Panel Recap: Can Fintech Help Provide Greater Financial Inclusivity?
A panel recap from last month's Future of Digital Assets Symposium analyzed how fintech may be able to help create a more inclusive financial system.
inclusion
Panel Recap: 2023 Grand Challenge and Labor Trends to Follow
Academics and business leaders shared a panel at our recent Frontiers conference, showing how each can offer insights to help one another develop a broader, shared understanding of changes in the labor market.
A New Approach to DEI, and Why the Time Is Right
UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Professor Al Segars and co-author Anselm Beach have written about their new model for developing diversity, equity and inclusion in an organization, the Values/Principles Model, in the most recent issue of the MIT Sloan Management Review. At a time when recognition of DEI’s benefits has become widespread, their approach gives leaders the tools to create real change that will allow their whole companies to prosper. Learn more by clicking below.
CREATE Leader Plays Role in Shaping Economic Development Commitments for $9.8B Project
Mark Little, executive director of the Kenan Institute-affiliated center CREATE, provided expert testimony in a process that resulted in a May 11 settlement agreement regarding contracting and hiring practices for Dominion Energy’s $9.8 billion Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind renewable energy project.
Kenan Scholars Director Kim Allen Wins Diversity Award
Kenan Scholars Director Kim Allen is among the winners of UNC’s annual Diversity Awards, presented to individuals and groups who have given their time and effort to further diversity, equity and inclusion at the university and in its surrounding community.
Strategies for Diversifying Corporate Leadership
Firms continue to strive for greater representation on corporate boards. One California law, attempting to mandate such greater representation, has encountered a recent setback. Two experts discuss obstacles to more diverse corporate leadership and offer approaches for surmounting them.
The Future of Hybrid Work: Overcoming Challenges, Capitalizing on Opportunities
Remote work seems likely to continue in a post-pandemic world, if employees have their say. In this week's insight, our experts highlight how businesses can rethink workspaces and better engage and involve employees in the office and those working from home.
Creating Better Futures Through Economic Development
CREATE, an economic development center at the institute, worked with civic and business leaders in Rocky Mount last summer to plan a Black Business Matters District downtown in an effort to address the racial wealth gap in the area. Executive Director Mark Little will join CREATE’s Rocky Mount partners on a panel at 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 24 to share their work as part of Carolina’s Engagement Week.
New Institute for Private Capital Tool Helps Companies Evaluate DEI Goals
The Institute for Private Capital’s newly-released interactive model that aims to help private equity leaders assess diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals was featured in a report by Ernst & Young.
Biden’s Build Back Better: A Brighter Future for Black Families?
While the COVID-19 pandemic was devastating for many, research shows its impact was not felt equally. Black Americans experienced disproportionate health and economic ramifications, which compounded the financial, social and psychological strain many felt pre-pandemic, and have contributed to growing inter-generational wealth disparities. In today’s Kenan Insight, our experts explore whether the multi-trillion dollar “Build Back Better” plan proposed by the Biden administration holds the potential to begin closing pervasive gaps in American society.
Sustaining the Momentum of Anti-Racism in Business: Keynote with Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison
Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellision shared the company's approach to diversity, equity and inclusion following this past summer’s social unrest. In this conversation-style format, Mr. Ellison gave a brief overview of Lowe’s anti-racism statement and reviewed specific actions the company has taken to combat racism and inequality. He shared insights on his hands-on leadership approach and how it impacts his relationships with employees and his success at Lowe’s.
TechCrunch Highlights Entrepreneurship Center’s DEI Partnership
A recent TechCrunch article describes the new collaboration between the Kenan Institute-affiliated Entrepreneurship Center, Duke University, Stanford University and others to grow and support founder diversity in the tech industry.
Jun 06, 2026
Virtual Event: Black Communities Conference 2021
Black Communities Conference 2021 will be a vibrant, virtual gathering featuring roundtable discussions, collaborative sessions, films, book talks and more. Our core mission is to foster collaboration among Black communities and universities for the purpose of enhancing Black community life and furthering the understanding of Black communities.
Challenges and Solutions to Recruiting, Hiring and Retaining a Diverse Workforce
Workplaces are under pressure to be more inclusive due to public demands and rapidly changing demographics in the U.S. workforce. These commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) aren't just moral, they're crucial to business prosperity. In this Kenan Insight, we explore strategies for startups to employ and explain why starting early is key to success.
