DEIJ in the Workplace
A 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.
Panel:
![Cindy Liu](/management/images/1.jpg)
Rafael Cordero
Director of Information Technology and Services, The Rivera Ridge School
![Cindy Liu](/management/images/2.jpg)
Brittney Elhard
Senior Director of Information Technology, J.D. Power
![Cindy Liu](/management/images/Mark_Garcia.png)
Mark Garcia
Chief Financial Officer, Arctic Cold, LLC
![Cindy Liu](/management/images/Karen_King.png)
Karen D. King
Regulatory Strategy Lead (Sr. Director), Opus Regulatory
Moderator:
![John Garcia Portrait](/management/images/DEI_Oct6_JohnGarcia_Portrait_LinkedIn.jpeg)
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](/management/images/3.jpg)
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](/management/images/Untitleddesign4.png)
Jacob Lesner-Buxton
Systems Change Coordinator at the Independent Living Resource Center
![Matthew Lowe](/management/images/Matthew-Lowe.jpg)
Matthew Lowe
DEI Consultant at the Change Maker Academy
Moderator:
![Kyle McIntosh](/management/images/Kyle-McIntosh.jpg)
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.
Panel:
![deanna oroz](/images/staff/4.jpg)
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](/images/staff/5.jpg)
Holly Roepke
Director of Athletics at Cal Lutheran
Graduated Cal Lutheran Bachelor's in Organizational Leadership
Faculty Member - Panelist
![marvin boateng](/images/staff/marvin-boateng.jpg)
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](/images/staff/Michele-Wilson.jpg)
Michele Wilson
Founder and CEO of Mompreneur Universe a Division of Velocity Group Global Inc. - Panelist
Moderator:
![John Garcia Portrait](/management/images/DEI_Oct6_JohnGarcia_Portrait_LinkedIn.jpeg)
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:
Francine Aclan '22
President - CLU PRIDE club
![brissa_castaneda](/management/images/6.jpg)
Brissa Castaneda '24
Co-President - Women in Business Club
![ariana_gamble](/management/images/7.jpg)
Ariana Gamble 23'
President - CLU Delta Sigma Pi
![amy krause](/management/images/8.jpg)
Amie Krause
Amie Krause is the Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at Atara Biotherapeutics
Adjunct Faculty Member - Panelist
![andrea_villasenora](/management/images/Untitleddesign.jpg)
Andrea Villasenor 23'
Co-President - Women in Business Club
Moderator:
![susan van fleet](/management/images/9.jpg)
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.
Alumni Panel:
![Rafael Cordero Portrait](/management/images/DEI_RafaelCordero_400x400px.jpg)
Rafael Cordero '23
Master of Information Technology (MSIT) Student
![Mark Garcia Portrait](/management/images/DEI_MarkGarcia_400x400px.jpg)
Mark Garcia MBA '18
Chief Financial Officer, Freska Produce International LLC
![Don Padilla Portrait](/management/images/DEI_Don_Portrait_LinkedIn_JPG.jpeg)
Don Padilla CFP® '22
CEO, MVP Sports & Entertainment Management
![Diana Rodriguez Portrait](/management/images/DEI_Oct6_DianaRodriguez_JPG.jpg)
Diana Rodriguez '16
Program Manager, Google
Moderator:
![John Garcia Portrait](/management/images/DEI_Oct6_JohnGarcia_Portrait_LinkedIn.jpeg)
John Garcia
Assistant Professor, School of Management
Sponsors:
DEIJ in the Workplace: Preparing for Racial Disparity (Part 2)
Held: Thursday, April 8, 2021
watch recording
Panel:
![VIctor Fakrogha Headshot](/management/images/DEI_April8_Panel_VictorRakrogha_Headshot_JPG.jpg)
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](/management/images/DEI_April8_Panel_ThembiMoyo_Headshot_JPG.jpg)
Thembi Moyo '00, CPA
Director, Business Services, Amgen
![Nighat Shah Headshot](/management/images/DEI_April8_Panel_NighatShah_Headshot_JPG.jpg)
Nighat Shah
Administrative Assistant, Center for Global Engagement, Cal Lutheran
![Jeannette Pugh](/management/images/DEI_JeannettePugh_headshot.png)
Jeannette Pugh (Moderator)
Dean’s Advisory Council and DEI Steering Committee Member
DEIJ in the Workplace: Preparing for Racial Disparity (Part 1)
Held: Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Panel:
![Jeannette Pugh](/management/images/DEI_JeannettePugh_headshot.png)
Jeannette Pugh (Moderator)
Dean’s Advisory Council and DEI Steering Committee Member
![Armi Agor](/management/images/DEI_Panelists_ArmiAgor_Headshot.jpg)
Armilayda (Armi) Agor
EMBA Student
![JaQuay Bangs](/management/images/DEI_Panelists_JaQuayBangs_Headshot_JPG.jpg)
JaQuay Bangs
EMBA Alumnus, Dean's Advisory Council and DEI Steering Committee Member
![Corey Lee](/management/images/DEI_Panelists_CoreyLee_Headshot.jpg)
Corey Lee
Undergraduate Alumnus and MBA Student
![Arlene Martinez](/management/images/DEI_Panelists_ArleneMartinez_Headshot.jpg)
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