GC as the Corporate Culture Influencer: Implementing D&I Across the Workplace

Doug Harris is the Chief Executive Officer of The Kaleidoscope Group with over 25 years of experience in the field of diversity & inclusion consulting. Prior to joining Bea Young Associates in 1993, Doug worked for several years as a consultant and trainer for Harbridge House, Inc. where he facilitated diversity & inclusion education sessions with senior executives of Fortune 500 organizations. Today, as the leader of The Kaleidoscope Group, Doug empowers organizations to achieve their diversity and inclusion goals. His knowledge and expertise guides organizations through the creation of customized strategies that address the specific diversity needs of the business. He has extensive experience working with senior executives to champion diversity and develop commitment and enthusiasm across all employee groups. His energy and passion for the work is contagious and people seldom walk away without a memorable experience. Some of Doug’s clients include: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Coca-Cola Enterprise, CNA, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Farmers Insurance, McDonald’s Corporation, Nationwide Insurance, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, Provena Health, The Federal Reserve Banks, The Wharton School, Watson Wyatt Worldwide, and several nonprofit social service/government agencies.

Doug’s extensive experience in managing cultural differences extends into the global arena. He has designed and delivered global strategic consulting solutions and cultural education workshops for Caterpillar, Dana Corporation, Duracell, Hewlett-Packard, Northrop Grumman, and Owens Corning. Doug is also called upon as an Executive Coach to assist leaders in understanding their role in championing diversity & inclusion. His engaging style and unique ability to give diversity meaning at all levels of the organization has made him a sought after and renowned diversity expert, presenter and facilitator.

Doug’s roots in diversity began with Procter & Gamble and Scott Paper where he served as an employee relations specialist, sales trainer and sales professional. His diversity journey continued as Founder and President of Samuel Roberts & Associates, where he capped ten years of experience as an executive search consultant specializing in minority recruitment. His work in executive search spanned from entry-level professional assignments to senior executive level positions.

He also serves as a subject expert for local and national newspapers and radio stations, on issues relevant to diversity & inclusion. Along with numerous presentations Doug delivers for clients worldwide, he is also in demand as a speaker for various organizations and associations such as the Conference Board, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), local SHRM Chapters, Linkage, Inc., etc.

In keeping with his personal commitment to serve the community, Doug works actively to develop mentoring programs for students that promote education and build self-esteem. He assisted in designing diversity curriculum for the Chicago Catholic Schools and also acts as a mentor to students at Learn Charter School. He recently developed and launched The Kaleidoscope Group Youth Practice to assist underserved youth in the Chicagoland and surrounding communities and is working with Tufts University to design and implement a student leadership development program.

Doug holds degrees in Economics and Sociology from Tufts University.

Vania Montero Wit is Deputy General Counsel, Employment, Labor & Benefits, of United Airlines, Inc., one of the largest U.S. global airlines. She joined United in 1999 and currently leads a team of employment, labor and benefit attorneys and staff specialists and is responsible for managing litigation and legal compliance in the employment, labor and benefits areas. Her responsibilities also include responding to state and Federal charges involving claims under Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, and other employment and labor-related laws. Also provides counsel and direction related to workforce merger and restructuring activities, HR policies, and employee related investigations. Additionally, she is responsible for the company's affirmative action plan compliance.

Prior to working for United Airlines, Vania was an associate with the law firm of Littler Mendelson.

Vania received a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Northwestern University, and a JD from Harvard Law School.

Jim Rogers serves as chief legal officer for Cars.com. In this position, Rogers is responsible for all areas of the company’s legal and compliance functions, including all relevant aspects of strategic initiatives and acquisitions.

Before joining Cars.com in 2016, Rogers served as senior vice president and general counsel for Orbitz Worldwide, where he oversaw legal, compliance, corporate communications and government relations. Prior to Orbitz, Rogers was senior vice president and general counsel for TLC Vision. From 1981 until 2010, Rogers practiced law in the Washington, D.C. office of Latham & Watkins, where he ran a broad-based corporate practice counseling clients in the technology sector across a variety of legal and business issues.

Prior to Latham & Watkins, Rogers served as a law clerk to both the Hon. Charles Clark of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Hon. Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Rogers earned his law degree from Columbia Law School, a master’s degree in public administration from Princeton and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Yale University.

Matt Nolan is Vice President and General Counsel of the Ancra Group and Director of Global Compliance for The Heico Companies. As General Counsel for one of Heico’s four platforms, consisting of 18 individual companies on five continents, Matt oversees all legal matters, including policies, training and processes. As Director of Global Compliance, he implements and operates Heico’s compliance program. Prior to Heico, Matt was Senior Counsel of Dow Corning, including two years in Shanghai.