Jim Johnson and Jeanne Milliken Bonds Offer Insights on Reputational Equity in Triangle Business Journal Article
In a recent Triangle Business Journal article, Urban Investment Strategies Center Director Jim Johnson and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Professor Jeanne Milliken Bonds discuss why Americans are increasingly turning to companies with purpose and ethics, and provide a corporate reputational equity checklist to help organizations move toward greater diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices.
Research Shows Diversity Drives Value, Innovation
Immigrant inventors produce more patents than native U.S. citizens, among other key findings, according to a new Entrepreneurship Center and Kenan Institute report.
The Corporate Social Justice Imperative
Historically, most businesses have attempted to stay on the sidelines of controversial issues to avoid alienating customers and limit internal discord. But the COVID-19 pandemic (which has disproportionately affected people of color) and rising racial tensions have increased awareness of systemic racism in the U.S. In this Kenan Insight, we explore how business leaders are increasingly taking a stance on diversity and inclusion issues through both internally and externally focused actions and policies.
Jun 06, 2026
Webinar: UNC Entrepreneurship Center — Magic Hour: Black Entrepreneurs Meetup
This event is a networking meetup for Black entrepreneurs in the UNC Entrepreneurship Center community. The event will start with Zoom breakout rooms for networking and authentic conversations followed by a moderated panel discussion with three Black entrepreneurs.
The Seven “What Matters” In a System Not Designed for Us
For African Americans and individuals from other historically underrepresented groups, work cultures can be difficult to navigate. In a new white paper, The Seven "What Matters" In a System Not Designed for Us, Urban Investment Strategies Center Director Jim Johnson draws upon his 40 years of experience in academia to offer strategies for individuals in these groups to thrive within work cultures that do not fully embrace and may even be antagonistic to diversity and inclusion.
The Upending of Education and Childcare
In our previous Kenan Insight, we outlined the major findings in our recent report, Seven Forces Reshaping the Economy. This week, we explore how the COVID-19 pandemic has upended education and childcare, ushering in changes to both that will last far beyond the current crisis.
Coronavirus Pandemic Refugees and the Future of American Cities
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Within two months, nearly half a million people fled hard-hit New York City. Will they return once the crisis has passed? In this Kenan Insight, we explore how the ongoing pandemic is raising questions about the future attractiveness of large cities as places to live and do business.
Black Economic Futures
One of the long-standing damages of institutional racism in the United States has been a bleak economic outlook for African Americans. In this Kenan Insight, we ask whether today’s activism might prove to be a defining moment in turning the tide for Black economic futures, and if so, who will play the key roles in creating lasting change.
Jun 06, 2026
Webinar: UNC Entrepreneurship Center — Office & Work Culture: Is It Truly Inclusive & Equitable
When it comes to companies and organizations, many talk a good game of diversity, especially around hiring, but truly lack the inclusion and equity part. COVID-19 has once again called out a sore eye to American society's racial inequities, class disparities and employment needs. We must address the water cooler talk that many employers do not understand and impacts their hiring process. This discussion will offer insight and solutions on how to build a truly equitable and inclusive workplace.
Why America Needs High-Skilled Immigrants
In recent months, mechanisms that have allowed for high-skilled foreign nationals to study and work in the U.S. have been put on the policy chopping block. In this Kenan Insight, we discuss why high-skilled foreign workers are critical to America's economic health, and why policies must continue to support their entry into the U.S.
Jun 06, 2026
Webinar: UNC Entrepreneurship Center — Creating a Space for Black Entrepreneurs
The UNC Entrepreneurship Center has publicly expressed its support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and is committed to diversity and being allies to the black community. We will continue to prioritize increasing representation and inclusion in the work that we do at UNC and in the greater community. This session will focus on discussing the various journeys of Black entrepreneurs in our ecosystem.
Jun 06, 2026
Webinar: Black Communities — COVID-19 and University Engagement
Join Black Communities Conference co-chairs Mark Little and Karla Slocum as they discuss the impact of COVID-19 on Historic Black Communities. This week explores issues at the intersection of COVID-19 and university engagement.
Can Ed Tech Save Universities?
Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, institutions of higher education were under immense pressure to live up to their value propositions, with underlying tensions that have been developing for years posing an existential threat to their financial viability. As colleges and universities move classes and operations online in response to the pandemic, questions arise as to what such changes hold not just for now, but for the long-term success of higher education. Can ed tech provide a way forward? Find out in this week’s Kenan Insight.