Virtual Team Building Activities

 As many organizations make the transition to managing remotely, it is integral to maintain employee engagement even when working virtually! Think about ways to draw your employees together for communication, problem-solving, or creative-thinking tasks, which will strengthen teamwork and improve the bonds within your company. In this blog, I will share with you three virtual team building activities for remaining connected when working remotely. 

Virtual Lunch Meeting

 Set up a video call lunch meeting with your team, covering their meal expenses if your organization is able. Encourage your employees to order from local restaurants and host a casual gathering where team members can catch up on their personal and professional lives. With the added fun of food, team members will be drawn to this event! Think about making it a monthly recurrence to maintain these levels of communication. Through this activity, you encourage communication within your organization while also highlighting the ways your company supports local establishments. 

Opening Meetings with Check Ins

 Working from home can be incredibly stressful and isolating. Team leaders can help employees lessen this burden by showing interest in their mental and emotional states through this team building activity. At the start of weekly meetings, go around the virtual conference room, and encourage each team member to share one word about how they are currently feeling. Whether this be sad or happy or hopeful, this moment of vulnerability and trust allows leaders to gain insight into what their team needs and helps employees gain a sense of how their co-workers are feeling. If you want to make it fun, you can ask them to share one word of how they are feeling and then followed by them sharing the last thing they ate. 

Family and Pet Video Chat

 Small children and pets can often be a distraction for our team members working from home, but this activity puts them in the spotlight! Schedule a short, around 30 minute, meeting for your organization, and encourage employees with children or pets to bring their little ones to the video call. Start the meeting by asking your employee’s children to share what they think their parents do at work! This is sure to bring a bundle of joy and laughs to your team and show team members that you care about their family and home life. This is the perfect light-hearted team building activity for the end of a busy week or stressful quarter!

 I hope these three ideas help you and your virtual teams increase interconnection and employee engagement. With a little bit of creativity, we can put together exciting activities that draw our teams closer to one another and ease the isolation and social stresses of working remotely. If you are doing something interesting with your organization, please share it with us in the comments below!

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Dima Ghawi is the founder of a global talent development company with a primary mission for advancing individuals in leadership. Through keynote speeches, training programs and executive coaching, Dima has empowered thousands of professionals across the globe to expand their leadership potential. Reach her at DimaGhawi.com and BreakingVases.com.

Unlocking the Power of Public Speaking to Increase Book Sales

As writers, we know how to put pen to paper and create engaging, powerful content. However, promoting our work is equally integral to strong writing, and public speaking provides a valuable way to increase book sales.

When I first published my memoir, Breaking Vases, I gleefully set up a book signing with a local bookstore. However, to my dismay, I spent two long hours trying to catch the attention of anyone willing to listen. I only sold six copies that day—I was completely disheartened.

In the same week, I was booked to present at a conference, and had set up a small booth in the lobby of the event. After my speech, there was a line of people eagerly waiting to purchase their signed copy. The two boxes I brought stuffed with books were empty by the end of the event – I sold over 60 books.

These experiences were an eye opener as a self-published author. To this day my public speaking events have produced much larger book sales, and I learned that connecting with an audience is the most powerful marketing tactic to increase sales.

If You’re Uncomfortable With Public Speaking:

It’s completely normal to be terrified of public speaking, but what matters is not allowing this fear to stand in our way. Start small and contact your local libraries, chambers of commerce, and places of worship—this will give you smaller, low-stakes engagements to get use to speaking.

It’s also important to remember that you don’t have to be the loudest, most energetic person in the room to be a good speaker. Your speaking style should be a reflection of who you are—whether that’s energetic or soft spoken and inviting

Before Booking an Event:

Speaking to the right audience and knowing what they need is essential to the success of our presentations. We need to start by defining our audience. Who would benefit from hearing our talk? Why should they care about our messages? What value are they gaining from reading our book?

When writing Breaking Vases, I knew my book would revolve around my journey of leadership transformation as a woman, so I focused on speaking at conferences for women; and I crafted my presentation to hit on the key points my audience would care about.

