Research has shown that workplaces that practice compassion (at the individual or unit level) benefit via reduced employee burnout and increased employee wellness; collective compassion has also been shown to drive higher performance and citizenship behavior, particularly in times of crises.

Enjoy the natural surroundings of University of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture.

How can organizations advance their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Thought Leaders provide insight into the DEI initiatives that foster a sense of belonging in the workplace and a foundation for a more resilient organizational culture.  

**Lunch is provided: Vegan/Vegetarian options available**

Vanessa Druskat is Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at the University of New Hampshire. She is an applied social psychologist who uses her deep knowledge of social systems to help answer real-world questions facing organizations like: How should self-managing teams lead themselves? How should a leader lead a self-managing team? How does team environment influence prosocial behavior in teams? She has twice received awards for papers deemed both rigorous and practical from the Center for Creative Leadership. Her Harvard Business Review (HBR) article (with S. Wolff) on emotionally intelligent teams was selected as an HBR Breakthrough Idea and has been re-printed four-times in collections of HBR’s most popular articles. She is an award-winning teacher who consults with leaders and teams in organizations ranging Fortune 50 corporations to non-profits around the world. She is currently working on a book that combines her theory on the socio-emotional conditions that strengthen team collaboration with cases from her coaching and consulting work.

Participants will be paired up for a nature-based walk in the Union Bay Natural Area / UW Wetlands. Prior to departure, pairs will receive conversation prompts connected to Vanessa Druskat's presentation to facilitate insight, reflection, and connection with fellow participants.

How do impact initiatives influence and shape an organizational culture? Thought Leaders provide insight into the impact efforts that galvanize the ethos of their organizational culture and reinforce key values in the employee experience.

Review the key concepts from the Connect3x MicroSummit and develop an action plan to build a stronger organizational culture.