Workshop #2 2026

Polarizing tensions in our society don’t stop at the door of your workplace. Indeed, they just walk in the door and can make inclusion difficult.

“Inclusion work has always involved navigating tension,” says presenter, Bernardo Ferdman. “What is different now is that those tensions are more visible, more contested, and more consequential.”

So this raises two challenging questions:

• How do you lead with compassion, care and accountability when differences feel polarized or personal?
• What small, everyday actions make people feel they belong—or quietly push them away?

We invite you to join in this critically important learning opportunity with Bernardo Ferdman, editor of Diversity at Work: The Practice of Inclusion (Jossey-Bass/Wiley, 2014), and author of the recent blog post, “Staying the Course: Navigating the Tensions of Inclusion in a Time of Pushback” (The Inclusion Solution Blog, April 2, 2026).

Bernardo is particularly connected to this idea of inclusion as a practice because he is the one who conceived of it that way. A “practice” is something that you continually do and improve. It must be developed in every situation; it must be practiced every day. And no one can just say you’re “included.” Each individual is the one who determines whether they are included. Each individual is the one who points to the behaviors, the structure & policies, and the communications in the context that makes them feel included.

Join in! You’ll discover what it takes to practice inclusion with intention, skill, and care when it matters most. You’ll learn how to practice inclusion in real time, especially when conversations feel difficult or charged. You will learn not only practical ways to navigate tension, but how to strengthen connection and trust. And in the process, you’ll have ample opportunities to dialogue with your fellow participants about how to do this! 

Presenter:

Bernardo M. Ferdman, Ph.D., Principal & Founder of Ferdman Consulting, is an executive coach, consultant, and organizational psychologist who helps leaders and organizations bring inclusion to life in everyday interactions, decisions, relationships, and systems. 

With more than four decades of global experience, he focuses on how people navigate complexity, work across differences, and build environments where individuals can contribute fully and do their best work. Bernardo brings a systemic perspective and a grounded, human approach to helping people lead with clarity, compassion, and accountability.

Bernardo is widely recognized for his work on inclusive leadership and for framing inclusion as a practice—something we do moment by moment in how we listen, speak, and engage with others, especially in times of tension and uncertainty. His approach combines thoughtful dialogue, deep listening, and practical tools to help leaders work with, rather than avoid, difficult differences and polarizing dynamics. Recently, he co-created Community Dialogue Partners to support constructive dialogue and collaborative engagement across differences in a time of increasing polarization.

A Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Alliant University, Bernardo has published and presented extensively on inclusion, leadership, identity, and organizational dynamics. He co-edited Inclusive Leadership: Transforming Diverse Lives, Workplaces, and Societies (2021) and Diversity at Work: The Practice of Inclusion (2014), has held leadership roles in multiple professional associations, and received the Society of Consulting Psychology’s Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Consulting. (Learn more at https://bit.ly/ferdman-bio.)