The demographics of today's workforce are rapidly changing. The aging of baby boomers, the dramatic increase in ethnic and culturally diverse populations, and the potential of a shortage of highly skilled workers promise to transform the marketplace significantly. Organizations looking to gain a competitive edge are effectively leveraging inclusion and diversity to maximize productivity, enable innovation, and ultimately improve performance. Coupled with a comprehensive talent management and development strategy, the possibilities for growth and advancement are limitless.

In partnership with the National Association for African-Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR), a joint-session was held on Wednesday, November 4, at W.W. Grainger, Inc. global headquarters for a half-day symposium where we explored Grainger's strategies to create a high-performing, inclusive culture that supports learning and development.

We heard from:

• John Lawson, Director, Employee Development
• Nichole Marshall, Senior Manager, Inclusion & Diversity
• Dirk Tussing, Executive Director, Executive Learning Exchange
• Denise Banks, Chicago Chapter President, NAAAHR
• Chere Nabor, Chief Diversity Officer -- Grainger
• Kelly Kinnavy, Director-Talent Management -- Grainger
• Aaron Silvers, Tech-Based Learning Practice Consultant, and R&D -- Grainger
• Stephanie Daul, Design Technologist and R&D -- Grainger

The morning session included engaging workshops from the Inclusion and Diversity and Employee Development teams and networking with NAAAHR leaders and members.