The workplace is often one of the only places we interact with diverse groups, one of few places in society that still maintains civility and also a place where there is an expectation to continue to learn and grow if you want to stay relevant. So yes, the workplace is the perfect place to talk about race according to Gina Greenlee and Margaret Greenberg, co-authors of the forthcoming book "The Business of Race." Tune in to this episode to learn why stumbling through conversations on race is better than avoiding the discussion, how to use conflict as a tool for transformation, how to pass the "Kumbaya Test" as an ally, and how to take the management processes you already use in your business and apply them toward creating racial equity in your workplace. Teaching, Coaching and a Keynote Speaker since 1986, Gina Greenlee is a highly regarded and sought out leader. She has produced a catalogue of 14 books with more to be released. A native of New York, Gina has travelled extensively internationally and visited many countries in the world. Gina appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show for a profound and inspiring segment called, “Remembering Your Spirit.” Margaret H. Greenberg is the coauthor of the bestselling business book, "Profit from the Positive: Proven Leadership Strategies to Boost Productivity and Transform Your Business" and a sought after executive coach and international speaker. A pioneer in the field of positive psychology, Greenberg also designs and leads workshops, webinars, and conferences for business audiences and is an expert on creating strengths-based organizations. One of Margaret’s specialties is bringing tools from the new field of positive psychology to boost productivity in the workplace.

Tune in to this conversation cohosted by Conscious Capitalism ROC and RocGrowth to welcome Steve Metzger of LaBella Associates and Jeff Wight of General Code to discuss "work in progress" stories on their path to implementing a commitment to diversity and inclusion in their organizations. They shared successes, setbacks and future plans. Mohammed Ahamed of Engaging Diversity and Inclusion shared case studies and best practices from his work with national organizations.

After a tumultuous 2020, the need for systemic change has never been more apparent or more urgent. Where do we go from here? How can Conscious Capitalism help to drive the change that our society and our planet need? Tune in to this conversation with Alexander McCobin, CEO of the global Conscious Capitalism movement. Also joining us is Curtis Hite, CEO of Improving and Conscious Capitalism board member, who will share his conscious leadership journey and how they bring it to life at Improving.

Climate change and racial equity are two of the most pressing issues of our time. Join us for a conversation about the historical interconnections and proactive solutions at the intersection of environmental and social justice. Panelists: Simeon Banister - VP of Community Programs - Rochester Area Community Foundation Kamillah Knight - Diversity and Inclusion Lead - Unilever Pamela Reed Sanchez - CEO - Seneca Park Zoo Society Ram Shrivastava - President & CEO - Larsen Engineers

Most companies spend a lot of time and money screening people out. Open Hiring® shifts investment and human resources into training, learning and development, benefits, and employee support. Greyston Bakery is proof that it works. It produces 40,000 thousand pounds of world-class baked goods daily for companies like Ben & Jerry’s and Whole Foods Market, and retail customers through its online store. Open Hiring is good for business. It allows companies to save on recruitment costs and access a broader pool of talent to meet their hiring needs. It creates value in organizations while fostering equality, respect, and growth in communities. Sara Marcus is the Director of the Greyston Center for Open Hiring. In her role, she oversees partnerships with employers, non-profit partners, and funders with the ultimate goal of fostering the adoption of Open Hiring across industries to help companies remove barriers to employment. Mubarak Bashir is the Regional Director for The Greyston Center for Open Hiring and is introducing Greyston’s innovative Open Hiring® model to the Rochester community, to assist local businesses in creating more inclusive workforces and create job opportunities for individuals who face barriers to unemployment.