Once a speaking engagement is booked, I recommend three things to make sure presentations boosts book sales:

Give Away a Copy of Your Book

Giving away 1-2 copies of our books as a door prize will excite any audience. It makes us look generous and also makes attendees excited for the possibility of winning the book. Additionally, before the door prize, I always like to pass around a copy or two of my book to my audience to peak their interest. Usually, attendees will be more likely to purchase it after holding a physical copy.

Ask for a Vendor Table

Always request a vendor table for book sales. This gives the opportunity to meet interested audience members, sign copies of the book, and make sales right after the speech. If you’re unsure how many copies to bring, I usually estimate that about 25% of my audience will buy a copy of my book and plan accordingly.

Negotiate Bulk Sales with the Event Organizers

Contact the event organizers and see if they are interested in purchasing copies as a gift to attendees at a bulk rate. I usually give them 25% off. This way, every audience member will leave with a copy and will spread the word within their networks. While it may seem like a large discount up front, but this allows us to sell a large quantity and share our message with the entire conference.

When we get on stage to share our work, we’re not only sharing our books’ mission, but we’re sharing our energy with attendees—igniting a passion for our books that will spark the greatest word of mouth. Public speaking is one of the most authentic and powerful marketing tools at our disposal, and once we harness its power our book sales and readers will skyrocket.

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Dima Ghawi is the founder of a global talent development company with a primary mission for advancing individuals in leadership. Through keynote speeches, training programs and executive coaching, Dima has empowered thousands of professionals across the globe to expand their leadership potential. Reach her at DimaGhawi.com and BreakingVases.com.

Managing Virtual Teams

In the current climate, many organizations are switching to virtual interfaces and find themselves seeking guidance for their remote teams. Dima’s interactive online presentation teaches attendees how to stay connected while working remotely. She equips managers with actionable strategies to effectively lead their teams virtually, improving morale, performance, and engagement. 

Watch the recording of a recent webinar that Dima gave to HR professionals.

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Dima Ghawi is the founder of a global talent development company with a primary mission for advancing individuals in leadership. Through keynote speeches, training programs and executive coaching, Dima has empowered thousands of professionals across the globe to expand their leadership potential. Reach her at DimaGhawi.com and BreakingVases.com.

Elevate Your Online Brand

Brands have the power to influence people’s perception, and by understanding your personal and company’s brands, you have the power to strengthen the perception of your uniqueness and value. Watch this webinar and learn how to create and communiate your online presence & brand.

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Dima Ghawi is the founder of a global talent development company with a primary mission for advancing individuals in leadership. Through keynote speeches, training programs and executive coaching, Dima has empowered thousands of professionals across the globe to expand their leadership potential. Reach her at DimaGhawi.com and BreakingVases.com.

Staying Productive during Fears of the Coronavirus

These past few weeks have grown increasingly tumultuous as fears of the coronavirus have spread across the world. With this global pandemic, we can find ourselves growing anxious over our health and the people we love. Additionally, the state of the economy may lead to increasing pressures on our businesses, causing strain for both managers and employees. Many of my clients have been reaching out to me for advice, and these are a few of the actionable steps we can take to continue progressing our personal and professional lives during these times.

Be careful about media consumption.

It is necessary to keep up to date with ongoing situations, but an overload of social media and stressful information may breed anxiety and foster a negative emotional state. My personal stress levels constantly increased with the amount of news I consumed, causing me to grow anxious about things I could not control. Viewing news, social media, and other information is something we need to be wise about during this time. Evaluate your mental health and determine how you can receive necessary information while also managing your emotional wellbeing.

What can you do to assist your employer?

With the recent economic trends, businesses around the globe have been severely impacted by COVID-19. These times can be increasingly stressful for upper-level managers in your companies. In an effort to maintain productivity and ease their strain, think about ways to show your value. Reevaluate features of your job and unique ideas you have had in the past to show your employer that you are truly invested in the success of the company. Highlight changes that might increase productivity through virtual interfaces or improve team communication. By assisting your managers, you showcase your commitment to the company while also helping your organization move through these trying times.

Completing old tasks.

Many companies are allowing individuals to work from home in an effort to decrease the spread of the coronavirus. With decreased commute times and slower business, you may have more free time to catch up on old tasks and improve upon your professional skills. Take the initiative to go through past to-do lists and complete jobs that had been left by the wayside. In addition to working through forgotten tasks, use this time to learn new skills which will assist your future professional growth. By utilizing this extra time efficiently, we can further ourselves and our businesses through dedicated work and productivity.

