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BNP Academy
The Diversity & Inclusion Academy makes it simple to make progress on your D&I journey.
This program takes you from an organization with good intentions to one with a running D&I initiative – This opportunity is truly like no other in the region.

About the Program

  • Virtual sessions include 4, 2-hour classes
  • Facilitated by Sesha Yalamanchili, On the Mark Consulting
  • Only program like this offered to businesses in the region  
  • Cost effective:
    • Only $599 per seat* – Member Pricing
    • Non-Member Pricing $1,198/seat
      • Note: this does not include the $167 for Racial Equity Impact Analysis Training (REIAT) that is required if registrant has not already taken the training
      • REIAT Training is a requirement of all Academy applicants. Training dates will take place before and after the Academy. Either time frame is acceptable. Dates will be made available to you. REIAT Training hours do not count towards SHRM Credits.

    • Interested in membership? Learn more HERE.   Or contact Liz Benkovich: Lbenkovich@thepartnership.org 716.868.6866

  • SHRM Credits: The four D&I Academy classes are valid for PDCs for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®

Understanding there is not one magic solution, we show you how to navigate the challenging diversity and inclusion landscape to arrive at a multi-tiered strategy to move your organization forward. This 4-part program provides a distinct Academy to guide leaders like you through a systematic and thorough examination of your organization across these four key areas of diversity and inclusion:

Get clear on your organization’s case for diversity and inclusion and use it to unify everyone around a common purpose.

Identify your biggest opportunities to create a fully diverse workforce by improving your processes and practices for hiring, retaining, developing, and advancing talent.

Find ways to create organization wide awareness of unconscious biases and develop plans to actively mitigate their harmful effects.

Determine how your organization’s unique cultural norms and ingrained work habits need to change for better inclusion.

Benefits of Attending

Each part of the D&I Academy is designed to empower you to focus on where you are today with diversity and inclusion and to identify the biggest areas for improvements that need to be made for lasting effect.

We work in a confidential setting with peer support to help you:

  • Dig deeper to accurately diagnose and eliminate sources of institutional bias
  • Create accountability and measure and use data to set clear goals for making an impact
  • Establish company-wide objectives to maximize participation and generate support and buy-in throughout the entire organization
  • Examine the cultural practices and norms that need to change to foster better inclusion
  • Look closely at your role as a leader in creating diversity and inclusion – and pinpoint opportunities for greater impact and change
 
Each D&I Academy registrant will also receive one of D&I expert, Mary-Frances Winters, books:

SEE WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING  
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M&T Bank
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Northwest Bank
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KeyBank
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For Current Academy Participants:

Winter 2021 Academy Document Portal

From The Blog

New Executive in Residence Further Strengthens Diversity & Inclusion Council

Dottie Gallagher April 24, 2018

A former executive with one of the largest automotive manufacturers in the world is part of the Executive in Residence team working with the Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s Diversity and Inclusion Council.  The Partnership’s Executive in Residence program is designed to give our economic councils additional subject matter expertise by providing

Read More »

The Strength of a Diverse Team

Moyla Halimy April 24, 2018

One third of our region’s K-12 students are children of color.  Making sure these children grow up to participate in and benefit from the regional economy is at the heart of the Greater Buffalo Racial Equity Roundtable. Made up of 37 business, community, philanthropic, religious and political leaders, the Roundtable

Read More »

Innovation Through Diversity & Inclusion

Moyla Halimy April 16, 2018

Did you know that employees that feel included and think their organization is committed to and supportive of diversity report an uplift in innovation, responsiveness to customers and team collaboration? According to a study recently published by the Harvard Business Review, inclusive teams outperform their peers in team-based assessments by

Read More »