Designing and building environments that are inclusive and support the needs of all people is a core value of many AEC companies. The questions then arise: how can firms apply these same human-centered values to promote diversity in their workforces and cultures? And once you build a diverse workforce, how do you support and retain them? Statistics reveal a stark underrepresentation of women, minorities, and people with disabilities in the AEC industry. Approximately 85% of AEC firms identify recruitment of new staff as one of their most significant challenges. In addition, a recent study highlighted that nearly 70% of AEC employees who left a company attributed their departure to a poor company culture.
Erica Larson, Vice President of Pope Design Group, and Sam Buehler, CFO/Principal of Pope Design Group, will delve into the advantages of fostering a diverse workplace. They will provide attendees with key action items for advancing diversity and inclusion within their own workforces. AEC companies can implement diversity recruiting strategies to broaden their candidate pools and put human-centered values into action. Additionally, attendees will discover ways to celebrate and promote diversity as well as explore the impact of company culture on employee engagement, retention, and branding.
1. Recognize the strategic importance of diversity for both improved business outcomes and enhanced design.
2. Recruitment strategies you can implement today to cultivate a diverse workforce & broaden your candidate pool.
3. Learn how to build a culture that supports diversity and inclusivity within your organization.
4. Discuss methods to measure the success of your diversity efforts.
5. Discover ways to celebrate and promote your diversity brand.
