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听Leeds is building a pipeline of leaders who will change the face of business.

Time and again, studies have shown that companies driven by diverse leadership teams are more likely to outperform their less diverse peers on profitability. Diverse perspectives foster innovation, creativity and empathy in ways that homogenous teams do not. The same can be said for business schools.

Diversity of thought is absolutely essential, say leaders of the graduate programs at Leeds School of Business, to the quality of education students receive. Leeds not only welcomes diversity鈥攊t thrives on it. And although just under 25% of the student body is diverse, the program continues to grow in representation.

鈥淭he future workforce is a diverse workforce. We want our student body to reflect this diversity as well,鈥� said Kristi Ryujin, associate dean of graduate programs & special assistant to the dean for faculty diversity, equity and inclusion.

This spring, Leeds鈥� Graduate Programs Office launched its inaugural event for prospective and admitted diverse graduate students, 鈥淭ransforming Business: Connecting Diverse Scholars.鈥� It was an immersive day of rich content and connections with diverse faculty, classmates, alumni, corporate partners and board members鈥攁 special opportunity for attendees to get to know their future community.

Attendees enjoyed a TED Talk on 鈥淒iversity Within the Workforce: New Expectations, New Opportunities鈥�; conversations on DEI with industry leaders from Accenture, Ball Corp., KeyBank, McKinsey & Co. and Medtronic; interactive sessions with Leeds鈥� world-class faculty; and a deep dive into Leeds鈥� graduate programs.

Meet a diversity advocate

The event wouldn鈥檛 have been possible without the generosity of Ellen Balaguer, a champion of DEI efforts at Leeds who established the Mel and Marcy Balaguer Scholarship, that gives economically and socially disadvantaged students the opportunity to get a high-quality business education. In addition, her gift provides funding for programming and activities in support of diverse graduate students, including this event.

鈥淒EI isn鈥檛 just the latest trend for Leeds鈥攖wenty-one years ago when Michael Leeds named the school, he envisioned ethics and inclusion built into the DNA of the business school,鈥� said Balaguer.

A retired global managing director at Accenture, she serves as an emeritus chair on the Leeds Advisory Board and has earned the Leeds Distinguished Alumni and Service Award in recognition for her service to the school.

Ellen named the scholarship for her parents who endured hardships and sacrifices to send her (and her brothers) to college; she hopes to give the same opportunity to others.

The 鈥榦nly鈥� way to be

Both faculty and alumnae speakers offered food for thought on identity in the workplace. PhD instructor of communications Salma Shukri suggested strategies for diverse employees in the business world. 鈥淔ind power in being the 鈥榦nly鈥欌�攖he only person in the room with a different perspective,鈥� she said.

Nana Yaa Asante-Darko, alumna of the MS Finance program, shared with attendees, 鈥淚 came to Leeds to find something different,鈥� she said. 鈥淎ll of me was wanted. All of what I think. As a woman in business, it鈥檚 important to bring who you are鈥�You have to consciously decide you鈥檙e allowed the same as every other individual.鈥�

Leeds鈥� corporate partner John Min, a managing director at Accenture, reinforced the importance of strength in your identity: 鈥淜now who you are; stand for something.鈥�

What graceful leaders do

Medford Moore, manager of diversity and inclusion at Ball Corp., observed that we live in a culture that too quickly 鈥榗ancels鈥� people who make mistakes. His leadership style prescribes offering grace instead.

Rupal Ayer, senior director of strategy & customer success at Medtronic, said the best leaders possess skills of empathy, communication and accountability. 鈥淚 flip the org chart,鈥� he explained, 鈥渁nd I鈥檓 at the bottom. My job is to support those above me.鈥�

Ryujin strives to offer similar support for diverse students.

鈥淢y hope is that attendees were able to sample what the Leeds experience is like for a diverse student,鈥� said Ryujin. 鈥淲e want to create a pipeline of talented, diverse professionals who will change the business world, and these prospective students are the ones to do it. I hope they felt our commitment to their success.鈥