WDLS-EU Diversity Blog
This blog is designed to keep you informed about Diversity related events, thought leaders, cutting edge trends, groundbreaking information and data on diversity and inclusion around the globe.
Archive for September, 2010
September 18th, 2010
The Adventures of the Austrian WDLS-EU Steering Committee In Washington DC
On day 2 of our visit in Washington DC we visited Congressman Alcee Hasting at Capitol. Feel free to join us on this trip, get a glimpse of the historical and impressive Capitol through the lenses of my iphone!
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- in the Metro Station heading to Capitol
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- DC Metro Station Dupont Circle, our starting point
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- my iphone your iphone, who has the best iphone?
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- after visit of Congressman Hastings with Alice Irvin (far left) Director Press + Information Austrian Embassy DC
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- Claudia and Beatrice visiting Howard University, the first Black University in DC
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- it feels good to be on this campus!
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- Flowers of Howard University
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- back to Capitol Visitors Center for a tour!
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- Claudia takes a break, where? Just guess where, you can’t miss it!
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- on the guarded tour and ignoring the guard! no doubts, we are from Austria :-)
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- the amazing 1st King of Hawaii People
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- ladies’ time in the Rotunda in the US Capitol
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- the impressive celling of the Dome C. Brumidi’s “The Apostheosis of Washington, 1865
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- Petra obviously likes being in the Rotunda of the Capitol
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- Edwin taking to A. Lincoln while Norbert eavesdrops!
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- Claudia in the company of the historic trio of women members of US Congress of 1923: Alice Robertson, Mae Ella Nolan and Winnifred Mason Huck
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- A very powerful moment! Beatrice meets Dr. M. Luther King Sr. in Capitol!
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- Austrians in the old House of Representative in US Congress
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- Dr. Martin Luther King Sr. in the Rotunda
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- A glimpse of Lady Liberty
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- So much information, too many impressions, no wonder Norbert needs a break!
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- not just Norbert, the others too….
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- No wasting time, looking for the next target
Come back again if you want to know where our next target took us to
and do please feel free to post your comments.
Let the sun shine!
Beatrice and Claudia in DC
September 16th, 2010
Austrian WDLS-EU Steering Committee Delegation left Boston to Washington DC
WDLS-EU Delegation at the Fairmont Hotel in Boston
After an amazing and very inspiring WDLS 2010 at the Harvard Medical School, the Austrian WDLS-EU Steering Committee Delegation left Boston to Washington DC on Thursday morning.
Austrian Deputy Ambassador welcoming Austrian-American Diversity Think Tank Talks in Washington DC
Upon arrival in Washington the Delegation was received and warmly welcomed by the Austrian Minister, Deputy Chief of Mission Andreas Riecken and Alice Irvin, Director of the Press and Information Service at the Austrian Embassy in Washington DC.
Over 15 US leading Diversity Think Tanks and executives based in DC and New York, including Sherry Snipes (AIA), Christian Baldia (Constellation SAS), Liz Mcgillivray (ORC), Tanya Odom (The future of work) joined the Austrian delegation at the Embassy for two sessions of highly reflective exchanges of experiences, good practices, challenges and trends of Diversity and Inclusion from a European/Austrian and American perspectives.
Think Tank reception at the Austrian Embassy
Both groups acknowledged the importance of such exchanges and the enormous learning process it offers. Both groups agreed on the different approaches of D&I between Europe/Austria and the US. Meetings such as ours offer great learning opportunities for both contexts. It was therefore agreed that these round of exchanges need to be continued.
A rich exchange of experiences, best and worst practices and a discussion about current trends, challenges and expectations
The Austrian Embassy in DC showed great interest in facilitating future Think Tank exchanges. Achaleke, initiator and leader of the delegation committed herself to making sure that this kind of exchanges become an integral part of WDLS-EU and that future Think Tank meetings reach out to many more communities.
Join me to celebrate the diversity of thoughts and of differences!
It is about me,
It is about you,
It is all about us!
