Corporate Diversity Reports: Solving the Right Problem with the Wrong Data with James Heighington

In 2014, a handful of tech companies began publishing data on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and catalyzed a conversation on diversity in tech. While this history is true, it's incomplete. In this seminar, James Heighington-Google's Chief of Staff for diversity, equity, and inclusion-will discuss the full history and how it created the headway and hurdles that still shape corporate DEI work nearly a decade later​.
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James Heighington works to ensure the benefits of technology are available to everyone. He is currently Google's Chief of Staff for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Mr. Heighington is a founding member of the World Economic Forum's Racial Justice in Business initiative, he helped draft the United Nations Free & Equal global business standards, and participated in President Obama's White House LGBT Tech & Innovation Briefing where he conducted the first federal needs assessment of transgender Americans. Previously, he served as Chief Digital Officer at GLAAD, working to reduce bias in artificial intelligence, and led LGBTQ inclusion at Twitter where he successfully petitioned the FDA to overturn discrimination in blood donations. Mr. Heighington is a contributor to CNN, The Economist, BBC, and the Webby Awards. He is an executive member of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences and has been named one of the Top 50 Most Influential Diversity Stars. Most importantly, he once hugged a 300 lb. black bear (for real).