Seat at the Table

MBA students spearhead workplace diversity conference.

Ashley Fox and DeAndrea Staes, both MBA ’19, took aim at “diversity that works” in a student-organized conference at Texas McCombs.

The Elevate: Diversity and Inclusion Conference on Feb. 8 brought together business leaders and members of The University of Texas at Austin community. A series of panels and discussions in Robert B. Rowling Hall focused on how organizations can strategically establish a culture that enjoys the rewards of an inclusive workforce.

Fox and Staes were interested in trying to illuminate the connections between corporate diversity and benefits to productivity and the bottom line. Their solution was the inaugural conference. The students curated an impressive lineup of speakers, including keynote speaker BET Senior Vice President Michele Thornton Ghee. “She talked about making sure you have a seat at the table. As a person of color, you have to be proactive,” says Staes. “It’s important that as business leaders, we give people opportunities.”

All the conference proceeds will be used to establish a scholarship for underrepresented minorities. Meanwhile, the event co-founders are also at work on a blueprint so that future second-year MBAs can host the event next year.

— Jeremy Simon

This article appeared in the spring 2019 issue of McCombs magazine. Click on the link to see the full issue.