Help those around you.

It is important to think about the individuals who were unable to rush to grocery stores to buy food and cleaning supplies. Safely reach out to those in your community who may need help to stay afloat during this global crisis. Additionally, by being a listening ear and communicating with loved ones, you may comfort those around you. As a helping hand and a good friend, you may lessen the burden others are feeling and help your community remain united through this pandemic.

Learn from this experience.

As with most experiences we have had in our lifetimes, we can learn from the trials and tribulations of the coronavirus. From improving our virtual communication skills to taking actionable steps to increase our professional toolbox, there is a multitude of opportunities available for us to continue growing and progressing. What can you do in these times to make yourself a better employee, manager, or business owner?

I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy during this time. Through these tips, we will be able to control our fears about COVID-19 and continue to move forward with our personal and professional lives.

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Dima Ghawi is the founder of a global talent development company with a primary mission for advancing individuals in leadership. Through keynote speeches, training programs and executive coaching, Dima has empowered thousands of professionals across the globe to expand their leadership potential. Reach her at DimaGhawi.com and BreakingVases.com.

Tips For Working Virtually

In the modern era, more and more teams are making the transition to work virtually. This movement to online platforms may challenge management staff and office productivity; however, with the right knowledge it is possible to establish a strong, interconnected, and effective remote team. For years, I have managed global teams through online interfaces, even working long-term with employees I never had the chance to physically meet. Through this blog post, I will share with you my advice for organizations moving to virtual platforms.

Develop and cultivate trust with your manager

This is a primary concern for many managers as they transition to a remote team. Leaders may find it difficult to trust that work will be completed or that their employees will be at their top productivity levels. There is a basis for these fears; some team members will take advantage of this lack of oversight and mismanage their time. However, this is not the case for all employees and by increasing trust through open communication and visibility, teams can continue to function effectively even virtually. Ensure that you and your work are visible with frequent updates to your manager. Send weekly emails regarding your work status and the goals you have met. Stay connected with your team and keep informed about the ongoings of your organization.

Increase communication

Communication is incredibly important to all workplaces, but it can be easy to fall off the grid when working virtually. Make an effort to increase communication with your team through visibility updates and check ins. Additionally, remain present during virtual communication. In the age of Skype and Zoom, conducting online face-to-face interactions are relatively easy, but it can be equally easy to mentally disengage from these calls. Refrain from muting yourself and actively engage in the discussions instead. Remember that your word choice and voice tone matters a great deal when communicating through phone or video calls. I often make an effort to answer phone calls while standing to ensure that my voice sounds strong, confident, and professional. By increasing communication and remaining engaged with virtual meetings, your remote team will stay connected and high-functioning.

Minimize outside distractions

Whether in the workplace or at home, we are all faced with different distractions. Create a list of things that are frequent distractions and work actively to limit them. Whether this means moving to a different space in your house to reduce noise or limiting social media use during work hours. Decreasing these distractions will increase your overall productivity. Designating a room, desk, or even table area as your work space may increase your overall focus and attention during your remote work. Make sure to keep this area clean and organized and ensure that it is removed from possible distractions.

Set important limits

Working from home can blur the boundaries between personal and professional life, causing high-focused individuals to lead long and intensive workdays. To keep a healthy work-life balance, make sure to know when you’re going to log in and out. Keep track of your hours and ensure that you are not exceeding a healthy amount of work. In addition to this, take regular breaks during the work day to hydrate, snack, or even complete small household chores. Similar to meeting with your co-workers in the break room, these brief moments away from work will increase your productivity when you return to your computer. Through these steps, you can create a healthy routine for your virtual work life.

I hope these tips will help you become more comfortable with virtual teams and increase the productivity of your organization. By taking simple steps to increase employee visibility, enhance communication, decrease possible distractions, and create a healthy work-life balance, your remote team will be set up for success.

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Dima Ghawi is the founder of a global talent development company with a primary mission for advancing individuals in leadership. Through keynote speeches, training programs and executive coaching, Dima has empowered thousands of professionals across the globe to expand their leadership potential. Reach her at DimaGhawi.com and BreakingVases.com.

