Overview

Around the world, talented, ambitious leaders are confronted with unique sets of challenges specific to a range of cultural, social, educational, and situational barriers. Here at the ILI, we focus on collaboration and professional development tools involving self-awareness in the workplace regarding gender, self-expression, systematic barriers to entry, recruitment pipelines, and maintenance of workplace diversity. This seminar empowers participants to accurately diagnose and manage workplace situations, master powerful communication tactics, and set a path for professional success. We understand diversity is more than a namesake but a source of increased fluidity, competency, and solvency in business, government, legal, and international development. Not only does this course consider questions of legality, ethics, and leadership authenticity, but it also provides instructions for best practices using casework and peer-reviewed research.

Format

The seminars are currently offered both in-person and online simultaneously, at the choice of the participant. This choice must be indicated at the time of registration. A small number of courses are scheduled to be delivered exclusively in person or online, and are indicated as such in the 2024 schedule. In-Person Only seminars usually start at 9:30 am Washington D.C. time. Daily sessions usually end at 4:00 pm. Breaks (including the lunch break) are allocated as appropriate. Online Only seminars will be delivered through five (for 1-week course) or ten (for 2-weeks course) live online sessions via videoconferencing platform. Each session will last approximately 3.5 hours and will be scheduled to start within a time window of 7:00 am – 8:30 am Washington D.C. time. Hybrid In-Person/Online seminars will start at a time most convenient to both in-person and online participants, and will generally follow the In-Person seminar format. We expect the classes to be highly interactive and can include presentations, case studies and exercises.

Course Outline

Key topics will include:

• Leadership—aligning your leadership strategy and style with your own personal values and self-image
• Values—emphasizing ethical communication and decision-making strategies across all levels of the organization
• Learn tactics for building effective, supportive, professional, and diverse networks
• Acquire new best practices to achieve balance and cultivate personal fulfillment
• Discuss strategies for analyzing, developing, and maintaining diversity in the workplace
• Global and Local—understanding and implementing knowledge and ideas from international bodies, trends, and organizations

Course Advisor

Dr. Gerhard Botha is the Director of Programs at the International Law Institute in Washington D.C. Previously, he worked for the World Bank as a senior sector specialist in legal and judicial reform and private and financial sector development. Gerhard specialized in labour/employment law and relations, conflict resolution and negotiations, both in private practice and within a large corporate environment in Southern Africa. Dr. Botha has over 36 years’ experience in legal and labour relations practice, and in international development. Gerhard holds B.A. and LL.B degrees from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, an LL.M in labour law, from the University of South Africa and an LL.M focusing on labour/employment law and alternate dispute resolution, from The George Washington University Law School in Washington DC. He also holds a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University.