Partner Laura Kerr Panelist for Discussion of DEI Initiatives

Partner Laura Kerr was a panelist for a “Thought Leader Roundtable” convened by the Portland Business Journal for its ongoing How Oregon Works series. Kerr and the other panelists joined PBJ Publisher and President Candace Beeke for a discussion of the role that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) plays in building better workforces throughout Oregon and southwest Washington.

The panel addressed questions of:

• How an employer can start a DEI program and what challenges it may face.
• What the benefits are of a more inclusive workplace for a business and the community at large.
• What are some possible mistakes and pitfalls that companies may encounter in creating a DEI program or DEI leadership roles.

In response to a question about how an organization can measure its success, Kerr, who is active in Stoel Rives’ DEI initiative through her involvement in the firm’s Women Lawyers Affinity Group, noted: “Ultimately, thinking about how to measure success is remembering that there’s no finish line. It’s not quick. We can always continue to learn from digging into the data further, from failing, from succeeding and from sharing experiences.”

You can read the full article here.