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Season 2

Season 2

Dessa: Growing a Diverse and Inclusive Artificial Intelligence Company

In this episode we talk to Cheryl Gladu, Researcher-in-Residence at Thompson Rivers University, and author of Dessa: Growing a Diverse and Inclusive Artificial Intelligence Company. This case follows Dessa’s founder and chief operating officer, Vince Wong, as he develops hiring practices to create a diverse workforce while fostering a culture supportive of diversity. Cheryl discusses the importance of having uncomfortable conversations in the classroom, co-creating ground rules with students to approach these difficult conversations, the difference between dialogue and debate, defining implicit bias, and the value of workshopping a case before submission.

Season 2

Alison Konrad: Respectfully and Effectively Addressing EDI Issues through the Case-Method

Alison Konrad, Professor, Organizational Behaviour, at Ivey Business School shares her approach to case writing and what she’s learned from publishing more than 50 research articles on topics such as inclusivity initiatives in organizations, employment equity programs, work-life balance initiatives, and more. Konrad reflects on her history as a case author, examines how the case method has evolved, and offers advice for educators looking to respectfully and effectively cover EDI issues in their own classes and cases.

Season 2

5 Fortune: Incorporating Diversity and Cultural Context into Case Teaching

Frank Li, an associate professor of finance at Ivey Business School, walks us through his case, 5 Fortune: One of Many Chinese Restaurants. The case highlights just how crucial it is that we bring real world scenarios and narratives into the classroom – especially for a finance case. Li explains how diverse protagonists, added cultural context, and multimedia have been key to crafting a top-notch classroom experience.

Season 2

Sophia Tannis: Gender and Cultural Issues in Leadership

Kanina Blanchard, Assistant Professor of Management Communications and General Management at the Ivey Business School, discusses her Sophia Tannis case series. The case series offers students real world prompts to learn about women in leadership, gender, and cultural issues related to leadership, decision making during change and transition, and more.

Season 2

Reckoning with Jemima: Can the Brand Be Remade for Good?

Authored by professors Joseph Miller and Michael Stanko, Reckoning with Jemima: Can the Brand Be Remade for Good follows Quaker Oats’ decision to re-brand their popular Aunt Jemima brand and how the brand can be a force for good. In this episode, Miller and Stamko discuss how this case fosters difficult but productive discussions regarding race, brands, and corporate social responsibility within business schools. During this conversation, we explore their tips on how to have conversations about race in a case class, unpack some of the “why” behind decades of inertia on Jemima and similar brands, and – most importantly – how we look forward.

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