In today’s rapidly evolving workplaces, organizations are being called to take the lead in maintaining an inclusive and supportive culture where every employee feels valued, supported, and empowered to contribute fully.
How leaders respond can either build trust or deepen divides. This session invites HR professionals, managers, directors, and culture leaders to embrace cultural humility as a guiding practice for leading inclusively.
More than just awareness of cultural differences, cultural humility requires ongoing learning, self-reflection, accountability, and respect.
Participants will learn how to communicate with empathy, adapt to shifting dynamics, and recognize the impact of their words and actions across all levels of the organization. They will also learn how to engage their leaders for more transparency and accountability. Through real-world strategies and discussion, leaders will explore how to listen deeply, challenge power dynamics, and uplift the voices of employees who are often overlooked.
The goal is to equip leaders to foster inclusive, resilient workplace cultures where every employee feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive, especially during times of transition.
Thank you to our sponsor NW Natural for their support!
Meet our panelists
Jessica Taylor, PhD is a strategic executive advisor and founder of Leadership Training Initiative (LTI), a boutique consulting firm specializing in adaptive leadership. Partnering with nonprofits, boards, foundations, and social ventures Dr. Taylor spends her time supporting executives to reimagine leadership, challenge entrenched norms, and design systems that are just, connected, and people-centered. Her clients become equipped to build cultures where values are practiced, not just stated and people and systems align for maximum impact. Dr. Taylor made history as the first Black woman to lead any institution within the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and uses her academic background in psychology and leadership studies, and her keen insights into how humans and systems work, to support executives to find a clear path to freedom, impact, and sustainable results.
Sophorn Cheang (so-POHRN j-ay-ng) took the reins as Director of Business Oregon in March 2021. She has guided the agency through the development of a new Strategic Plan and associated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan that highlights the agency’s unique position to lead economic development strategy in the state, address economic inequities, and leverage the state’s competitive advantages.
Business Oregon supports small and large businesses alike, and Cheang is committed to maximizing the agency’s small business assistance to boost small business growth and encourage the state’s innovators and entrepreneurs to keep creating. Business Oregon has also never been more dedicated to strengthening its relationships with businesses and communities across the state and Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes, working to advance the unique business and community development needs of each.
Cheang is ensuring that Business Oregon’s 90+ programs are structured in a way that truly helps businesses and has led the agency in gathering perspectives from business owners statewide to expand and modify the agency’s programs to reduce red tape and offer support in the gaps where it is most needed.
Prior to her service at Business Oregon, Cheang served as the Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Governor Kate Brown. Before joining the Governor’s Office, Cheang was the Asian Family Center Director and led the Community Development Department at the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO). Cheang has an MBA from Willamette University and a bachelor's degree in finance from Portland State University.
Frank So comes to Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon directly from the Office of the Vice President at the White House. As a Vice-Presidential Associate, he frequently traveled with the Vice President, advising her office on trips outside the continental United States. He previously worked for President Obama as a Presidential Associate, where he traveled in advance of the President to help ensure effective state functions on the ground.
For over a decade, Frank served as a U.S. diplomat in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Northern and East Africa. Most recently, he was the Senior Mission Advisor with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Colombia and Senior Human Rights Advisor for USAID in Honduras.
Before working with the government, Frank served with the United Nations in Darfur, Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan. His last post with the U.N. was as the Darfur Officer in Charge for the International Organization of Migration.
Throughout his career, Frank has specialized in strategy, policy and coordinating various agencies as they address challenges related to conflict and human migration. Working with refugee and immigrant populations has been one of Frank’s lifelong passions. He is eager to apply this experience to EMO’s refugee and immigration work.
Frank holds a master’s degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from the University of Ulster and a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Seattle University, where he served as the student body president.
A lifelong Catholic, Frank was educated by Jesuits and Sisters of St Mary's of Oregon. He is pleased to come “home” to the Pacific Northwest. Fluent in Spanish, Frank is a first generation American—his mother was born in Peru and his father in Thailand.
Chris Ayzoukian brings over 25 years of experience in performing arts management to his role as Executive Director. Prior to his current role, Chris held positions at the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall and Hollywood Bowl, serving on the senior management team as Vice President Philharmonic and Production overseeing an annual budget of $40M and heading operations, concert production, touring, scheduling and orchestra personnel. At the LA Phil, he also held positions in artistic planning, recording and digital media, and strategic planning when he led community-wide initiatives to welcome Gustavo Dudamel to Los Angeles in 2009. He has led the planning of numerous concerts and stage productions, the LA Phil LIVE in-cinema national broadcast series, and many recording projects, one of which garnered a Grammy award for Best Orchestra Performance. For the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, Chris is responsible for the mission of The Reser and for achievement of its strategic objectives, including programming, fundraising, marketing, community partnerships, education programs, facilities and operations, and staffing. He holds an M.B.A. and a B.A. in Music theory and composition from Loyola Marymount University, and is a member of the Western Arts Alliance, and International Association of Venue Managers. Chris and his family moved to this area in 2017 and have been enjoying all that the area has to offer.
Partners in Diversity is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.
This Breakfast for Champions session is eligible for SHRM credits. Please email Amy Vaught at avaught@partnersindiversity.org for certification.
