Title: The Impact of Diversity on High Performing Teams
Presenters: Aquanetta Betts, Trina Olidge, Kelli Smith
Date: February 24, 2021
Time: 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. EST
The business case for diversity is as compelling as the moral imperative—research clearly shows that diverse teams create smarter and more innovative work. The challenge for both managers and team members is to chart a more accessible career path for charitable gift planners so that people of all backgrounds can flourish. In this session, you’ll learn to recognize and change attitudes and actions that undermine collaboration. Then you’ll discover ways to create a sense of psychological safety and trust within the team. Our goal is to turn the buzzwords “diversity,” “equity” and “inclusion” into practical operating principles, so that we can unleash the full potential of individuals and the team.
- Review research that shows how diversity impacts organizational performance.
- Identify specific behaviors that encourage or discourage expression of diverse viewpoints in the workplace.
- For managers, implement best practices that increase retention and foster career progression.
- For team members, navigate your career toward increased creativity and collaboration.
Aquanetta Betts, JD, CAP
senior executive director, planned giving east region, world vision
Aquanetta Betts is the Senior Executive Director of Planned Giving for World Vision for the eastern region of the U.S. She was drawn by the opportunity to join a team that helps people make an important impact for the most vulnerable children around the world. Aquanetta holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida International University and a law degree from Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law. She is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy®. Prior to joining World Vision, Aquanetta worked for 11 years as an estate planning attorney, helping clients draft planned giving and estate agreements that reflected their charitable intent. Her practice was focused on wills, trusts, and estates. Along with having served as a pro bono attorney for several nonprofit organizations in the Baltimore, Maryland, area, she is a member of the National Bar Association, Maryland State Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association, and the Baltimore Estate Planning Council. She is also a member of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners, where she serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce, and she currently serves on the board of the Chesapeake Planned Giving Council.
Trina Olidge, JD
director of gift planning, georgia tech
Trina S. Olidge brings depth and understanding to a changing academic landscape with nearly 20 years of experience in both public and private institutions, including minority serving and large research organizations. In her current role as director of gift planning at Georgia Institute of Technology, she educates donors on charitable gift planning vehicles and tax strategies to help achieve their philanthropic goals. Trina came to Georgia Tech from Georgia State University, where she was senior director of development for the College of Arts and Sciences. Previously, she served as assistant vice president at Morehouse School of Medicine, and has held major gifts positions in both law and independent schools. Her career in higher education began at Tulane Law School as assistant dean of external affairs & diversity. She has also worked in industry as an investment analyst with Goldman Sachs and G.E. Capital, before returning to Atlanta to join a boutique international consulting firm following law school. Trina earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Howard University and a juris doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law. She serves on the DEI task force of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners and chairs the Advocacy, Policy & Ethics Committee for the local chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals. Trina loves to travel and spend time with her husband and two teenage children in Atlanta. Inspired by the example of her parents, she brings authentic passion and commitment to the pursuit of excellence in education.
Kelli Smith, CFRE
chief development officer, john ball zoo
Kelli Smith's career in philanthropy spans more than two decades in health care and academia, serving in organizations whose missions closely align with her own passions to serve and invest in the needs of the community, and to grow professionally and personally. Kelli serves on the National Board of Charitable Gift Planners and is the Development Committee Chair. She is active in her community serving on the boards of Catholic Charities of West Michigan as Immediate Past Chair, East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation as Development Chair, Children's Advocacy Center of Kent County, and is a Past Board Chair of the Western Michigan Planned Giving Group. Kelli is working on her Chartered Advisor of Philanthropy (CAP) certification and holds a masters degree in Health Services Administration.
Group webinars are intended for CGP affiliated councils or groups of up to 30 individuals.