INTERNATIONAL WEBINAR : Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

STEKOM University, Indonesia – International Seminars entitled “Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace” brought together a number of international speakers to discuss in more depth about diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Seminar Opener : Dr. Joseph Teguh Santoso (Chancellor of STEKOM University) Indonesia

Seminar Speakers :

1.    Prof.S.Noorul Hassan PhD (Head of Department AI&DS, CSE (CS)) AEC, India

2.    Ereso Negi (Lecturer in Management Department) OSU, East Timor

3.    Wibi Ardi Alvianto, M.Pd. (Lecturer of Communication Visual Design Dept) STEKOM University, Indonesia

Master of Ceremony : Anggi Novita Sari (International Affairs) STEKOM University, Indonesia

This International Webinar discusses diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We know that inclusive leadership in cybersecurity is critical to addressing complex challenges and creating a culture of collaboration. This encourages diverse perspectives to address evolving threats and fosters a sense of belonging among cybersecurity professionals. That diversity is a fundamental strength that can unlock innovation, resilience and adaptability in this important era.

In this seminar,Prof.S.Noorul Hassan PhD (Head of Department AI&DS, CSE (CS)) AEC, India said that inclusive leadership in cybersecurity is an important part of the digital world. Having a vision, risk management and building a diverse team are critical to success in cybersecurity. This is because a clear vision and strategy is needed in inclusive leadership for cybersecurity to protect organizations from digital threats. In addition, effective risk management is able to understand threats and protect business security. Furthermore, the building and management of diverse teams is also necessary to ensure inclusion in the work environment as well as the necessary collaboration and innovation.

According to Prof.S.Noorul, there are important things that must be considered in achieve success, among others organizations must focus on the objectives that must be met and decision making is carried out effectively by considering various factors. Then understanding diverse customer needs and improving employee satisfaction are critical to the success of better products and services. Additionally, understanding future technology and how it will affect us and how we should adapt is also important. Furthermore, understanding the market to meet diverse and unique customer needs also needs to be considered. Increasing employee satisfaction and recognizing their uniqueness and talents is also necessary to understand and satisfy customer needs. Apart from that, we also need to get out of our comfort zone, think globally, face challenges and learn from various aspects to become cyber security experts or good leaders. Then the last thing is to learn from various aspects for organizational success.

Furthermore Prof.S.Noorul also spoke about the importance of inclusive leadership in cyber security which includes:

·      Encourage inclusive decision making. This relates to creating an environment where all team members feel empowered to contribute their ideas and perspectives to the decision-making process, resulting in more comprehensive and effective solutions.

·      Embracing diversity, inclusive leadership in cybersecurity involves actively embracing diversity in terms of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives within teams.

·      Provide equal opportunities. This is concerned with providing equal opportunities for career advancement, training and professional development for all team members, regardless of their background or identity.

·      Lead by example. Leading by example and giving the team space is important to their decisions.

·      Measuring and monitoring progress, as well as creating performance standards are important for achieving continuous improvement. As a leader, it is important to demonstrate a commitment to diversity, fairness and respect in interactions and decisions, and to give teams space for their decisions.

·      Build trust and engagement. This is done by actively listening, appreciating contributions and providing opportunities for meaningful participation.

Inclusive leadership in cybersecurity is critical to building a diverse and inclusive cybersecurity team. Evaluation of existing practices, learning from past experiences and adapting strategies are also necessary to effectively address cyber threats.

The next speaker, namely Wibi Ardi Alvianto, M.Pd (Lecturer of Communication Visual Design Dept) STEKOM University, Indonesia talk about the role of inclusive leadership in building diverse and inclusive cybersecurity teams to enhance organizational innovation and reputation. Challenges in implementing inclusive leadership include unconscious bias, power dynamics and a culture of ownership that need to be addressed with mindset changes and inclusive leadership training. Inclusive leadership in cybersecurity plays a critical role in building trust, collaboration and innovation to address complex challenges. Recruitment, training and an inclusive culture also support the development of a diverse cybersecurity team.

Furthermore, Wibi explains the importance of inclusive leadership in building trust, collaboration and innovation in cyber security. That inclusive recruiting and hiring strategies are necessary to reduce bias and ensure fairness in the employee recruitment process. In addition, mentorship, career development programs and inclusive training are important in creating a work environment that supports diversity and inclusion.

According to Wibi encouraging a culture of inclusion and leadership accountability, as well as recognizing and rewarding inclusive behavior is necessary to strengthen organizational values. This is because building an inclusive and conducive work environment is the key to increasing productivity and work motivation. Steps such as using inclusive language, creating safe zones and accepting constructive feedback can help create a positive and conducive work environment. Inclusive leadership in cybersecurity is also important to encourage inclusive behavior and positive contributions from teams. Empowering cybersecurity professionals is necessary to share perspectives and contribute to an inclusive culture.

Wibi also said that building a pleasant work space with facilities such as play and relaxation rooms can increase productivity and create a sense of equality in the work environment. This is because providing a play or relaxation space in the workplace can help employees feel more relaxed and reduce stress after working all day. Additionally, providing a dedicated platform for sharing knowledge between employees can increase collaboration and engagement in the workplace.