Revenue Officer, Jean-Baptiste (JB) is responsible for Workplace Options’ global revenue. He works with our account management and business solutions teams, as well as our partners around the world, to develop sales strategies and identify new business opportunities across global markets. In addition, he consults with HR professionals and speaks at conferences on relevant global health issues and initiatives to increase awareness of Wellbeing benefits and Workplace Options’ global products. JB joined Workplace Options in 2007 and has more than 30 years of business development experience in human resources related services. Born and raised in France, JB has spent half of his life overseas. JB’s international work experience includes time spent in London (UK), where he worked for an executive language and training enterprise; and in California (USA), where he focused on business development to MNCs related to their global wellbeing service’s needs. JB also lived in Paris (France), where he co-founded a language and cross-cultural publishing company. JB currently resides with his family in Toronto, Canada.
Dr. Kennette Harris, LCSW
Chief Clinical Officer, Workplace Options
Dr. Kennette Thigpen Harris, affectionately known as Dr. K, is an International Psychologist with 20 years of experience in the mental health field. She currently serves as Workplace Options’ Chief Clinical Officer. Passionate about helping individuals thrive, Dr. K leads clinical initiatives aimed at optimizing operational efficiencies and elevating the quality of services provided.
Kennette empowers and brings undeniable engagement for those that she encounters. In the wellbeing industry, her inspiring innovative thinking is full of insight and information that has led to her speaking at multiple conferences and being featured in Forbes, Medium, and Authority Magazine to name a few.
How to Discuss the Election (but Not Politics) with Your Employees
If you appreciated this webinar, you may also be interested in our guidebook, How to Discuss the Election (but Not Politics) with Your Employees, filled with tips for leading during the election season and recommendations for how to respond to common politically charged questions and statements you may hear from your colleagues.
