Powerful Keynote on the Neuroscience of DEI
His insightful keynote sheds light on what pulls us apart and how to foster belonging to bridge our differences. His original content inspires hope and action.
- Why are Diversity and Inclusion efforts failing?
- Is there any hope that we can unite as one people?
National unity seems like a fantasy these days. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion or DEI efforts haven’t brought people closer. Many DEI efforts that were designed to meet quotas or avoid lawsuits have proven counterproductive. Leaders are longing for solutions to bridge divides and heal scars rooted in so many group identities.
Throughout history, humans have demonstrated a very strong tendency to seek categories pitting Us against Them. Group affiliation was crucial for our survival during early evolution. But today, we have inherited the desire to divide people into opposing groups: Democrats vs Republicans, White Americans vs Black Americans, the rich vs the poor, men vs women, and Millennials vs everyone else.
Keynote: Shift from Us-vs-Them to Belonging with Science
Are human brains programmed to create categories based on ethnicity, gender, politics, social status, age, occupation, or other traits? Tremendous harm has resulted from such artificial divisions. Wars have been fought. Genocides have been carried out. Human suffering and conflicts continue.
From this powerful keynote, you will learn the strong but invisible effects of Us-vs-Them on our decision-making, judgments, and relationships. Most importantly, you will discover how to use advanced leadership skills to overcome these divisions. As a result, you can cultivate a harmonious and productive atmosphere for your followers and partners.
Learning Objectives ~ Get answers to these crucial questions:
- What compels our brains to seek group affiliation?
- How are Us-vs-Them divisions created?
- How does the brain respond to Us and to Them?
- How do we reduce this unconscious bias?
- Why does Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training often fail?
- What can leaders do to bring people together?
The answers to these questions are critical to the times we live in. Neuroscience can give us valuable insights into the creation of the Us-vs-Them conflict. We can see that these unconscious biases are not set in stone, and can be unlearned and abandoned.
Keynote Speaker on DEI and Leadership
When Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts are not guided by science, more divisions may be created. Dr. Wu educates his audiences with the latest scientific insights into how the brain creates and confirms our group affiliations. He will also share proven, practical techniques that can bring people together. Diversity and Inclusion will flourish when belonging is cultivated. Dr. Wu is an international DEI leadership speaker. He makes Neuroscience easy to understand and apply. He is available for your corporate training events.
It was a great pleasure to have Dr. Terry Wu speak to the League of Women Voters. His presentation on “Us vs. Them” fit perfectly with our campaign “Engaging our Differences for a Better Community.” His insights into how people perceive and react to opposing opinions are extremely helpful for all of us to consider as we talk to each other. Terry is especially effective with breaking down the aspects of what may divide us. This naturally leads to our discovery of how to listen and learn from each other even when we disagree. Personally, it opened up new considerations to me as I interact with family, friends and other citizens. As our country heads into a heated election season this fall, it is vital that we utilize the information and tools Dr. Wu offers. Let’s cross the divide and begin to communicate in a civil and thoughtful manner. ~ Carol Reimers, President, The League of Women Voters of Connecticut