76 Forward Presents a panel discussion on "Discourse About Discord", a virtual discussion about how to manage hot-button conversations and disagreements in the workplace.

Disagreements about religion, politics, even personalities can result in charged conversations and cause workplace conflict. And unfortunately, more than one-third of employees have no formal way to complain about discord with colleagues.

It's management’s responsibility to prevent a hostile working environment and to coach or redirect people to resolve conflicts. Join us for this interactive dialogue for guidance, policy and some expert and tried recommendations to resolve conflict and maintain a company culture you and your employees can be proud of.

Meet the Moderator:

Charlotte Lee

President, 76 Forward

After high school, in lieu of a formal higher education, Charlotte joined a performing arts group focused on providing character development through music education outreach tours. She spent nearly seven years with them, eventually serving as Company Manager on both domestic and international tours. She went on to hold management roles at Honolulu Theatre for Youth, Dick Clark Productions, Sundance Film Festival and Harlem Village Academies. It is through the diversity in roles and organizations that she honed her ability to apply both efficient operations and emotional intelligence to her leadership.

With 76 Forward she has risen through the ranks - starting as a Campus Manager and growing into Operations Director, Chief of Staff and eventually President. Characterized by self-discipline, integrity, creativity, and sense of humor, Charlotte is proud to lead a team working tirelessly to grow and cultivate powerful entrepreneurial communities that drive regional economic impact.

Outside of work she loves cooking, performing and spending time outdoors with her husband, young son and their Super Dog, Tonks.

Meet the Panelists:

AURORA ARCHER, FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The Opt-In and Bellatrix

Drawing on over 25 years of experience in leading success in four distinct industries (retail, technology, health & wellness, content publishing & media), and leveraging her expertise as a courageous business transformation leader and strategic thinker, Aurora is keen on harnessing her passion to enable Health and Wellness clients create meaningful disruption that drives bold growth, creating brands that deliver engaging experiences and lead to continuous customer choice and loyalty because they truly SERVE.

Aurora led the team who won the first healthcare campaign to win a Cannes Lions Grand Prix in 2015 for "Take it from a Fish"; was recognized for Leadership in Technology by the Association for Women in Computing, and has been the subject of a cover story in Working Mother magazine. Aurora holds a BA in Psychology from Syracuse University. Aurora serves on the Boards of Outcome Health and Philly Startup Leaders.

Vikram (“Vik”) Kapoor

Vik is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) recognized by the International Coach Federation (ICF) and is currently working towards his Master Coaching Certification, which is the highest credential in professional coaching.

Vik’s client list includes rising stars and established leaders at the U.S. State Department, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, the UN Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FEMA, the U.S. Secret Service, The FBI Hostage Rescue Team, DOD-Pentagon, Facebook, Oculus, Groupon, Deloitte, Lyft, DLA Piper, The World Bank, Chipotle, Georgetown University, Salesforce, The Nature Conservancy, The National Urban League, Freddie Mac and a range of top advisory, legal, and financial services companies.

A highly sought-after speaker and facilitator, Vik weaves together cutting-edge science and practical wisdom to empower those who seek support around goal-setting, leading with values, collaborating in the workplace, bouncing back from setbacks, and galvanizing teams behind a common purpose.

He is also a mentor coach for CoachDiversity Institute, which hosts Howard University’s Executive Certificate in Diversity Coaching, and he regularly trains and coaches senior leaders at the United Nations on topics of equity and inclusion as it relates to conflict in the workplace and organizational culture. Vik has previously worked with leaders in the U.S. Senate and in the Federal Government, as well as private sector leaders who are working hard to address issues of bias and belonging in the workforce.

During his time with the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), he had the good fortune of leveraging his passion for service, neuroscience, and negotiation to take on increasing responsibility in the areas of organizational development, leadership coaching, and systemic issue resolution, which earned him four major awards. He has extensive training in behavioral science, leadership assessments, resilience and well-being, and conflict coaching, which he deploys in service of his clients who span six continents and a broad spectrum of industries. He is particularly skilled at helping manage conflict during change.

Vik is a Regents Scholar of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center (J.D). He has also earned advanced certificates in organizational coaching from George Mason University and trauma recovery from Harvard Medical School.

Classified as a Learner under the Gallup Strengthsfinder, Vik has a life-long commitment to learning in service of others, and it shows. His coaching clients regularly give him exemplary reviews because he clearly cares about their long-term development. In addition to his own proprietary models for self-care and finding purpose in life, Vik is skilled in Appreciative Inquiry, Clifton Strengthsfinder, Kilmann Conflict Inventory, DiSC Profile, VIA Character Strengths, Qualitative 360 Assessments, Gallup Q-12, Cinnie Noble's CINERGY model, and Jack Philips' Return on Investment (ROI) model.

In 2021, he wrote First Serve Yourself, an Amazon #1 bestselling book on self-coaching for young leaders.

Liz Richardson

Liz Richardson is a co-founder and owner of Indigo Ink Digital Printing Inc., a full-service print shop located in Columbia, Md. Liz, along with her husband Matt and a business partner, launched Indigo Ink in 2003, believing this new company could better serve quality driven clients. Indigo Ink has grown over the years, serving thousands of clients across the country. However, staying true to purpose, Indigo Ink still focuses primarily on building client relationships in the local Baltimore/DC area. It is her and her husband’s love for the outdoors that has been a driving force for Indigo Ink’s dedication to making both their business practices and print production techniques as environmentally sustainable as possible.

Liz is also the President of the Central Maryland Chapter of Conscious Capitalism. Conscious Capitalism builds on the foundations of Capitalism – voluntary exchange, entrepreneurship, competition, freedom to trade and the rule of law. These are essential to a healthy functioning economy, as are other elements of Conscious Capitalism including trust, compassion, collaboration and value creation.

This event is sponsored by HubSpot for Startups.

About 76 Forward

We're a community of entrepreneurs passionate about solving complex problems, revitalizing cities along the Northeast Corridor in the process. By joining 76 Forward, our members can access the knowledge, mentorship, capital, markets, and talent they need in order to scale. Along with offering shared workspace, we also offer focused programming, curriculum, community, and expertise to help entrepreneurs grow their business. For more information, please visit www.76forward.com and follow @1776 on Twitter and @1776vc on Instagram.