The Journey to Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Specialization

"Cognitive and Experiential Diversity" is the second course in the specialization titled "The Journey to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging."

This course takes a novel approach to understanding diversity by exploring the nature of cognitive and experiential diversity. Understanding these "invisible" forms of diversity is essential for an organization to thrive, and fostering this diversity among members of an organization will drive innovation and disruption. Join us on this course to expand and challenge your understanding of diversity.

This course on Diversity and Belonging in Businesses and Organizations will support individuals, teams, and organizations to better understand and implement policies and practices that promote the inclusion as well as the belonging of all employees. We aim to cover the following topics:

Policies - How to identify and understand the ways in which the structural dynamics of an organization can preclude a sense of belonging and how to use inclusive policies as a tool to foster belonging. Practices - How to design an organizational culture that promotes the well-being and belonging of all its constituents through kindness, empathy, openness, and compassion. People - How to leverage the creation of affinity groups and task forces to overcome structural biases, build community, and create a greater sense of belonging. The final module of the course provides complementary resources to bring course concepts together and support an organization's belonging efforts.

For any group to perform at its best, it’s important that its members feel valued.

This can only be achieved if the team, beginning with the team leader, fosters an environment of inclusion where each person has the opportunity to contribute and is valued for his or her distinctive skills and perspectives. We’ll be introducing you to established frameworks, including Kathryn Sorrells’ Intercultural Praxis Model, which will serve as the guide for this course. Through this model, we’ll learn how to raise awareness about our reactions to difference, optimize critical analysis, and develop responsible social action. In this course, we’ll also review some of the basic concepts that make up the process of inclusion. We’ll discuss theories surrounding inclusion in organizations, and we’ll provide you with strategies on how to react when a moment of exclusion occurs within your team. In addition to the foundational knowledge you'll gain from this course, you’ll also take away a practical toolkit for fostering an inclusive environment. This course can be taken independent of or along with its companion courses: Fundamentals of Diversity; Cognitive and Experiential Diversity; and Diversity and Belonging in Businesses and Organizations.