Ascent: Inclusion & Diversity

Ascent strives to motivate and to educate decision-makers on the business case and best practices for inclusive workplaces and events. Learn more about this initiative.

Men Are Rewarded for Getting Angry at Work. Women, Not So Much.

Men are rewarded for ‘flying off the handle’ in the workplace, while women have been conditioned to mask their anger, according to ‘Mean Men’ author Mark Lipton. What gives?

BY Casey Gale April 2, 2018

Manels, the Gender Avenger is Coming After You

Activists take aim at male-dominated speaker line-ups.

BY Barbara Palmer March 28, 2018

How to Start Addressing Diversity and Inclusion Issues at Your Events

As you work to make sure that your program will make everyone feel welcome, consider these valuable lessons.

BY David McMillin March 26, 2018

What Does Frances McDormand’s Acceptance Speech Have to Do With Events?

Tying the Oscar winner’s “two words” back to the business of events.

BY Michelle Russell March 5, 2018

‘I Never Let Anybody Hold Me Back’

Karyn Steenkamp, vice president of design and construction at Caesars Entertainment, shares what it takes to strive for gender equality in the workplace.

BY Sarah Beauchamp March 1, 2018

Fast Forward 15’s Success

Now in the fourth year of its mission to develop the careers of females of the future, the mentoring programme, Fast Forward 15, is calling on women in the industry to apply for FF15 2018. The programme’s founder, Fay Sharpe, shares the success stories of mentees.

February 27, 2018

‘You Know, We Have a Problem Here.’

The Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference does just what it says on the label — promotes diversity in an industry that has long been underrepresented by women and minorities.

BY Casey Gale February 27, 2018

How Can We Create Workplaces and Events Where Diversity Thrives?

Dorri McWhorter, CEO of the Metropolitan YWCA of Chicago, was the inaugural Ascent Thought Leader at Convening Leaders 2018.

BY Barbara Palmer February 12, 2018

Sarah Fleming on Work-Life Balance

If Sarah Fleming’s company is any indication, flexible working hours is key to a happy workforce and a successful business.

February 6, 2018

Julia Bicher ‘Being in the Centre of the Action’

Congrex Switzerland CEO Julia Bicher hopes to model a healthy work-life balance and encourages other women to ‘strive for top-level careers in events.’

January 26, 2018

How — and Why — You Should Break out of Your Bubble

It’s now a given that diversity boosts organizational performance, says executive Dorri McWhorter. The big question now is how to create environments where diversity thrives.

BY Barbara Palmer January 22, 2018

#MeToo: Sexual Harassment in the Meetings Industry

Since the business-events industry is female-dominated, you might think sexual harassment isn’t an issue. But a Convene survey — plus interviews with some of the respondents — shows that’s not the case at all.

BY Michelle Russell January 2, 2018

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