DEI Symposium | ESG | Flagstar Bank

Empathy 2022

Flagstar virtually hosted its fourth annual DEI symposium with the theme "Empathy 2022". This companywide event served to update employees about our DEI progress, provide experts to further enhance our overall cultural education and awareness, and support our colleagues as they shared their own experiences. This year’s symposium wove empathy into each segment, including empathy at work, what empathy looks like in action, and how it is vital to individuals and the success of an organization.

Throughout the event, employees enjoyed music from The Carr Center, an organization in Michigan that leverages the essence of the African American cultural experience to inspire, entertain, challenge, and educate. The symposium also featured Chef Maria, an award-winning, French-trained pastry chef specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion baking demonstrations.

DEI symposium keynote speakers

Joe Gerstandt, Speaker, Author, and Advisor

Mr. Gerstandt spoke about bringing greater clarity, action, and impact to organizational diversity and inclusion efforts. When a career change led him to a grassroots nonprofit, Mr. Gerstandt found himself drawn to DEI issues and has since been a strong advocate for resetting the DEI conversation. Before that, he worked in management and business development and served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Shola Kaye, Cultural Change and DEI Speaker

Ms. Kaye is an award-winning speaker with a background spanning science, financial services, and music. Based in London, she is a keynote speaker and program leader specializing in empathetic communication, leadership, and DEI. Ms. Kaye studied natural sciences at Cambridge University, completed neuroscience research at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and performed internationally as a professional jazz and Motown singer.

Kelly McDonald, Author, Speaker, and Founder of McDonald Marketing

Ms. McDonald is a nationally recognized marketing expert specializing in consumer trends. She’s also a top expert in D&I, leadership, marketing, and customer experience and author of such bestselling titles as It’s Time to Talk About Race at Work and How to Work With and Lead People Not Like You. She has been featured in Forbes, Inc. Magazine, BusinessWeek, CEOWorld, and Fast Company.