10 Best DEI Conferences and Events to Attend in 2025
The world is changing, and so is the way we work. Fostering an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion is becoming more important than ever before, and DEI conferences are designed to make that easier for businesses. The businesses that embrace these values are the ones that will thrive in the years to come.
In fact, recent reportsOpens in a new tab shows that diverse companies and teams can improve their decision-making process by up to 87%, which can boost revenue by up to 250%. Helping underrepresented groups feel more comfortable in your workplace can also have a huge positive impact on your retention rates.
One of the best ways to drive this positive change in your workplace is by attending a DEI conference. Luckily, there are plenty of options to consider. Many of these events offer virtual and in-person options, which makes it even easier for you or your team to attend.
If you want to find out more about DEI conferences and how to make your workplace more inclusive, check out this guide on the top events and conferences coming up in 2024.
DEI Conferences in 2024
In this section, we’ll have a brief overview of the best diversity and inclusion events that you should consider attending in 2024.
Workhuman® Live Austin 2024
- Date: April 15 to 18, 2024
- Location: Austin, Texas
- Pricing: starting at $1495
Workhuman® Live Austin 2024 is a transformative event that’s all about the human experience and how to amplify it through inclusion and diversity. Workhuman Live is a well-established HR conference and was recognized as one of the 10 most innovative meetings of 2022, according to BizBash.Opens in a new tab
This year’s event is also the 9th in-person event of the successful conference, in addition to 3 virtual conferences in 2020 and 2021. They're also holding a conference in London on June 4, 2024.
The conference peaked at about 4,000 attendees before the pandemic, with the 2024 version expected to reach 2,000 attendees. Most attendees are HR and business leaders from large organizations that have over 2,500+ employees.
The main theme of Workhuman® Live Austin 2024 is “Focus.” The conference will explore a range of topics but center around focusing on what really matters at work. Attendees will learn new strategies to cut through the noise and address HR issues at the source rather than simply addressing their after-effects.
It will also include keynote speeches from renowned speakers, who will share their insights and provide valuable networking opportunities to the attendees. The organizers work hard to bring the best and most influential speakers in the industry.
This year’s speaker will be acclaimed writer and thought leader Brené Brown, whose research on the power of vulnerability is truly inspiring.
The 2023 conference included Esther Perel and Luvvie Ajayi Jones, in addition to several executives from Accenture, Cisco Systems, Point32Health, UnitedHealth Group, Merck, Zimmer Biomet, Netflix, Gallup, Qualitrics, Mercer, Akamai Technologies, Microsoft, NBC Universal, and more.
Besides keynote speakers and panels, the 2024 event will also include over 60 breakout sessions along with various interactive workshops.
The conference also has its integrated event app with full guidance throughout to help you make the most out of the 3.5-day long event.
Workhuman® Live Austin 2024 is also a complete package that will highlight a wide range of critical topics, empowering leaders to reach their goals and achieve success within their businesses. This will include action-planning workshops to synthesize learnings into actionable plans, each highly tailored to each attendees’ unique needs.
The previous Workhuman Live eventsOpens in a new tab made a tremendous impact on improving DE&I initiatives all over the country, so you should expect no less from the upcoming event!
Why you should attend
- Excellent panel of speakers with great networking opportunities
- Remarkable development credit with incredible success over the years and past conferences
- Includes a variety of breakout sessions and interactive workshops
- Workhuman® supports local charities and builds a culture of gratitude
National Diversity & Leadership Conference
- Date: March 18-21, 2024 (training), April 15-18, 2024 (event)
- Location: Dallas, Texas
- Pricing: $899 – $6,499
The National Diversity & Leadership ConferenceOpens in a new tab is an annual event that brings leaders from across the country together to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
The 2024 event is the 20th installment of the conference, and it’ll carry “The Power of Diversity” as its main theme.
This leadership summit will feature keynote speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities to discuss DEI and how to foster feelings of belonging in the workplace.
