1.0 SHRM PDC

1.0 HRCI HR (General) Credit

In response to recent events, many companies have made strong public statements condemning inequality and violence in their communities. Companies are also committing to significant action and sustainable changes internally to promote equity, foster allyship and belonging, and prevent both subtle and egregious acts of harassment and discrimination. To achieve these goals, HR and other organizational leaders - in this moment and moving forward - must be active participants and role models to prevent harm, create meaningful change, and promote inclusive workplaces.

In this session, we will explore how company leaders can recognize the many subtle warning signs of harmful behavior at work, develop the skills to de-escalate and address those situations in the moment, model allyship, and influence equitable, inclusive practices. We will discuss how leaders can overcome personal barriers and biases that may inhibit them from speaking up when they see pending harm. We will also explore the role that mental well-being plays in preventing acts of hostility at work and what leaders can do to facilitate healthy, non-toxic environments.


Jesse Bridges, SVP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, EVERFI

Jesse Bridges serves as the SVP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at EVERFI. In this capacity, she is EVERFI’s lead subject matter expert on DEI, representing our thought leadership across our corporate, higher education, and K12 networks. Jesse also serves as part of the executive team to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization. 

Prior to joining EVERFI, Jesse served as the Senior Director of Organizational Culture and Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Education Advisory Board (EAB). In this role, Ms. Bridges developed and executed against an integrated diversity strategy that spanned talent management, community and team member engagement and equity in customer offerings. She also served as the primary facilitator of learning experiences on diversity, equity and inclusion related topics. 

Before joining EAB, Jesse served in higher education administration, most recently at Purdue University as the Associate Dean of Students. Her roles focused on access and equity issues ranging from civil rights compliance to advising students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Elizabeth Owens Bille, JD, SHRM-SCP, SVP of Workplace Culture, Equity & Inclusion, EVERFI

Elizabeth Owens Bille is the Senior Vice President of Workplace Culture at EVERFI, a leading provider of workplace training. In this role, she serves as EVERFI’s subject matter expert on preventing harassment and discrimination, promoting ethical conduct, and creating positive, thriving workplace cultures. Prior to joining EVERFI, Elizabeth was the general counsel and chief ethics officer of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). 

She also served as a legal and policy advisor to the former Vice Chair of the EEOC, Leslie Silverman; in this capacity, she provided advice to the EEOC regarding the federal laws prohibiting harassment and discrimination in the workplace and contributed to the development of EEOC regulations and enforcement guidance. 

Before joining the EEOC, Elizabeth counseled organizations of all sizes as an attorney at the global law firm of Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells). She has provided training for EEO investigators, HR professionals, and employment law attorneys on complex workplace issues, and her work has been cited by several news outlets including National Public Radio, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the New York Times.