Women's Business Council - Southwest

Join WBCS on July 15 for Business Insights with an interactive presentation and discussion focused on organizational diversity. Royalyn Reid, CEO of Consumer & Market Insights, will facilitate a brief discussion on how we as an organization can value and optimize our diversity following a special presentation from Linda Valdez Thompson, Executive Vice President of Administration and Diversity, DFW International Airport, as she discusses relevant information on diversity, creating awareness, valuing others and maximizing connections.

Business Insights will be held at Noah's in Richardson. Admission is $30. For more information on the event, click here!

WBCS would like to share a Q&A with Royalyn about the upcoming event. We hope to see you all there next week!

WBCS: First things first! Can you tell us about your business and your involvement with WBCS?

RR: Consumer & Market Insights (CMI) is a performance management and knowledge company that specializes in marketing research, training, event management, program and project management. With each client, CMI identifies and addresses current and emerging opportunities and challenges with actionable, low-risk, high value solutions. We anticipate, manage and adapt quickly.

We bring the scientific rigor of focused market research (Discovery phase), design programs to address the gaps using our deep understanding of human behavior (Design phase) and deliver practical, action-oriented approach to implementing solutions through the system with employees, customers or community (Delivery phase).

Clients include: DFW International Airport, City of Dallas, NTTA, US Departments of Commerce, Transportation and Housing & Urban Development.

My WBCS Involvement includes: WBCS Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Women of Color Committee, 2015 WBCS-WBENC National Conference Host Committee, WBCS Forum Representative for WBENC, First Vice Chair of the WBENC Forum Global Services Committee.

WBCS: Thank you in advance for facilitating the discussion at the next Business Insights event on July 15! Can you tell us about the speaker and topic?

RR: I am excited to have Linda Valdez Thompson as our guest speaker. Linda is a remarkable woman and a true champion of women, minorities and diversity in the workplace. She is one of the highest ranking Latinas in the aviation industry worldwide. Linda’s accomplishments at DFW Airport include:

  • a proven track record on diversifying DFW Airports workforce that shows an upward trend over the past five years
  • establishing diversity and inclusion as a core competency for all DFW leaders that is measured annually
  • establishing the Airport’s first mentoring program and championing DFW’s first employee resource groups for women and diverse groups

Linda will provide a relevant presentation that will cover key strategies of diversity that can be applied in the corporate arena, small business arena, as well as certain aspects of our personal lives. 

WBCS: What can WBCS members expect to gain from this Business Insights discussion?

RR: Following Linda’s presentation, we will have a brief discussion on

  • how diversity and the key diversity strategies from Linda’s presentation relates to WBCS
  • how we can use these strategies to optimize our growth and productivity as an organization

We want to take advantage of the great ideas from the diverse group (WBEs, Sustaining Members, staff, individuals from different industries, etc.) that will be attending Business Insights.  This is the beginning point for discussions that leverage the knowledge in the room for optimizing WBCS. 

WBCS: Why do you think diversity is important, especially for entrepreneurs?

RR: Diversity is especially important for entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs must remain lean, nimble, flexible, and on the cutting edge of trends and changes in their respective industries.  Having a diverse workforce and strategic partners can fuel fresh, progressive ideas, approaches and solutions that are needed for optimal success. 

This is an important concept and practice I implement in my business... It works!

WBCS: Thank you Royalyn for taking the time to talk with us! See you at Business Insights!