The conference speakers are field experts who hold certifications in topics like allyship, LGBTQ inclusion, anti-racism, and inclusive leadership.
Additionally, the conference will shed light on other important work culture concepts, such as professional development, proper leadership, overcoming unconscious bias, and more.
Why you should attend
- Heavily focused on DEI efforts as the main topic of the conference
- Teaches each attendee how to be a better ally in the workplace
- Features both training sessions and traditional conference events
- Provides the opportunity to exchange ideas for navigating difficult conversations
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conference
- Date: March 5 to 6, 2024
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Pricing: $1,995 (full price) – $1,695 (for members)
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conference Opens in a new tab is a 2-day event that discusses some of the most pressing identity-related matters in today’s workplace.
The diversity and inclusion conference also discusses some unique DEI-related topics, such as social justice, healthcare inequities, disability inclusion and accessibility, and neurodiversity.
The conference brings together industry leaders and speakers from business and as well as academics to discuss the latest trends and best practices to achieve a diverse, inclusive workplace that aims to create more equality.
The conference is ideal for HR personnel and C-level executives who are looking for new insights on leadership development.
Why you should attend
- Relatively short event, which is ideal if you’re unable to commit for several days
- Discuss unique DEI subtopics by expert speakers
- Interactive sessions to help attendees change their managerial mindset from a programmatic focus to a more strategic approach
Twenty-fourth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations
- Date: July 3 to 5, 2024
- Location: Lisbon, Portugal + Online
- Pricing: $195 (in-person audience pass) – $145 (online audience pass)
The International Conference on Diversity has been around since 2000. The conference is held in a different location every year.
The 23rd version was held in Canada, but you’ll need to pack your bags for a flight to Portugal to attend the 24th conference in person. Luckily, you can also attend it online.
The event brings together a wide variety of speakers and experts from around the world to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion, not only in workplaces but in communities and nations as a whole as well.
The theme of the 2024 version is "The Future We Want”, which will explore how diversity can be used to address various challenges of our time both inside and outside of the workplace.
Why you should attend
- Available as both online and in-person versions
- Fairly affordable audience pass price
- Introduces the attendee to a wider, international perspective with speakers from all over the world
Remaining DEI Conferences in 2023
While many DEI conferences in 2023 have already passed, there are still some upcoming meetings that you might want to consider. Keep in mind that the availability of these conferences might change due to time limitations.
HRO Inclusion Summit
- Date: September 6 to 7, 2023
- Location: Alexandria, Virginia
- Pricing: Starts from $1,695 (in-person)
This Inclusion Summit Opens in a new tab is the second annual event by HRO that brings thought leaders and executives together to discuss best practices for creating and sustaining workplace inclusivity.
The event includes a huge list of speakers from a variety of industries, along with plenty of helpful sessions. Sessions will include information on the relationship between DEI and social governance, attracting diverse talents, measuring the ROI of DEI, and more.
Why you should attend
- Provide sessions hosted by both small and large market specialists
- New event with plenty of potential to grow
HACR Annual Symposium
- Date: October 9 to 11, 2023
- Location: New York City, New York
- Pricing: $1,650 (members) – $2,080 (non-members)
The HACR Symposium Opens in a new tab is one of the biggest annual events that focus on Hispanic inclusion in the workplace.
The event speakers include top Hispanic leaders in various fields, along with Fortune 500 leaders who are committed to furthering career advancement for individuals from this population.
The Symposium provides employees with some of the best data-driven DEI practices and networking opportunities in several industries.
Why you should attend
- Honors the contributions Hispanic leaders have made
- Creates deeper cultural awareness for managers and executives
- Features top speakers from Fortune 500 companies
SHRM Inclusion 2023
- Date: November 29 to November 1, 2023
- Location: Savannah, Georgia
- Pricing: $1,795 (members) – $2,195 (nonmembers)
SHRM Inclusion 2023 is a conference for HR professionals who are committed to creating more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces.
