The conference originated in 1996 as a result of efforts by master s of business administration and accounting students who initiated plans for a conference. Fewer than 100 students, faculty and business people were able to attend the first conference held in the spring of 1997. This year the conference numbers more than doubled with 220 participants. Lynda Bodman, president of Schubert Associates, led the effort to secure funding for the one-day conference. We wanted to put our money where our mouths were on this one, Bodman said.
Diversity education is essential to the success of anyone male or female in business today.
This year s speakers included Shell s Susan Hodge, who previously served as vice president on Enron Capital Management, and Beth Rivers of Coopers and Lybrand. As market managing partner in Fort Worth, Rivers is only the third woman to head one of Coopers and Lybrand s 100 U.S. offices.