Dare to Overcome

Introduction

Dare to Overcome 2022 was the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation’s annual in-person global gathering to celebrate businesses that inspire mutual respect and allyship among diverse communities in the workplace and marketplace. Why? It’s good for business, the economy, and society! At the annual gathering, top business leaders, Fortune 500 faith-oriented employee resource groups (ERGs), and corporate chaplains came together to share best practices and to build supportive, intersecting networks nationally and globally.

The Religious Freedom and Business Foundation:

The Religious Freedom & Business Foundation (RFBF) works globally with the mission of demonstrating the tremendous economic value and social benefits of robust religious diversity and liberty for all. RFBF believes that business and religious freedom for all combine to form a powerful force for a better world.

Through groundbreaking expert research, training programs, practical business tools, and convening interfaith business forums, RFBF helps demonstrate the critical link between respect for faith, successful enterprise, and dynamic national economies. RFBF’s pioneering work serves as a catalyst for executives to promote Freedom of Religion or Belief for all people through customer-facing policies and employee programming — such as employee resource groups (ERGs) fostering workplace religious inclusion — and leveraging their broader societal influence.

Student Reflections

Schuyler Chamberlain

Attending the Conference was a transformative experience for me. Initially nervous and doubtful, I soon found it to be an excellent opportunity for personal and professional growth. I gained valuable insights into networking and the business world, met people from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds, and secured a crucial internship needed for my graduation in December. A significant highlight was meeting Dr. David Paschane, who provided me with invaluable advice, support, and an internship opportunity with the Indian Health Services. This role aligns with my legal studies and passion for behavioral health, offering me real-world legal experience. This experience was particularly vital for BYU-Hawaii students like me, as it allowed us to connect with professionals and corporations, enhancing our learning and sharing our talents. Despite our remote location, we were able to interact with large corporations and professional individuals, making the Conference an immensely rewarding and perspective-changing event. I'm immensely grateful for this opportunity and the positive impact it had on my self-perception and career direction.

Rachel Akana

The Conference was a transformative and eye-opening experience that highlighted the powerful role of interfaith in business and individual identity capital. It was inspiring to see faith treated as a valuable resource, enhancing my religious literacy and understanding of authentic workplace culture. The Conference felt collaborative rather than transactional, with attendees sharing light and knowledge to empower one another. I left with a renewed sense of responsibility to integrate these insights into my future work, passionate about uplifting others and fostering inclusive environments. Watching people of various faiths practice their beliefs amidst corporate life reinforced the importance of living one's values daily. The sense of belonging and acceptance among attendees, including a memorable moment with a fellow participant wearing an aloha shirt, encouraged me to bring my whole self to professional settings. Meeting so many remarkable individuals and seeing the world move towards greater acceptance, love, and forgiveness was deeply inspiring. This Conference not only expanded my professional network but also strengthened my commitment to creating a workplace that embraces diversity and faith.

Misieli Peaua

From May 20 - 26, 2022, my colleagues and I, along with Professor Kajiyama, Professor Smith, and Dean of Students James Faustino, attended the "Dare to Overcome" Conference at the Catholic University of America in D.C., hosted by the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation. The Conference emphasized viewing religion not as a source of division but as a resource and solution, which resonated with the progress in religious freedom and inclusivity in my home community. Highlights included diverse religious leaders uniting in prayer following the Texas mass shooting, fostering an environment of peace, respect, and tolerance. This experience underscored the significance of religious freedom in professional settings and personal lives. Networking with representatives from companies like Intel, Tyson, American Airlines, AI Faith, and PayPal showcased their commitment to promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The Conference was a pivotal moment, enriching my understanding and inspiring me to advocate for religious freedom and inclusivity in all future endeavors.

Killian Canto

Imagine a large event space filled with businesspeople discussing ways to enhance productivity, energize corporate culture, and improve business practices, but without ego-centric attitudes and an exclusive focus on profit. This was the atmosphere at the "Dare to Overcome" Conference hosted by the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation. With over 250 attendees from diverse religious backgrounds, the Conference promoted religious freedom in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of allowing individuals to bring their whole selves, including their faith, to work. Key elements highlighted included Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which connect coworkers with shared experiences, and chaplaincy, which supports employees' spiritual and mental well-being. Acceptance, facilitated through ERGs and chaplains, emerged as a powerful tool, enabling open discussion and respect for various beliefs without proselytizing. This approach fosters a supportive and ethical workplace, building bridges of understanding. The three-day event offered opportunities to explore and share faiths, celebrating the progress of religious freedom in business. Attendees are left with a sense of hope that embracing moral and ethical principles, especially those rooted in faith, can lead to a better, more inclusive business environment.

