Conference To Highlight How Data Analytics Can Drive Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

While hiring and maintaining a diverse workforce is widely known to be a critical driver of innovation and competitiveness, many companies admit they fall short of their goals. The New York University Polytechnic School of Engineering will host a conference showcasing the ways in which Human Capital Analytics (HCA)—the process of applying sophisticated mining and analysis to human resource data—can deliver solid, evidence-based Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) strategies.

The free conference, “Driving Diversity & Inclusion with Analytics: A Key to Winning the War for Talent,” will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2015, in downtown Brooklyn and feature internationally recognized speakers who will present valuable information on using HCA.

The fourth event in the annual series Human Capital Innovation in Technology and Analytics, it will be co-hosted by the Department of Technology Management and Innovation at the New York University Polytechnic School of Engineering and by PolySHRM, an award-winning student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Conference co-sponsor Mercer, a global consulting leader in talent, health, retirement, and investments, will bring three top executives to outline its new research on how companies hire, promote, and retain women and the surprising implications:

• Linda Chen, senior associate for workforce strategy & analytics
• Brian Levine, Ph.D., partner and innovation leader for workforce strategy and analytics
• Haig Nalbantian, senior partner and co-founder of the Workforce Sciences Institute

Other speakers include:

• Rohini Anand, Ph.D., senior vice president and global chief diversity officer, Sodexo
• Liz Czepiel, diversity leader, United Rentals
• Craig Pintoff, J.D., senior vice president of human resources, United Rentals
• N. Sadat Shami, Ph.D., manager, Center for Engagement & Social Analytics, IBM
• Joe Underwood, director of people analytics, Kimberly Clark
• Aniela Unguresan, co-founder of the EDGE Certified Foundation.

“Our expert speakers come from companies at the forefront of leveraging workforce analytics to drive progress, build innovative D&I strategies, and chart the gains in profitability that strong D&I efforts can bring,” said Professor of Management Harold G. Kaufman, who organized the conference and who serves as the academic director of the school’s cutting-edge Organizational Behavior, Systems and Analytics program. "While many companies are striving to meet D&I goals, our participants are leading the way. For example, Kimberly Clark and Sodexo have already garnered the prestigious Catalyst Award, given to those whose groundbreaking D&I programs have changed workplaces, communities, and lives.”

According to Brian Levine, “Our research shows organizations that are focused on holistic solutions to build diversity are most successful—and organizations applying predictive analytics to link specific programs and talent strategies to the advancement, engagement, and retention of women are most effective.”

The White House has stressed the importance of hiring workers of varying ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, and religion (diversity) and maintaining work conditions that allow each employee to feel valued, respected, and empowered to achieve his or her full potential (inclusion). The Office of Personnel Management, which aims to make the federal government a model employer for the 21st century, asserts: “We strongly believe that a diverse workforce in an inclusive environment will improve individual and organizational performance and result in better value to customers, clients, taxpayers, and other stakeholders.”

The conference will conclude with an evening networking buffet and will also be streamed live. Registration is required for attendance in person or virtually at http://engineering.nyu.edu/events/2015/04/16/4th-annual-conference-human-capital-innovation-technology-analytics.

For more information on the Organizational Behavior, Systems and Analytics program in the Department of Technology Management and Innovation, visit http://engineering.nyu.edu/academics/programs/organizational-behavior-systems-and-analytics-ms.

For more information about Mercer’s capabilities in workforce analytics and planning, visit Mercer Strategic Workforce Planning site.

The NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering dates to 1854, when the NYU School of Civil Engineering and Architecture as well as the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute (widely known as Brooklyn Poly) were founded. Their successor institutions merged in January 2014 to create a comprehensive school of education and research in engineering and applied sciences, rooted in a tradition of invention, innovation and entrepreneurship. In addition to programs at its main campus in downtown Brooklyn, it is closely connected to engineering programs in NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai, and it operates business incubators in downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Mercer is a global leader in talent, health, retirement, and investments. Mercer helps clients around the world advance the health, wealth, and performance of their most vital asset – their people. Mercer’s more than 20,000 employees are based in 42 countries and the firm operates in over 130 countries. Mercer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC), a global team of professional services companies offering clients advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy, and human capital. With over 55,000 employees worldwide and annual revenue exceeding $12 billion, Marsh & McLennan Companies is also the parent company of Marsh, a global leader in insurance broking and risk management; Guy Carpenter, a global leader in providing risk and reinsurance intermediary services; and Oliver Wyman, a global leader in management consulting. For more information, visit www.mercer.com. Follow Mercer on Twitter @MercerInsights.