"Poverty is a deficit of choices...and we cannot apply an ethic of individualism to people who cannot take action as individuals," says Adrian Hale. Tune in to this episode to hear his insights on: -Why our current form of capitalism is more like "corporate cannibalism" -How philanthropy can be a trojan horse for corporate reputation...and prevent meaningful change -The systems and contexts that restrict opportunities -New Rochester Chamber "Colors of Success" trainings on equity and inclusion According to this Marine, "self-interest is inherently un-American...doing good should be our fundamental obligation to each other." Adrian is the Senior Manager of Workforce, Economic Development & Education Initiatives at the Rochester Chamber of Commerce. As a United States Marine, he made two combat deployments to Afghanistan and served with the United States Air Force reserves. Adrian graduated from Monroe Community College with distinction in 2014 and was a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence. Upon graduation, Adrian transferred to Yale University, where he received his B.A. in Political Science and became a Director’s Fellow at the Institution for Social and Policy Studies with a focus on education reform and police accountability. At the Chamber, Adrian has helped create market driven training programs and is leading a regional talent strategy initiative to better coordinate among K-12 systems, colleges, and employers. He is helping to lead a regional conversation on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace with the creation of Creating Opportunities in Rochester for Equity in Employment (COREE), an initiative to remove barriers to advancement for historically marginalized stratums in the labor market. For Adrian’s contributions toward progress of our community, he was nominated for two 2019 ROC Black Men Achieve Awards, the Thomas A. Banister Jr. Community Leader of the Year Award and the Ceremony’s highest honor, Man of the Year. In both categories Adrian is the youngest nominee to date. Adrian looks forward to continuing to do what he can today, until he can do more tomorrow.

COVID has shifted many businesses toward online meetings, remote work and virtual teams. While some companies go back to the office, others plan to stay virtual for the foreseeable future and some are pursuing hybrid arrangements. For leaders that prioritize a "conscious" culture, what will it look like to keep employees engaged in a virtual environment? Join our discussion with Kim Allen of Dixon Schwabl, a "Best Workplace in New York" and Sean Flaherty of ITX Corp., a Rochester "Top Workplace" about their transitions to remote work, lessons learned and the path forward. Also joining us is Brian Bihl of Paylocity, another "Top Workplace" that has always operated virtually and will share best practices for leading virtual teams.

"Economically inclusive communities experience higher rates of job growth and higher rates of income growth. Equity isn't tangential to our mission. It really is central...it's an opportunity to contribute to a changed future for our community." says Dr. Joe Stefko, President & CEO of ROC2025. Established in 2019, ROC2025 is an alliance of economic development organizations established to accelerate growth in the Rochester region through coordinated capacity building investments in business retention and expansion, talent strategy, business attraction, downtown growth, and regional branding / marketing. He previously served seven years as President & CEO of Rochester-based CGR, overseeing strategic direction of the nonprofit management consultancy and its industry-leading work in government and education, economics and public finance, health and human services, and nonprofits and communities.

Nature has already solved many of the problems we face today. Rather than buying into the hype of "artificial intelligence," perhaps instead we should seek "natural intelligence" to learn from billions of years of evolution for more effective organizational structures, new innovation strategies, sustainable designs and the resilience of diversity. Tune in to this episode with Leen Gorissen to learn the principles of natural intelligence that can help your organization (and our economy) EVOLve from de-generative to re-generative! Leen Gorissen earned her Ph.D. in Biology and founded Studio Transitio to specialized in ecology, transition science, regenerative design and bio-inspired innovation. From 2009 to 2017, she worked for the Flemish Institute for Technological Research where she headed projects on sustainable forest management, circular economy and urban sustainability transitions. As an innovation biologist and transition process facilitator at Studio Transitio, Leen helps organizations and businesses to innovate like nature and has organized bio-inspired innovation sessions in cities across the world. Her books include "Change the World City by City" and "Natural Intelligence."

It's never easy to recover from a setback, but with a purposeful mindset, unwavering support, and the right opportunity, sometimes we grow back stronger than before. Each year, 600,000 people are released from prison and about 2/3 will be back within three years, usually for a low-level offense. Employment is the strongest predictor of success. Tune in to this episode to learn more about Pathstone's Young Adult Re-Entry Program with Gre Carter, Joshua Murphy and Toni Nelson to hear their personal stories of resilience, and how they change mindsets and create opportunities that transform the lives of young adults in Rochester.