Don’t let it pass you by!
Diversity Think Tank group photo, Austrian Embassy
Today, Thursday morning the delegation members will meeting Congressman Hastings in Capitol for further exchanges. Congressman Hastings represents his native state of Florida by serving as Congressman for District 23, which includes parts of Broward, Palm Beach, Hendry, Martin, and St. Lucie Counties. Among Congress’ most respected voices in international affairs, Congressman Hastings is the Co-Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Commonly referred to as the Helsinki Commission, this independent U.S. government agency was created in 1976 to monitor and encourage compliance with the landmark human rights and democracy-building treaty signed in Finland the previous year. In 2007, Congressman Hastings became the first African-American to chair the Commission and continues his work in the areas of human rights, economic development and parliamentary diplomacy.
Thereafter Achaleke is very much looking forward to taking part in talks at the Howard University DC, the first ever Black University in DC.
Log in tomorrow for further updates of today’s events as they unfold!
Feel free to send me your comments!
WDLS-EU Delegation headed by: Beatrice and Claudia
September 15th, 2010
An impressive WDL Summit at Harvard Medical School, Boston 2010 comes to an end
A great summit, with lots of eye-opening moments, sources of inspiration, thought provoking moments
great speakers, unique networking opportunities, and great diversity of thoughts.
Much too tired tonight for a write-up. as such just a few images from the day:
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- Members of the Austrian Delegation (Pauser, Schäffer Gregorits)
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- Achaleke, Blass, Pauser, Schäffer, Gregorits
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- Achaleke, Blass, Pauser, Schäffer, Gregorits
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- WDLS Strategic partner for EU addressing WDLS 2010 attendees
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- the phenomenal Carlos Domingues
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- slide messages from Carlos
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- changes predicted by Carlos
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- Achaleke announcing WDLS-EU 2010 at Boston Symphony Hall
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- WDLS-EU Delegation: Bichler, Böhm, Blaas mit WDLS Founder Douglas Freeman
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- inishing a job well done, wrapping up a great conference: Bichler, Achaleke, Freeman and Blaas
September 14th, 2010
News from WDLS Boston 2010
Some food for thoughts from high ranking panellists to ensure engagement, productivity and innovation in a modern working environment
- Find out what is going on in your working environment/company
- Have a diversity vision
- Be able to connect with the world
- Benchmark where you and your organization are, find out where you are going to and where we want to be
- Know what you expect from leaders and colleagues and see to it that you are on the right path, and do this on a regular basis
- Adopt a generation-wise approach by finding out how people change in your company over the years
- Find out how a good leader should look like
How inclusive is your working environment? Here are some guarding questions
- What are the critical norms a global company? How should it look at?
- How are you and your organization dealing with cultural norms?
- How inclusive is the thinking about cultural diversity in a culturally inclusive environment?
- What tools do we offer for customer support and how does this transform into visible benefits?
- How do we treat our customers in a globalised marketplace and in different environments?
- And with different backgrounds and cultures?
some thoughtful perceptions of diversity!
Diversity is …..
- like finding an unexpected profit, like the money you can find on the sidewalk.
- It is a way to drive revenue and profit through identifying untapped opportunities
- having the right to be different!
- finding ways to drive innovation and profitability
- customising engagement for different employees, find the right tools, being technically competitive, creating good working environments and management development strategies.
- the making of and consideration of differences
- breaking through the glass ceiling not embracing or caressing it
- having the right to be different (Norbert Pauser, member of the Austrian delegation)
Claudia Blass WDLS-EU Assistant
September 14th, 2010
WDLS-Harvard Medical University Boston 2010: "Next Generation Diversity and Inclusion"
Andrés Tapia's Inclusion Paradox, the world is upside-down
The world is upside down:
To be young is to be experience
To be a minority is to be a majority
To be a woman is to be a rising opportunity
To be disable is to be differently able
To be an economic superpower is to be a declining power
To be a developing nation is to be on the Ascent
Who are the “locals”? and what does this imply?