One of the unique aspects of SHRM Inclusion 2023 is that it offers opportunities for a leveled learning approach, ranging from beginner to advanced.
Besides the in-person passes, the conference features virtual passes for discounted prices to attend the event online.
Why you should attend
- Suitable for all levels of expertise on DEI matters
- Offers virtual passes that let you attend from anywhere in the world
Global Inclusion 2023 Diversity Abroad Conference
- Date: October 31 to November 3, 2023
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- Pricing: $949 (members) – $1,149 (nonmembers) – $599 (graduate students)
The 2023 Diversity Abroad Global Inclusion ConferenceOpens in a new tab is a premier event that provides an excellent opportunity for brands to connect and discuss methods to advance diversity and equity in organizations.
The conference is committed to offering solutions to various inclusion-related issues through breakout sessions.
Besides DEI, the conference also puts major emphasis on advancing global education and cultural exchange.
Why you should attend
- Provides opportunities for attendees to connect with peers from similar organizations and backgrounds through the Collegial Connections program
- Offer some travel grants of up to $500
- Features discounted rates for graduate students
NAAAP Leadership Convention
- Date: August 24 to 26, 2023 (passed)
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts
- Pricing: $850 (members) – $1000 (nonmembers)
The NAAAP Leadership ConventionOpens in a new tab is an annual event that brings together over 700 leaders, speakers, and visionaries from the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
The 2023 event aimed to engage professionals of all backgrounds through educational workshops and networking sessions, including keynote speeches by leading figures in the Asian American community.
Why you should attend
- The annual event features one of the largest numbers of speakers
- Ideal for leaders interested in Asian Americans’ DEI
- Empowers people in leadership roles to have difficult conversations with more tact
Nebraska Leadership Diversity & Inclusion Conference
- Date: November 9, 2023
- Location: Omaha, Nebraska
- Pricing: $65
The Nebraska Hispanic Chamber FoundationOpens in a new tab is hosting a conference to help leaders from across businesses, industries, and nonprofits learn about and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
This diversity conference will have a particular focus on the Hispanic population and provide attendees with various resources and tools that can help them foster inclusivity in the workplace.
The event passes for the conference are among the most affordable on the list, which makes it perfect for smaller businesses with limited budgets.
Why you should attend
- Ideal for businesses on a tight budget
- Focuses on several specific DEI topics impacting the Latin/Hispanic population in the workplace
FAQs
Why attend a DEI conference?
These conferences offer opportunities for learning and networking through various educational sessions, workshops, and speeches that create a space for professionals to collaborate and share their insights.
DEI conferences are an excellent place to get inspired and widen your perspective. They also provide exposure to new ideas, best practices, and helpful case studies, which offer practical strategies and real-life examples from various organizations.
DEI conferences can also contribute to personal and professional development for those who want to enhance their organizational leadership skills and understand how to work through cultural issues in their workplaces.
How can you maximize your conference experience?
Here are some tips to help you make the most out of your experience as a participant:
- Set goals and expectations before going to mark and attend the most relevant sessions for you
- Communicate with other attendees to benefit from the networking opportunities that the conference offers
- Engage with speakers, and don’t shy away from asking critical questions to broaden your perspective
- Leverage the post-conference resources, data, and analytics and use them while setting up your DEI initiative plan
Conclusion
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are essential for creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued regardless of their gender, racial background, or any other factor.
Diverse organizations are able to attract and retain top talent from various cultures and foster an environment that encourages innovation. Equity also ensures that all employees feel empowered to succeed and excel in the workforce, regardless of their background.
If you’re looking for a complete event with seminars, presentations, and keynote speeches from renowned speakers in the DEI field, you should consider attending Workhuman® LiveOpens in a new tab
About the author
Ryan Stoltz
Ryan is a search marketing manager and content strategist at Workhuman where he writes on the next evolution of the workplace. Outside of the workplace, he's a diehard 49ers fan, comedy junkie, and has trouble avoiding sweets on a nightly basis.