OBA PROGRAM | Original Program Date: June 22, 2021

As many lawyers and law firms are re-imagining their workplaces, OBA President Charlene Theodore’s Work that Works initiative focuses on providing the ideas, tools and know-how to build productive, profitable, modern, healthy and inclusive work environments for lawyers.  

In this unique point counterpoint format, President Theodore moderates a lively exchange between two experts who bring differing perspectives to challenge, inform and unlock real solutions to a timely issue facing law firms of all sizes.

TOPIC:

“As part of a strategy to overcome unconscious bias in hiring, advancement and other employment decisions, should employers avoid consideration of an individual’s demographic diversity, or instead specifically recognize those factors and seek to mitigate related biases?”

Join us for an informative and engaging exchange that gives you the insider’s edge in strengthening the effectiveness of your hiring and retention strategies to ensure a workplace that maximizes lawyers’ potential. This event is not to be missed.

MODERATOR

Charlene Theodore, President, OBA

PROGRAM SPEAKERS

Dr. Rupa Banerjee, School of Business Management, Ryerson University (Toronto, ON)
Sylvia James, Winston & Strawn LLP (Washington, DC)

Sylvia F. James – Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Winston & Strawn LLP. Sylvia collaborates with key stakeholders and firm leadership to develop and implement the firm’s metrics driven, diversity, equity and inclusion strategy and initiatives; works with the talent management team to enhance the hiring, advancement, retention, and promotion of diverse lawyers; serves as a liaison to clients and external organizations dedicated to fostering diversity in the legal profession; serves as an advisor to management on diversity and inclusion issues; conducts diversity training; and advises on internal and external diversity-related communications.

Dr. Rupa Banerjee – Associate Professor, Department of HR Management & Organizational Behaviour, Ted Rogers School of Management. Dr. Banerjee is Canada Research Chair in Immigrant Employment and Associate Professor of Human Resource Management at Ryerson University. Her primary research interest lies in the employment integration of new immigrants to Canada. She is particularly interested in the institutional barriers facing new immigrants in the Canadian labour market. In addition, she is interested in workplace diversity and ethno-racial discrimination, particularly as it applies to second-generation immigrants. Dr. Banerjee’s research has appeared in such journals as International Migration Review, Ethnic and Racial Studies, Journal of International Migration and Integration, Journal of Labor Research and Relations Industrielles/Industrial Relations.