Lutgert News

Southwest Florida Leadership Institute "Building Equitable Workplaces: 2024 Summer Workshop Series" was a Resounding Success

July 30, 2024  / Lutgert News  / Tags: sfli, Southwest Florida Equitable Jobs Pipeline, Southwest Florida Leadership Institute, Workforce Development

The Southwest Florida Leadership Institute, bolstered by the support of a $22.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), hosted the Building Equitable Workplaces: 2024 Summer Workshop Series, designed to equip organizations and leaders with the knowledge, tools, and strategies necessary to advance workplace equity, foster inclusive cultures, and build robust talent pipelines. By addressing critical areas in human resources management, talent acquisition, and leadership development, the workshop series aligns with the mission of the Southwest Florida Equitable Jobs Pipeline to cultivate a skilled workforce and drive economic prosperity in the region.

We are excited to share the outcomes of our recent initiative workshops. Over the course of three dates—June 14 and July 24 at Collaboratory, and July 19 at Pelican Preserve in partnership with SHRM-SWFL—we engaged with a diverse audience and explored critical topics around equity and inclusion.

The workshops featured a total of seven sessions led by six distinguished speakers, each contributing their expertise to create a comprehensive learning experience. The sessions were well attended, with representation from over 50 companies across more than 40 different types of businesses, including non-profit, for-profit, and public sectors. Reaching a total of 388 registrants across the 5-country region.

Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees appreciated the engaging presentations and practical examples provided by our speakers. The interactive elements and networking opportunities were highlighted as particularly valuable, facilitating meaningful connections and discussions. Comments such as "The presenter's energy and examples were fantastic" and "Great presentation with real-world applications" underscore the impact of the sessions. The session on artificial intelligence stood out as the most highly rated, reflecting the strong interest in and appreciation for this timely and relevant topic.

Overall, the workshops were a resounding success, reflecting strong engagement and positive outcomes. We are grateful for the support of our speakers, attendees, and partners, and

We look forward to continuing our community impact this fall with our series on "Intelligences in the Workplace." This series delves into the critical roles of cultural, emotional, and cognitive intelligence in the workplace, emphasizing their distinct and synergistic impacts on professional success. Participants will explore practical strategies for developing these intelligences, illustrated through real-world examples and interactive activities. By the end of the series, attendees will be equipped with the tools to enhance their interpersonal and cognitive skills, fostering a more effective and harmonious work environment.

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About Southwest Florida Equitable Jobs Pipeline: A collaborative initiative aimed at accelerating education, job placement, and economic development across Southwest Florida. Supported by a $22.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, the initiative focuses on building talent pipelines, advancing workplace equity, and driving sustainable economic growth. www.fgcu.edu/jobs-pipeline

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About SFLI: At SFLI our purpose is to strengthen the SWFL business community by cultivating forward-thinking and innovative educational programs to develop and enhance the skills of employees at all levels in our region. We partner with non-profit, for-profit, and governmental agencies from small to large to determine the knowledge and skills gaps that impact the functioning, growth, and sustainability of their workforce and create customized learning opportunities that enhance the economy of the region. www.fgcu.edu/cob/sfli