Lab: Home Court Advantage: Promoting Pro-Level Diversity with Nzinga Shaw

Nzinga Shaw left her position as Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Edelman and was hired as the Hawks (and NBA’s) first Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. Currently, as an advocate for diversity in sports, Shaw’s efforts enabled the Hawks to undergo important internal changes, protect and grow its fan base and build a stronger bond with the community. It’s too early to tell if the Hawks will win the championship next year in the NBA but it’s clear they have Played it Forward Against Racism with Shaw leading the way. They owned up to committing fouls over the years, but they also committed to practicing diversity and inclusion moving forward, steps that have already made them an early favorite among fans in Atlanta. Shaw will use this example as a case study to address the importance of multi-dimensional diversity and provide participants with actionable steps that they can take to incorporate inclusive leadership skills into their strategic business operations.