Envision The Team's Potential

When talking about his method for creating beautiful stone sculptures, Michelangelo once stated, “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”

Starting with a large, untouched block of marble, Michelangelo would take time to envision the final result of what it could be. He would spend time envisioning his masterpiece from all angles and considering all possibilities. After diligent planning and visioning, Michelangelo would take specialized tools to chip away at the marble methodically and refine it until the marble’s inner angel was set free.

While this is a great method for artists, Michelangelo also offers a process that can be applied to the modern workplace. Paralleling Michelangelo’s guidelines, managers can envision future aspirations to help define current goals and create a detailed plan to achieve them

As Michelangelo chips away at the marble, we should chip away at the challenges in the office to remove our employees’ fears, insecurities, and general inefficiency in the organization. This process requires the use of well refined skills, such as effective communication, team building, and employee engagement. This process is not easy and often takes time, but it has the most tangible results. As we carve away menial stress in the work, a rough outline of our offices’ full potential will materialize.

Michelangelo’s process reminds me of an experience I had during my first management job. At the start of my term, my predecessor took the time to review individual members of the team with me, highlighting their personal strengths and weaknesses as well as their professional goals. However, when we came to one team member named Mike, she quickly dismissed him, telling me that he was on a short list of people to be laid off. She described him as an aloof and a low performer, reinforcing the fact that there was little hope for his future with the company.

However, while conducting meetings with my new team, it felt increasingly odd to simply ignore Mike. I eventually scheduled a time to meet with him, and I was blown away by our interaction. Contrary to what had been said, Mike was filled with energy and seemed eager to learn. He passionately discussed his interest in writing business reports and running analytics for current projects. However, when I reviewed his work load, it was filled with highly strategic and relationship building work--the exact opposite of his personal strengths. It was at that moment when I saw the angel in the marble and began to create a plan for Mike with his professional potential in mind. I worked closely with him to create a workload of engaging and challenging projects, chipping away at his dissatisfaction with the company.

After frequent meetings to check up on his personal goals and accomplishments, I slowly began to see Mike’s true capabilities and revealing the angel within the marble. Through this process of introspection, planning, and action, Mike transformed from a distant, hopeless employee to a shining star on my team. This process helped me envision my employee’s unseen capabilities and lead to the overall enhancement of my professional team. The power of foresight can guide leaders through a myriad of affairs, encouraging critical thinking and defining individual and team goals.

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Dima Ghawi is the founder of a global talent development company with a primary mission for advancing individuals in leadership. Through keynote speeches, training programs and executive coaching, Dima has empowered thousands of professionals across the globe to expand their leadership potential. Reach her at DimaGhawi.com and BreakingVases.com.

Be an Effective Leader: Start By Being a Hero

The term hero conjures up a variety of images in one’s mind. From comic book drawings of strong individuals defeating evil counterparts to modern movies depicting teams of super human beings saving their cities, these Hollywood heros are different from the individuals I am referring to. My vision of a workplace hero aligns closely with the Greek definition of the word, “the protector.” As a leader in the workplace, one’s primary role is to protect their team. A workplace that feels safe and well guided will function more efficiently and productively, increasing employee satisfaction and company results. Lead by a manager who is actively concerned about the well being of those in their workforce, these employees will rise above their counterparts, fueled by the energy of their leaders. With this, there will be an overwhelming amount of trust established, allowing for personal and professional growth in the office.

Additionally, a hero provides their team with a sense of hope. This is an integral aspect of leadership, as hope has been proven to increase workplace engagement and satisfaction. In a recent Gallup poll which asked employees “whether their leader at work made them feel enthusiastic about the future,” of those who strongly agreed, nearly 70% were engaged in their work (Gallup). These statistics illustrate the importance of hope in the workplace, demonstrating the effect of inspiration on workplace engagement.

As leaders, we can inspire hope by focusing on our employees, evaluating their daily challenges and praising their strengths. Through this, a hero emphasizes the power of the individual, inspiring those on their team to work towards their fullest potential. Optimism also springs from a sense of stability in the company. We can facilitate this by creating a solid foundation and business strategy for our teams and reinforcing a long-term company vision.

