By Tina Marie Wohlfield
I recently got a chance to connect with #WISHRM22 speaker Matt Glowacki. Matt is presenting one of several sessions I highlighted as a must attend at the upcoming conference taking place on October 12 – 14, 2022.
Matt, I am really excited to attend your upcoming session “Everybody’s Got Something” at WISHRM. Can you tell me a little bit about you and your volunteer role on WISHRM an advocate for DEI in our HR Community?
When I started volunteering with WI SHRM, I saw a need to expand the role of the DE&I Director to include a larger focus on how hardship impacts a person’s ability to bring their whole-self to work. With Mental Health and Non-Apparent Disability being such a large part of contributing factors of what people are going through, I am seeking to help WI SHRM be one of the top destinations for HR Professionals to obtain resources to support their workers.
One of the things that I know we struggle with in HR is how to facilitate conversations in the workplace that create awareness of bias/stereotypes and inclusive perspectives beyond abilities. Without sharing all the incredible takeaways from your session – what is one opportunity we can do better in HR (and organizations) that help create the right environment for needed conversations?
I want HR professionals to be able to have a safe and supported non-threatening conversation with their people about what they are going through. The best way to have that is too position the conversation around a series of adjusted investments in culture that business can use to help create a more inclusive culture and a feeling of agency for their team members. During the presentation, I will be introducing the concept of an “Affinity Account” which helps facilitate a conversation about what employees are going through and provides them with a tool to uncover where the friction around work for them is coming from.
What are you most looking forward to at this year’s WISHRM 22conference?
I love to reconnect with the WI SHRM members I haven’t seen since the convention last year, and I really appreciate meeting all the people and companies that have submitted nominations for the WI SHRM Diversity Award. We had the most amount of nominations I have ever seen this year, and I am really impressed with how much good work is being done in the DE&I space with all of our members.
If you had a walk up song as a speaker, what would it be?
Got the sun shining on me, by the Mighty Blue Kings.
Session Details
Check out Matt’s session taking place on Thursday, October 13, 2022 from 10:15 am – 11:30 am both live (in Guava/Tamarind) and virtually!
See you soon at #WISHRM22 #WISHRMSMILE
