Professionals frequently encounter resistance from leaders and management teams when discussing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) goals and measures. What types of resistance do they face? Is it only the overt resistance that causes problems? What about covert or silent forms of resistance? What techniques can be used to handle resistance without feeling uncomfortable?"

The relevance, benefits or feasibility of DE&I measures are questioned. Often resistance is due to inadequate communication or other objective reasons (e.g. doubts about feasibility due to lack of resources).

Change brings uncertainty and may require various actors (including leaders) to redefine their previous beliefs or to develop themselves. This is especially true of resistance when there is little involvement in the change process and insufficient support.

To meet these challenges, a new way of thinking is needed when implementing DE&I measures. This means that anchoring a DE&I strategy and its impact is equivalent with a lengthy change process leading to a more diverse workforce and an inclusive organisational culture. It also means anticipating types of resistance and planning effective ways of dealing with them.

Throughout the week, numerous online sessions will explore the central theme Moving Forward: Overcoming DE&I Fatigue and Resistance from different perspectives. On Tuesday afternoon, the Gender Intelligence Report 2024 will be launched in a hybrid format. On Thursday 19 September, the on-site conference will take place in St. Gallen, with a wide range of practical workshops, exciting inputs and plenty of space for networking. All of our speakers are experts in their field and will share a wealth of knowledge and experience with attendees.

One of the highlights of D&I Week is our workshops. These take place onsite during the conference and offer a unique opportunity to explore specific topics in depth, learn practical skills and exchange ideas with other attendees. You will have the opportunity to choose one workshop in the morning (Workshop Round I) and one in the afternoon (Workshop Round II). As the workshops will not be translated, you will have the opportunity to attend a morning or afternoon workshop in English or German.

In addition to the workshops, we also offer a number of online sessions. These sessions provide valuable and practical information to help you navigate the modern world of work. All online sessions are offered in English and German with simultaneous translation.