As a hero, we take on the task of protecting, guiding, and inspiring our teams. These responsibilities, in turn, produce a safe, engaging, and creative workplace fueled by future aspirations and goals. With these ideas in mind, the culture becomes part of the strategy, interwoven in the company’s success and tied to their community. This stresses the importance of an empathetic, attentive, and proactive leadership, highlighting the positive effects of becoming a hero in the workplace.

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Dima Ghawi is the founder of a global talent development company with a primary mission for advancing individuals in leadership. Through keynote speeches, training programs and executive coaching, Dima has empowered thousands of professionals across the globe to expand their leadership potential. Reach her at DimaGhawi.com and BreakingVases.com.

How to Create a Buzz on Social Media Before Your Book is Launched

This article was published by the Writer's Digest

We are in an exciting age of publishing where authors can take control of their story and act as the writer, publisher, and even marketer for their book. As a new author, my focus was putting my heart and soul into my writing; however, through my journey of launching my memoir Breaking Vases, I learned that finishing the manuscript is only 50% of the work. The other 50% is promoting the book. When it comes to advertising, social media is one of the most powerful avenues available and provides us meaningful ways to engage with readers and generate anticipation for our work.

Here are seven tips to create buzz for your book through social media:

1. Monthly Updates: Share monthly status updates with your followers to make them eager to get their hands on your book. Starting six months prior the launch date, post short videos or written posts sharing your progress and details about why you decided to write your book. Make sure your posts not only convey your hard work, but the meaning, emotions, and value your book offers.
2. Engage Your Network: Request input from your followers through interactive questions and polls regarding thing like book titles, design, or any other creative elements along the way. People love to share their opinions, and in return they feel invested in your project.
3. Assemble a Launch Team: Reach out to your network to find supporters of your work who would like to be part of your launch team: a group that will read your book prior to launch, provide their input, write reviews, and share your posts on social media to drum up support. In return, think of a special gift for them, such as signed copies of your book or complimentary access to a workshop or program that you offer.
4. Start a Countdown: As your launch date approaches, start a countdown to inform your followers and create excitement. Generate buzz the day of the launch by sharing multiple posts and showing selfies of your launch team holding your new book. Maybe even include a live stream to encourage participation from your audience.
5. Share Reviews: Share the reviews that you received from your launch team. Select and creatively arrange phrases that align with your book’s message, value, and uniqueness. Additionally, tag the reviewer. Include their pictures next to the quote and make them feel special. Tagging is essential since their network will also be alerted of your post, expanding your reach.
6. Provide Excerpts: Read through your manuscript and highlight paragraphs that you believe would catch the readers’ eyes. Post these phrases in a thoughtful design to give your audience a sneak peak of what’s coming. Make these mini releases exciting, as if you are unveiling small secrets of your work with your followers.
7. Post pictures, pictures, and more pictures: As you get closer to the launch date, share pictures of you writing, pictures of your family helping, and pictures of your launch team and any other pictures of the behind-the-scene experience. Visuals are key to helping inspire excitement for your book launch.

Two sites that I found helpful for creating professional looking social media images are Canva.com and BookBrush.com. These websites have beautiful templates that you can utilize to create many of the branded posts I described.

Social media is the best tool that we have as authors to promote our books before, during, and even years after the launch date. Use it and have fun with it! Continue to communicate the unique value that your book offers, and encourage your followers to read, review, and recommend your book. Your time spent engaging with your readers online will pay dividends in audience growth, increased sales, and continued buzz.

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Dima Ghawi is the founder of a global talent development company with a primary mission for advancing individuals in leadership. Through keynote speeches, training programs and executive coaching, Dima has empowered thousands of professionals across the globe to expand their leadership potential. Reach her at DimaGhawi.com and BreakingVases.com.

Attracting Diverse Attorneys Starts at Law Schools

In an effort to increase hiring diverse graduating attorneys, it is critical for law schools to focus on increasing diversity in their student bodies in order to prepare the next generation of qualified and diverse attorneys for law firms to hire from. I hear recruiters at law firms share a common challenge regarding hiring out of law schools; that year-after-year they find a limited diverse candidate pool to choose from. 

This blog includes initiatives that three law schools are doing in order to attract and retain diverse students. These initiatives can be utilized by other law schools that are looking for a benchmark as well as law firms that are dedicated to increasing diversity. 

