Leading Change Conference: Staying the Course, Advancing Equity in Uncertain Times Sessions

In our session, the Ethos team will discuss: What the 'Cool Zone' is and how it is manifesting in increased legislation against DEIB, the data on what employees actually want when it comes to DEIB, and why a sense of belonging is declining and how the data ties to a decrease in social wellness In addition to these learnings, through interactive exercises, we will practice: Reimagining belonging and belonging-based approaches; Measuring belonging inside and outside of different group environments; and Addressing sensitive situations.

Across the country, companies are facing growing uncertainty about how to sustain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work amid shifting political and legal winds. Yet the most successful organizations know that equity isn’t a trend—instead, it’s a long-term foundation for strengthening communities, standing on the right side of history, and ultimately building a sustainable and thriving business. In this session, we’ll explore how business leaders can continue advancing fairness and opportunity even as the external environment becomes more complex. We’ll discuss what the recent wave of state-level restrictions and court rulings actually mean for employers, and how organizations can uphold their commitments to inclusion while remaining compliant and transparent. Through real-world examples from companies that have weathered similar challenges, participants will learn how to embed equity principles into all different parts of their business, how to communicate internally and externally about inclusion in ways that build trust and minimize risk, and how to foster workplaces that reflect the values of fairness and opportunity that help both economies and communities thrive. We’ll also examine how local business networks can serve as powerful allies. Leaders will leave the conversation with a better understanding of how they can help members share resources, clarify confusing questions, and demonstrate that focusing on equity and inclusion isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s good for business, too. As communities and companies alike navigate this new political era, this session will equip leaders with practical strategies to stand firm in their values, support diverse workforces, and strengthen their local economies through equitable growth.

Colorado Inclusive Economy (CIE) is a network of business executives and leaders who recognize that an important driver of growth is an inclusive workforce to attract and retain the best talent, with the understanding that the workforce is a competitive advantage. CIE members have identified 8 characteristics which 'equity leaders' possess and throughout 2025, CIE's Cohort 9 has collectively addressed complicated business issues given the change in Federal administration and has represented equity leadership in action day to day. At this session, we will: · Share the 8 characteristics of equity leadership · Discuss the business issues that CIE members have had to navigate · Present how they are navigating and “evolving” DEI and share how this evolution will lead to the future of what DEI looks like based on current dynamics impacting businesses today Panelist: • Quinn Slaughter (Moderator): Owner, Total Solutions 1st, LLC • Greg Garret: Director, Human Resources, Ardent Mills • Aditya Merchant, VP HR Business Solutions, Vail Resorts • Linda Speas, Director of Library Operations, Arapahoe Libraries • Jodee Brekke, Group HR Director, Tegna 9 News

Widespread uncertainty and divisive rhetoric are fueling painful levels of stress. This makes the work of navigating today’s landscape more complex than ever. People report increased behavioral and self-regulation issues from elementary age kids all the way through to top corporate leaders. Given the current landscape, many people are instinctively turning towards certainty, stability and the comfort of the familiar as a way to manage stress. For those of us committed to advancing equity, this poses a conundrum: how do we carry forward the inherently disruptive work of DEI while meeting people where they are? In this session, we look at the 'work' of DEI in 2025 as the capacity to navigate the discomfort of disruption in complex environments while staying focused on equitable outcomes. This interactive session invites practitioners to turn towards that discomfort as a community, stepping beyond the pull of stability in order to discover a grounding in something that can truly bolster us: trust. Participants will leave with a shared understanding of how trust can serve as a grounding force in advancing equity and a framework to foster trust in groups.

In this engaging workshop, we will build awareness of language exclusion and discuss actionable ways: - Build trust and inclusion by making it easier for people to understand your communication. - Improve recruitment and retention by reducing barriers for potential and current employees, investors and others. . - Improve communication with English learners and the effectiveness of translations. - Better organize and reduce writing by 20 -80% without removing content or 'dumbing down'. - Use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make written communication shorter and clearer.

Intrusive Leadership is a perfect fit for this moment in time. When programs and initiatives focused towards building an inclusive and equitable environment have been canceled, intrusive leadership is a leadership style that can fill the void left behind. It is a style that every leader needs to understand and know how to employ. This presentation will introduce audience members to this style, define it, and dissect it in an engaging manner. Come learn why many feel that Intrusive Leadership is the most critical leadership style for the future.

This interactive session explores what inclusion is and what it isn’t. Too often, inclusion gets reduced to buzzwords or token gestures that miss the deeper work of equity and belonging. Together, we will unpack common pitfalls such as tokenism and performative practices, while examining how power, privilege, and identity shape employee experiences. Participants will learn how to use both data and dialogue to uncover root causes of exclusion, and explore strategies for building authentic employee engagement. Through reflection, case scenarios, and group activities, attendees will practice identifying challenges, interpreting inclusion data, and designing actions that foster trust and genuine participation. By the end of the session, participants will leave with practical tools and a personal commitment to move beyond surface-level efforts toward meaningful culture change.

In today’s climate of increased uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, policy changes, emerging technologies, and leadership turnover, too many equity efforts are treated as programmatic add-ons — the first to be cut when difficult choices arise. This interactive workshop introduces the Equity Value Creation FrameworkSM (EVCF), an innovative methodology and toolset that links equity to the value creation drivers of adaptability, resilience, and performance contribution.