Hospitality in the Workplace: A Keynote

…because sometimes we forget that we were all guests at one point

Adrian is the CEO of Hypothetical, LLC, a venture that is growing quickly. While they understand that research shows diversity often means smarter, more profitable companies, they haven’t quite figured out how to bring in talent that reflects their understanding of this research. When they do find the talent, they struggle to keep them. And when they are not struggling to keep them, they are struggling to foster an environment where people feel connected. Adrian knows that addressing the diversity, equity and inclusion problem will not only increase the company’s bottom line, more importantly, they know that it will transform the culture and bring additional value to those working there. Adrian has hired different experts to help with this, but employees often walk away angry, frustrated and feeling guilty as opposed to empowered.

  • "Sagashus was simply phenomenal!! What an amazingly powerful way to close a day full of learning! I felt unified with and mesmerized by Sagashus. Her standing ovation was well-deserved! A brilliant speaker who gave of herself so whole-heartedly. I'm humbled and honored to have been in the room."

  • "This was my favorite talk of the day. I appreciate Sagashus sharing from her heart and being so vulnerable in front of us. Her talk really moved me."

  • "Sagashus was an amazing speaker, and was very touching and personable."

  • "She was amazing and her story was amazing and so inspiring. The standing ovation at the end was not enough to show her just how moving her speech was. I am glad she shared things that must have been extremely difficult, especially things people would say to her when she was pregnant. Reminds you to not judge so quickly, etc but also reminds you that there are cruel people in the world and you need to be YOU and not let that get you down."

    sagashus

Often, when we think of hospitality, we associate it with our homes and personal spaces. But what about hospitality in the workplace? Join me in this keynote that explores and challenges our use of the word hospitality, as well as how we practice it in the workplace. This talk reimagines both as a way of helping you get closer to reaching your DEI goals.  Together, we will reflect, question and dive deep. My hope is that you will walk away thinking about old things in new ways, feeling inspired and more connected to your current team. Equally important, my hope is that you will walk away better prepared to expand it.

Learning outcomes

  • Gain a new understanding of host and hospitality

  • Explore the necessity of putting one’s own “freedom” into question by welcoming “guests”

  • Understand the importance of unity and radical separation

  • Explore how this model of hospitality can help you diversify

ALL KEYNOTES

  • Inconceivable

  • Naked

  • Your Hands Are in My Panties

  • Covet

  • Nothing’s Wasted

  • Story

  • Perseverance/Tenacity

PRE -PROGRAM SETUP

What is the best way to set up the room? 

Please, if possible, make sure the stage or platform is as close to the audience as possible, 10 feet or less is great! 

While Sagashus will move around the stage, she will require a lectern with a told that holds her water, book and notes and a hidden shelf for her purse. 

If the AV requires the computer on stage, please make sure the lectern has space for it. Otherwise, please create a setup where the notes, book and technology can all be in the same space. The goal is for Sagashus to be able to move seamlessly between the technology and materials without having to separate them. 

AV REQUIREMENTS

Sagashus requires the following A/V equipment be provided:

Wireless lavalier microphone 

Computer 

LCD projector with the capacity to play audio and video 

Large screen or screens 

Confidence monitor 

Sagashus will bring her program on a Flash Drive in a PowerPoint format. But she will also have a backup in Google Sheets.

Is audio/video recording allowed? No audio or video recording of any kind is permitted during the presentation without Sagashus’s prior written permission.

All rights reserved. No selling, distribution, or reproduction of the contents of this article are permitted without the prior written consent of the author.

Dr. Sagashus T. Levingston was born in Chicago and raised in the area now known as Bronzeville. She holds a bachelor’s in English Literature from the University of Illinois. She also holds a master’s in Afro-American Studies and a PhD in English literature—both from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While her research focused primarily on literature, it was informed by theory and criticism from rhetoric, motherhood studies and black feminism.