DEI Management Certification Program

The DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) Management Certification Program series delivers strategic and tangible action steps that will help participants build and sustain successful DEI workforce, workplace and marketplace practices. At the conclusion of the series, participants will walk away with their own action plans and roadmaps to continue their respective DEI journeys. The program is delivered through a partnership between the Greater Des Moines Partnership and Des Moines-based Schabel Solutions Inc.

The series consists of Informative e-learning modules followed by safe, positive and engaging facilitator-led discussions that lead to healthy self-reflection, greater self-awareness and productive behavior change. Through the series, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the role they can play in fostering a more inclusive environment and how to build and sustain successful workforces, workplaces and marketplace outcomes. 

Information for the 2025 cohort will be announced at a later date. 

Workshops for the 2024 cohort included: 

1.  Understanding the DEI Journey 

The course’s main objectives are to educate you about foundational concepts including DEI terminology, and how to build a strong foundation for DEI practices as you move forward.   

2. Mitigating Biases and Microaggressions in Everyday Interactions

The course’s main objectives are to review scenarios illustrating microaggressions and biases in the workplace and explore discussions about reasonable and productive actions you can take to intervene/interrupt biases and microaggressions as a recipient, source or bystander.   

3. Beyond Diversity: The Business Case for Inclusion 

The course’s main objectives are to discuss the link between diversity, equity and inclusion and organizational performance and explore how DEI aligns with your organization’s objectives, mission and core values.   

4. Leading Diverse Teams

The course’s main objectives are to educate you about the six traits of inclusive leadership and the necessary behaviors and skills required for effectively leading broadly diverse teams.   

5. How to Design your Organization’s DEI Strategy

The workshop’s main objectives are to explore the “nuts and bolts” of a DEI strategy. The outcome is access to a framework and template to design your organization’s DEI statement and strategy.   

6. How to Attract and Retain Diverse Talent

The workshop’s main objectives are to define “diverse” talent and explore three steps to designing a strategic recruitment and retention plan. The outcome is a deeper understanding of your recruitment opportunities as well as recruiting and retention plans to leverage ongoing.