Skip to main content
DONATE

CEOs from across Colorado focus on inclusivity at annual summit

Email share
by Lindsey Ford • Published on
Rocky Mountain PBS

DENVER — Colorado CEOs and government leaders gathered at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science Wednesday to discuss best practices for workplace equity and inclusion. The leaders gathered at the museum, which overlooks Denver’s City Park, all for the 2023 Colorado Inclusive Economy (CIE) annual summit. CIE held the summit for its members and their guests.

Stephanie Knight, CIE’s CEO, said that representation is key and should be any company’s hallmark when it comes to being the first big step toward conducting inclusive practices at any company. She further stated that when a company holds true to implementing diversity within its organization, it shows commitment.

“Persons of color, persons from marginalized communities, persons with different skill sets, divergent belief systems, [diversity] has to be ever-present in leadership for people to really believe,” Knight said. “And hopefully it will have a ripple effect across the state and then we can see just really economic prosperity for all of those to enjoy."

Colorado Voices
CEOs gather to talk equity in the workplace

CIE provides workshops and toolkits for organizations that want to learn more and resources for those part of marginalized groups at their workplace. CIE further breaks down what is believed to be the foundation of an inclusive economy: employers, future workforce and business environment.

Local leaders such as Lakewood Mayor Adam Paul, Colorado State Rep. Leslie Herod, Adams County manager Noel Bernal, Colorado Director of Statewide Equity Rosie McNeil-Cusick, and Colorado Department of Human Services’ Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Sandy Ho were all featured panel guests.

Most CIE members are CEOs and executive leaders because the organization believes change needs to start at the top of a company. Knight said in the workplace, prioritizing diversity and committing to the resources necessary to achieve equity starts with the company’s leaders.

“Diversity, equity, and inclusion is a belief system, not necessarily a value,” Knight said, “and leadership has to adopt the belief system, and they have to kind of engineer the belief system with their leaders and their teams within the organization.” 

Lindsey Ford is a multimedia journalist at Rocky Mountain PBS and can be reached at lindseyford@rmpbs.org.

Related Story

Colorado Voices | More Stories

Spotlight Newsletter

Community stories from across Colorado and updates on your favorite PBS programs, in your inbox every Tuesday.

Sign up here!