Columbia Law School 

To highlight the importance of diversity off the bat, Columbia Law School emphasizes their focus on individuality and acceptance throughout their website and marketing materials, repeatedly illustrating their commitment to inclusion. Their website proudly displays a list of diversity and inclusion events which range from sponsoring students to attend diversity conferences, creating inclusive peer-mentor training about unconscious bias, and inviting book authors and columnists that specialize in diversity to present to students. These initiatives which revolve around inclusion and acceptance reinforce the value of diversity and provide a safe spaces for minority groups to form strong connections with their school and community. One of Colombia's main initiatives is Community Peer Mentor Training, a program where first year students meet with mentors to discuss their personal biases and develop strategies for becoming more accepting. This encouraging difficult discussions and lessens prejudice and stereotypes in the future.In addition, the school holds a multitude of events revolving around current events which heavily affect minority groups. For example, in September of 2018, Columbia Law School held a discussion on the Kavanaugh Hearing, it was intended to answer for questions and concerns from students and faculty. This is incredibly important, because events like these empower minority groups currently in the school while also showcasing inclusion within Columbia to future students. By actively displaying these opportunities on their application website, any student can see this law school’s focus on diversity, increasing Columbia’s pull towards diverse candidates.

The University of Chicago

 Another law school exceeding in the field of diversity is University of Chicago, which places an emphasis in increasing discussion about diversity and working towards a multicultural and gender-diverse staff and student body. The mission statement of the university heavily focuses on diversity valuing a “well-rounded, critical, and socially conscious lawyer and leader” with the “belief that ideas matter and are worth discussing,” highlighting the importance of an open-minded and accepting student. Additionally, the school states that their goal will be fulfilled “only when [their] community includes people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and when all people within [their] community feel welcomed and enabled to bring their views and experiences to these discussions.” With a mission statement focused on inclusivity, the university illuminates their commitment to understanding and acceptance, providing a strong guiding statement for their faculty. This piece reinforces the fact that diversity is not only an important part of University of Chicago, but an aspect essential to their overall mission. In addition to this proactive mission statement, the university also has developed a webinar series for prospective and admitted students, targeting individuals who were unable to attend informational on-campus visits. Through this program, the school reaches out to minority and low-income students, providing them with information about the university and the multitude of opportunities awaiting all individuals at University of Chicago. Also through this program, the university gives students the opportunity to engage with faculty and administrators about diversity, inclusion, and other topics through videoconferences, helping minority applicants discuss their choices and work towards a successful law school career. Through these initiatives, University of Chicago has become the most diverse law school in terms of Hispanic acceptance rates, earning a perfect score on U.S. News’ Diversity Index.

Cornell University 

 Cornell University utilizes a variety of initiatives to draw in diverse applicants, focusing on outreach for undergrad students and creating networking possibilities for a welcoming student body. The Diversity Matters Outreach Program is an initiative which focuses resources towards underrepresented groups, providing them with preparation for law school admission. These programs assist racially and ethnically diverse students with applications, scholarship forms, and additional questions they have. Cornell is intentionally increasing diversity, taking the initiative to reach out to students of color instead of waiting for the same groups of undergraduates to apply every year. With proactive programs like these, a wide variety of individuals receive assistance and advice applicable to their applications for Cornell and other law schools, increasing the diversity overall in the field of law. Additionally, once accepted, Cornell continues to advocate for diverse thought, discussion, and education with classes geared towards expanding horizons. These courses focus on unique cultures, environments, and international standards along with clinics which encourage students to learn about the world around them and become well-rounded and inclusive leaders in the field of law. Lastly, Cornell incorporates supportive networks into their extracurricular activities. These organizations function as university supported groups for religious, racial, and cultural groups, providing a place for minorities to gather and discuss their shared goals and issues. Through these initiatives, Cornell highlights its commitment to inclusion and effectively increases the diversity in its applicant pool. With these systems in place, the entire field of law becomes more unique and accepting of minority individuals, creating a positive change which will affect generations of lawyers. 

            These three universities highlight the importance of being intentional and proactive. Each school utilizes a variety of different methods, but they all share a common goal of being dedicated to increasing diversity and inclusion. With diversity as a priority, universities and law firms must continue to partner together in order to make these initiatives successful and benefiting everyone.

