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Tony Byers
Former Director, Global Diversity & Inclusion, Starbucks
Tony Byers
Former Director, Global Diversity & Inclusion, Starbucks
Biography
Boldly challenging the status quo and decades of diversity and inclusion practices, Dr. Tony Byers is transforming D&I from “the right thing to do” to the business imperative of our time. His presentations provide the perfect balance of “why now” and “how to” that will take your thinking on inclusion — and your organization — to the next level. Along the way, you’ll learn from the success stories of companies that have evolved beyond “doing diversity well” to leveraging inclusion as a powerful business advantage. These inclusive cultures are increasing employee creativity and productivity, developing new products and product categories, and far outpacing their peers in innovation, marketplace growth and business performance. Dr. Byers shows you how to build an inclusive culture through a breakthrough behavioral approach that overcomes biases and creates buy-in. You’ll also learn how to set in motion a multiplier effect of inclusion that more than doubles employee productivity while positively impacting every aspect of your organization.
The author of The Multiplier Effect of Inclusion: How Diversity & Inclusion Advances Innovation and Drives Growth, Dr. Byers is best known for leading and revitalizing Starbucks’ highly respected and successful D&I function and programming. As Global Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Byers developed and lead the company’s strategic direction to drive engagement, innovation and business growth. Prior to Starbucks, his impressive track record in large matrix multinational organizations included Cargill, where he led diversity programs throughout North America and a pioneering role as a transformational D&I leader at H.J. Heinz. At Heinz, he created the company’s global diversity and inclusion function from the ground up, creating and building model programs and practices. He is also the DE&I Executive Education Extension Faculty at Cornell, ILR School and the Global Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer (CIDO) for Spencer Stuart International.
With 20+ years working in the field, Dr. Byers brings a diverse set of experiences and thinking to his D&I practice, including work in the nonprofit and education sector, as an organizational management consultant and as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota, Metropolitan State University and the University of Wisconsin. He holds a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Development and a M.A. in Organizational Systems from Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California. His doctoral thesis focused on effective strategies for building support for diversity programs among senior leaders.
As Dr. Byers has observed, “We’ve been working on diversity and inclusion for 50 years and we’re really not happy with where we’re at. That means we’re either not doing something right, or we need to do something different.” His thought-provoking presentations challenge old mindsets and inspire both individuals and organizations to stretch their imaginations and move beyond awareness of our differences and towards utilization that fosters innovation and growth. With a call to look within and leverage our cultural insights and diversity, Dr. Byers provides key strategies to increase personal, professional and organizational success. Whether you’re a D&I professional, an affinity group, or any organization looking to build a better culture while boosting the bottom line, you’ll leave inspired, empowered, and seeing diversity and inclusion in a fresh new light.
Speaker Videos
The Multiplier Effect of Inclusion
Doing Nothing Is Not an Option
The Marketplace Is Not Square
Innovation and Curiosity
Speech Topics
The Multiplier Effect of Inclusion
A properly managed diversity and inclusion program can increase engagement, creativity and business performance. By also learning to leverage diversity and inclusion through best practices, organizations can turn D&I into a powerful business advantage that stimulates innovation and drives marketplace growth.
In this game-changing keynote, Dr. Tony Byers shows you how to create a multiplier effect of inclusion that can increase utilization of talent and resources— more than doubling the capacity of a team to positively impact products and services, build brand image and increase profits and performance.
You’ll learn:
- The eight steps that create a culture of inclusion
- The three most important inclusive behaviors to promote
- How to make the business case for doing D&I well
- How companies have leveraged employee diversity to create new products, engage new customers, and grow revenue
- 10 themes for building senior leader support for D&I programs
Leveraging Your Personal Diversity & Cultural Insights
Understanding the value of your personal cultural experience and knowing how to leverage it can increase individual, professional and organizational success. But how do you “speak up” and add your voice to the conversation when your perspective is considered a “minority?” When utilized effectively, cultural insights and diverse perspectives can drive significant change (from career advancement to increased market share).
Dr. Tony Byers shares practical examples and provides actionable strategies for leveraging your own diversity and culture. You’ll learn:
- The growing value of cultural insights in an increasingly diverse marketplace
- Five steps for leveraging your cultural perspective
- Using your voice to grow your organization’s market share
- Real examples of companies that have succeeded by utilizing employee diversity
Testimonials
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