Forward Together

DEIJB in the Workplace

DEI in the WorkplaceA School of Management event series
for our students and alumni on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in the workplace.

In this series, a panel of professionals and students will share their stories about what they learned when they entered the workforce, what they didn’t expect, the actions they took, and what they would have done differently in hindsight. Attendees will gain practical advice that can be immediately implemented in their careers. This event here will include a moderated panel discussion with an opportunity to ask questions of our panel. 

Past Events:

Overcoming Barriers & Navigating Success

Held: Tuesday, October 10th, 2023

A panel that will address the common challenges faced by underrepresented groups, such as bias and underrepresentation, and share success stories from diverse career paths. Alumni will discuss strategies for overcoming these barriers, including the role of advocacy and mentorship. Then, they'll pivot to their personal career trajectories, emphasizing how their unique identities have influenced their professional experiences and accomplishments. This discussion offers students both a realistic view of potential hurdles and inspiration from the successes of underrepresented alumni. 

Watch Recording

Panel:

Cindy Liu
Rafael Cordero

Director of Information Technology and Services, The Rivera Ridge School

Cindy Liu
Brittney Elhard

Senior Director of Information Technology, J.D. Power

Cindy Liu
Mark Garcia

Chief Financial Officer, Arctic Cold, LLC

Cindy Liu
Karen D. King

Regulatory Strategy Lead (Sr. Director), Opus Regulatory

Moderator: 

John Garcia Portrait
John Garcia

Assistant Professor of Finance & Analytics, School of Management

People with Disabilities in the Workforce: Barriers and Opportunities

Held: Tuesday, April 18th, 2023

A panel discussion on enabling people with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life. Learn more about how accessibility measures include identifying and eliminating obstacles and barriers to equal access. 

Panel:

Cindy Liu
Cindy Liu

Disability Inclusion Advocate, Consultant, Board Member, Community Organizer, Public Speaker and Social Business Entrepreneur on a mission to end ableism.

Jacob Lesner Buxton
Jacob Lesner-Buxton

Systems Change Coordinator at the Independent Living Resource Center

Matthew Lowe
Matthew Lowe

DEI Consultant at the Change Maker Academy

Moderator:

Kyle McIntosh
Kyle McIntosh

MBA Program Director at Cal Lutheran School of Management

Managing Yourself Through Change

Held: Tuesday, October 25th, 2022

Change affects everyone, and we will all have to manage ourselves through constant change throughout our lives. Different people respond to change differently, and an uneven playing field can often exacerbate the effect of change. In this session, we will examine a framework for managing oneself as the world evolves, and how power dynamics play out all around us, particularly in the workplace, and how this impacts how we manage ourselves.

watch recording

Panel:

deanna oroz
Deanna Oroz

Director of Procurement Business Strategy Operations & Excellence at Kite Pharma

Graduated Cal Lutheran Master's in Business (MBA) in 2017 

Adjunct Faculty Member - Panelist

Holly Roepke
Holly Roepke

Director of Athletics at Cal Lutheran

Graduated Cal Lutheran Bachelor's in Organizational Leadership

Faculty Member - Panelist

marvin boateng
Marvin Boateng

Marvin Boateng is the Director of Lending at the Economic Development Collaborative

Graduated Cal Lutheran Master's in Public Policy Administration (MPPA) in 2012 - Panelist

Michele Wilson
Michele Wilson

Founder and CEO of Mompreneur Universe a Division of Velocity Group Global Inc. - Panelist

Moderator:

John Garcia Portrait
John Garcia

Assistant Professor of Finance & Analytics, School of Management

Women and Leadership: What I Wish I had Known In College

Held: Tuesday, April 5th, 2022

A diverse panel of women on an exploration of women’s
leadership journey, including the value of networks, sponsorships,
and leaning in with confidence when faced with challenges and opportunities.
Discover specific actions you can take while still at CLU to
prepare for long-term success.

Panel:

photo
Francine Aclan '22

President - CLU PRIDE club

brissa_castaneda
Brissa Castaneda '24

Co-President - Women in Business Club

ariana_gamble
Ariana Gamble 23'

President - CLU Delta Sigma Pi

amy krause
Amie Krause

Amie Krause is the Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at Atara Biotherapeutics

Adjunct Faculty Member - Panelist

andrea_villasenora
Andrea Villasenor 23'

Co-President - Women in Business Club

Moderator:

susan van fleet
Susan Van Vleet

Founder and CEO of Susan Van Vleet Consultants Inc.

SOM Advisory Council - Moderator

Impact and Opportunities in the LatinX Business Community

Held: Wednesday, October 6, 2021 

A LatinX panel of professionals explored their journeys in leveraging their uniqueness and diverse backgrounds to thrive professionally. They shared their stories about what they learned when they entered the workforce, what they didn’t expect, the actions they took, and what they would have done differently in hindsight. The panel described why diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) matters in the workplace and how it drives value for individuals and the business community. Also presented was the California Lutheran University’s Center for Economic Research & Forecasting (CERF) report on the LatinX economic contributions to the US economy and the future outlook of the LatinX economic impact on the US economy by Dr. Mathew Feinup.

WATCH RECORDING

Alumni Panel:

Rafael Cordero Portrait
Rafael Cordero '23

Master of Information Technology (MSIT) Student

Mark Garcia Portrait
Mark Garcia MBA '18

Chief Financial Officer, Freska Produce International LLC

Don Padilla Portrait
Don Padilla CFP® '22

CEO, MVP Sports & Entertainment Management

Diana Rodriguez Portrait
Diana Rodriguez '16

Program Manager, Google

Moderator:

John Garcia Portrait
John Garcia

Assistant Professor, School of Management

 Sponsors:

Dole Packaged Foods Logo    Trader Joes Logo


DEIJB in the Workplace: Preparing for Racial Disparity (Part 2)

Held: Thursday, April 8, 2021 

watch recording

Panel:

VIctor Fakrogha Headshot
Victor Fakrogha, MBA '05, CTP

Regional Market Manager, Community West Bank

Racial Disparity in the workplace is a huge blind spot for large and small enterprise in our society. I have seen it, experienced it, and lived it in my professional life. I am obliged to shed a light and help educate the public on ways we can improve this enigma in our work environment.

Thembi Moyo Headshot
Thembi Moyo '00, CPA

Director, Business Services, Amgen

Nighat Shah Headshot
Nighat Shah

Administrative Assistant, Center for Global Engagement, Cal Lutheran

Jeannette Pugh
Jeannette Pugh (Moderator)

Dean’s Advisory Council and DEI Steering Committee Member

DEIJB in the Workplace: Preparing for Racial Disparity (Part 1)

Held: Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Panel:

Jeannette Pugh
Jeannette Pugh (Moderator)

Dean’s Advisory Council and DEI Steering Committee Member

Armi Agor
Armilayda (Armi) Agor

EMBA Student

JaQuay Bangs
JaQuay Bangs

EMBA Alumnus, Dean's Advisory Council and DEI Steering Committee Member

Corey Lee
Corey Lee

Undergraduate Alumnus and MBA Student

Arlene Martinez
Arlene Martinez

EMBA Student

Future Topics to be discussed in the series include but are not limited to:
  • DEI in the Workplace: Preparing for Gender Gap Issues
  • DEI in the Workplace: Preparing for Age Discrimination
  • DEI in the Workplace: Preparing for Inequalities
  • DEI in the Workplace: Preparing for Cultural Differences
  • DEI in the Workplace: Preparing for Differences in Abilities
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