D&I for Law Firms: Tips for Attracting Diverse Attorneys

Throughout the world, countless law firms have been making an effort to create more inclusion and acceptance in their practices, utilizing a variety of innovative and unique methods to increase diversity in the workplace. These firms illustrate a myriad of procedures which we can employ to plant and grow seeds of diversity within our own organizations. A large amount of the diversity initiatives revolve around two main points: attracting and retaining talent. Here, we will explore what three firms are doing to recruit women, people of color, and other minorities. 

Scholarships

 In an effort to empower minority groups, many law firms create scholarships and fellowship programs for incoming law students, undergraduate students interested in law, and even high school students. The firm White and Case highlights this point with their program at Cristo Rey New York High School. Here, the firm allows high school students to work in their offices as a part of a Corporate Work Study Program, giving students the chance to gain experience at a nationally renowned firm and earn up to 70 percent of the cost of their education. These opportunities allow young struggling students to explore the environment of a firm while financially sustaining their educational endeavors. Additionally, firms like Winston and Strawn LLP have generously given over $565k in diversity scholarships to minority law students. By providing financial assistance, these firms take ownership in empowering individuals to follow through with their dreams of becoming a lawyer. These scholarship programs help to remove the economic burden and allow minority students to focus on their studies, leading to higher graduation rates for diverse students.

Mentorships

Alongside financial support, it is equally important to devote time to diverse law students and job applicants. Winston and Strawn LLP have illustrated their dedication through their Diverse Associate Sponsorship Program. This initiative connects high-potential minority and LGBTQ associates with sponsors from the firm’s Executive Committee. Through this process, individuals are given a chance to form connections and learn from senior-level partners, encouraging diversity in the upper ranks. Through this program, upper-level executives are also presented with the opportunity to form bonds with minority members of the firm, opening their eyes to potential struggles faced by these individuals. With this program, both parties gain invaluable experiences, growing from their connections with one another. Incoming diverse individuals receive valuable advice and unique advancement opportunities through this mentorship, boosting their careers and increasing diversity through the ranks of the firm.

Job Fairs

Another method to increase diversity in the workplace is by participating in job fairs targeted towards minority groups. The firm Arnold and Porter demonstrates this through their involvement in diverse job fairs. This form of outreach encourages students of varied backgrounds to apply to law programs and firms, illuminating the possibility of a future in law to individuals who may have never previously considered it because of their race, religion, or gender. Here, organizations is intentional in creating connections with diverse students, learning more about their potential application pool. Local job fairs geared towards women, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals provide a great point of contact for firms and diverse students. Law firms which utilize this opportunity form strong ties to the unique groups in their area, leading to a higher rate of diverse hires. 

Community Outreach

Community involvement is an integral way to continue to enhance the firm’s brand image, support local minority groups, create a lasting change, and increase diversity within the field of law. Arnold and Porter follow through with this initiative through their support of charitable and nonprofit organizations which focus on advancing rights for a variety of minority groups. By supporting these charities, whether through financial contributions or volunteering time and other resources, the firm generates a positive change in their community, furthering the lives of minority groups. Through this involvement, the law firm not only gains more recognition with women, people of color, and others in need, but also the whole community! This initiative is great for large and small law firms alike, as any attorney can volunteer time to local organizations, spurring a change in their surrounding environment, networking with valuable charities, and empowering minority members of the community. 

Through these practices, law firms from around the nation have devoted their resources to increasing diversity and the pipeline of talent for recruitment. From long lists of scholarships dedicated to people of all nationalities, races, and religions to mentorship programs, these organizations place a high priority on hiring lawyers with unique backgrounds, experiences, and talents. It is important to focus on the moment, placing effort into empowering young minority individuals now in the hopes of creating a diverse pipeline! While all initiatives may not lead to diverse hires within a specific firm, these methods increase diversity across the industry, increasing inclusion and acceptance. The process of investing in minority and focusing on diverse hires is an instrumental part of increasing diversity. However, the topic of diversity entails much more than simply hiring a wide range of individuals, firms must also work on the retention of diverse attorneys. This requires a different set of methods, focused on maintaining and empowering minority groups throughout the law firm. We will discuss this topic and highlight more law firms taking steps towards retaining diversity in the next blog of the series.