The global pandemic upended what it means to work -- and what a career trajectory looks like -- for tens of millions of Americans. The scale of disruption was new, but the trendlines were already there... which author and futurist Farai Chideya documented in her book The Episodic Career. Drawing on years worth of research and interviews with hundreds of people, Chideya gives a point-by-point breakdown of what it takes for both individuals and corporations to embrace the model of the episodic career -- a lifelong-learning, adaptive mindset that helps not only workers but companies and teams as well. In this talk, Chideya takes a holistic look at how work in America has changed in the past decade via technology and globalization; what lies ahead; how retirement readiness is a hidden peril for our nation, and how communities can deal productively with the wide disparities in work and wealth.

Companies with diverse leadership have higher ROI than comparable companies which are less-diverse. But when we treat DEI initiatives like charity work with endless meetings and banal corporate town halls, we waste time, talent development, and market opportunity. Learn how to get results and revenue when you approach DEI as R&D. Farai leads organizations quickly but powerfully through evidence-based research about DEI, and then focuses on how to actually work with leaders, teams, and recruiters to design a corporation which can gain and retain the best talent; do better product design; reach new markets; and avoid common pitfalls with culturally competent corporate practices. This is a great session to kick off deeper work at your institution.

Women of color help support a democracy which doesn’t always support them, and are essential to an economy which doesn’t always pay them what they’re worth. But amid the pressures and pain of this era we are also seeing women of color rise in power, influence, and voice. Journalist, author and futurist Farai Chideya applies her decades of reporting and data analysis of women of color to looking at how this superdemographic will shape upcoming elections and key economic and social issues. She’s the creator and host of Our Body Politic, a weekly nationally syndicated public radio show, podcast, and community that features women you need to hear from - like Sen. Tammy Duckworth, WNBA player and political organizer Laysia Clarendon, and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. Farai shares original data insights from Our Body Politic’s work to illuminate the rising power and influence of Black, Latina, Asian-American, Native American and multiracial women.