Embed Humanity and Belonging at the Forefront of Your Events
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Let’s put humanity and belonging at the center of your events strategy.
“Gathering, creating, and nurturing communities is the work of events and key to why there has been such a strong return to face-to-face events. It’s not just about getting back to business. It’s about getting back to the business of being human.” Said so poignantly in a recent PCMA Convene article centered creating community, we are reminded why events are such a crucial part of servicing your constituents and stakeholders—whomever they may be. At the core of any initiative related to connection sits the need for belonging. Without belonging, there is no path forward to meaningfully connect, accept, and understand each other.
If you're looking for a different path to reap greater rewards on your connection journey in the workplace, at your conference, on your campus, in your classroom, or throughout your daily life, consider the ways in which you can create a greater sense of belonging—a fundamental human need for everyone and one that has the added bonus of aligning with inclusion, diversity and/or equity goals.
Advice for your day-to-day:
Practice more candor together and share how we are—at our core—more alike than different in our everyday experiences.
Some ways to incorporate this:
- Communicate clearly, constructively and positively
- Treat others with empathy
- Practice self-care to avoid burnout
- Own up to and forgive mistakes
Thoughtful and inclusive events are an amazing way to take this to the next level. Allowing people to feel like they can come as they are and be their true selves will ensure they may make the most of any setting, experience or environment for greater shared success, stronger relationships, and, most importantly, better overall wellbeing. The mark of a truly successful event experience!
Here are some speakers that can help you incorporate these strategies into your next event:
(Hint: they don't have to be DEI talks/budgets to book for the same human-centered outcomes)
Gathering, creating, and nurturing communities is what events are all about. Finding a programming experience like Death of Dinner—a unique dining experience that includes conversations about our most important (and sometimes most uncomfortable) life decisions amongst attendees—has allowed Michael Hebb to create human-centered experiences at conferences and within some of the biggest organizations, including Chevron, LinkedIn, Uber, and the World Economic Forum.
In an increasingly diverse world, Tayo Rockson can help audiences of any background strengthen their self-awareness, acknowledge their biases, and create meaningful connections. An authority on how to connect across cultures through emotional literacy and intelligence, Tayo brings powerful storytelling plus humor to bring an uplifting presentation with practical takeaways to help increase an overall sense of belonging—perfect for all ages.
With over a half a million views on her most TED talk, Sarah Jones has solidified herself as one of the most unique storytellers and performers of our time. With her curated one-woman performances and conversations based on your topic of choice, Sarah flexes her abilities to create characters that get in the minds of audiences for the most relatable and real programming that both can make you laugh and think—and most importantly connect.
With TED Talks reaching over nine million views, Paula Stone Williams clearly knows how to tug on the heartstrings of an audience. Having lived life as a man and a woman, Paula reaches across political, religious, and gender lines to build a more inclusive and equitable world with her stories. Her newest talk Break Barriers and Build Connections: Foundations of Effective Communications and Understanding sheds light on the complexities of identity and the importance of listening and understanding differences in personal perspective.
What's the RIO on company culture? That's the question culture expert Josh Levine wants to ask you. Josh's award-winning book, Great Mondays: How To Design a Company Culture Employees Love, has helped business leaders design an organizational culture that spans generationally diverse teams and hybrid workspaces. At the center of his message is sharing why human connectivity is critical to excellent organizational culture.
When it comes to classroom belonging (in the many contexts that belonging can exist), José Vilson knows his stuff. José founded EduColor to elevate the voices of public school advocates of color on edu-equity and justice. By connecting students to their school through a greater sense of belonging, José enhances academic learning. His newest book You Already Know: Teaching Students Math from The Knowledge Within will be released in 2025.
As a behavioral health leadership trainer with a decade of clinical expertise as a therapist, Nidhi Tewari helps high-performing leaders and organizations as a whole learn the skills necessary to build trust and effectively create psychological safety amongst all employees—an essential component to their overall sense of belonging and wellbeing. Nidhi's keynotes and workshops also touch on neuro-inclusivity, ensuring everyone can come as they are.
Ready to get speaker fees? Email us!
Outspoken Agency is a women-owned speaking agency representing leaders, founders, public intellectuals, authors and entertainers for paid keynotes, workshops and panels at in-person and virtual events. Learn more about our female founders here.