ERG Council: Maintaining an Inclusive Workplace through Legislative Shifts
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Stay Ahead of Change: Protect Inclusion, Empower Your Workforce.
As businesses navigate an evolving environment impacting health care access, marriage benefits, gender identity documentation, and more, assessing inclusive practices is no longer optional—it’s essential. Proactive strategies help companies uphold their values of belonging and equity, which in turn drive recruitment, retention, and innovation.This session will explore potential rollbacks to rights and benefits impacting LGBTQ+ employees and actionable steps employers can take to maintain inclusive, affirming workplaces. We’ll also examine what equitable benefits really look like and share best practices for implementation across organizations of all sizes.
Why Attend?
Whether you’re a small business, a multinational corporation, or an NGLCC affiliate chamber member, this conversation will equip you with insights to prepare for potential policy shifts and reinforce your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Meet the Panelists
Sarah Warbelow (she/her)
Senior Vice President of Law, Policy, and Research, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
Sarah is a nationally recognized expert on LGBTQ+ law and policy. At Out & Equal, she leads the organization’s efforts to equip Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and organizations worldwide with the tools to build cultures of belonging. Her work spans legal research, policy analysis, and training that help employers navigate shifting landscapes while centering equity and inclusion.
About Out & Equal: Out & Equal Workplace Advocates is the premier nonprofit dedicated to achieving workplace equality for LGBTQ+ people. Working with Fortune 500 companies and global organizations, Out & Equal provides training, resources, and convenings—including the annual Workplace Summit—to transform workplaces and communities into places of true belonging.
Read Sarah Warbelow’s article: “The Equality Act and the Path to LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion” →
Katie Vlietstra Wonnenberg (she/her)
Principal, Public Private Strategies
Katie is a seasoned public affairs and policy expert who advises companies, nonprofits, and associations on navigating today’s complex policy environment. In addition to her role at Public Private Strategies, she leads the Public Policy & Strategy team for the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the largest advocacy organization dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBTQ-owned businesses. Through her work, Katie helps businesses and policymakers align on strategies that protect inclusion and foster equitable growth. Learn more about Public Private Strategies →
About NGLCC: The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is the business voice of the LGBTQ community and the exclusive certifying body for LGBTQ-owned businesses. With a national network of affiliate chambers, NGLCC works to create opportunities for LGBTQ business owners and to advance diversity and inclusion across corporate America.
Shawnie Hawkins (she/her)
Senior Director, Workplace Equality Program at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
Shawnie leads efforts to advance LGBTQ+ inclusion in corporate America through HRC’s Corporate Equality Index and workplace best practices. HRC is the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, working to ensure that every individual can live openly and equally in the workplace and beyond. Read about Shawnie’s work in HRC Magazine →
About HRC: The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, advancing equality at home, work, and in communities nationwide. Through its Workplace Equality Program and the annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI), HRC sets the national benchmark for LGBTQ+ inclusive workplace policies, guiding hundreds of major employers in creating equitable benefits, protections, and cultures of belonging.