Jonah Gunter

Attending the 2022 Dare to Overcome Conference was a profound privilege, offering an elevated, inspiring, and faith-promoting professional environment unlike any other. The caliber of attendees, driven by a higher purpose rather than personal gain, was remarkable. I connected deeply with individuals like a Christian executive honoring his mother's legacy, a Sikh engineer renewed in his faith after the tragedy, and a Muslim professional whose company supports daily prayers. These interactions underscored the vital role of faith in fostering authenticity in business. A poignant moment occurred during lunch with a young insurance professional who initially downplayed her religious involvement, only to realize with relief that she could openly discuss her faith at the Conference. This highlighted the pervasive pressure to conceal one's faith in professional settings and empowered me to embrace and express my religious identity openly. The Conference reinforced the importance of allowing employees to bring their whole selves to work, fostering environments of understanding and acceptance. The collective goodwill and love among attendees were palpable, reinforcing my commitment to share this transformative experience with the world. The gentle, confident power that comes from individuals of faith banding together for good was tangible. I am determined to learn from this transformative week and spread the same power, love, and goodwill in my professional life.

John Zenger

Three parts of the trip stood out to me: navigating pluralism, making valuable connections, and the personal change from religious exposure. An incident with setting up the Muslim prayer room highlighted the complexity of accommodating diverse religious beliefs, especially when a sculpture of Christ conflicted with the prayer direction towards Mecca. This situation underscored the challenges and occasional missteps in celebrating religious diversity and the importance of persistence in finding respectful solutions. I formed meaningful connections, such as with Judith Richter, who works in peace and medicine in the Middle East and plans to speak to our peacebuilding program, and Stephen Scranton of World Vision, who offered career support. Exposure to different faiths profoundly impacted my view of God and the world; the Hindu and Sikh prayers, ending with "Peace, peace, peace," resonated deeply. Experiencing these diverse prayers reinforced the shared goodness across religions and was a sacred, invaluable experience for me.

John Lidang

My experience at the Dare to Overcome Conference was profoundly enlightening and inspiring, akin to a professional EFY. The meaningful connections I made, and the impactful stories I heard empowered me, especially witnessing professionals of faith advocating for inclusivity in their workplaces. A key message was the importance of being authentic and embracing one's religion both at home and at work. The palpable excitement of attendees, driven by their faith, underscored the significant role religion plays in enhancing workplace performance and ethics. The Conference emphasized promoting religious openness to create a safe environment for employees. I was particularly moved by the prayer rooms for Muslims and Jews, which inspired me to join in personal prayer, fostering a deep sense of unity and humility. This experience strengthened my commitment to advocating for religious freedom and expression, recognizing our shared bonds despite cultural and religious differences. The spirit of camaraderie and support was evident, transforming colleagues into friends and shaping my character. I am grateful for the connections and friendships formed, inspired to create environments of understanding and dialogue, and committed to daily prayer, reflecting gratitude for God's generosity.

Jane Sandberg

Working as an intern for the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation has been an incredible learning experience since I began in January. Meeting Brian Grim and exploring the foundation's mission sparked my interest in promoting pluralism within the corporate world. My prior research on religious freedom had not considered the treatment of religious individuals in the workplace. However, working on the REDI Index and researching employee resource groups (ERGs) in Fortune 500 companies revealed that religion is often overlooked in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Recognizing that religion is a crucial aspect of identity and human dignity, I learned the importance of ERGs and inclusive programs that allow employees to express their beliefs at work, enhancing both pluralism and productivity. At the Dare to Overcome Conference, I saw firsthand the impact of these initiatives, meeting individuals whose lives were positively affected by ERGs and inclusion efforts. The Conference's inspiring environment, filled with professionals advocating for religious freedom, allowed for deep, personal connections. This experience profoundly enriched my understanding and commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to attend and the valuable connections I have made.

Gavin Cranney

The Dare to Overcome Conference provided an exceptional opportunity to delve into how corporate entities are advancing religious freedom within their diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies while fostering meaningful connections and diverse friendships. The palpable excitement and genuine camaraderie among attendees created a supportive community over the three days. While overall feedback was positive, some suggestions for improvement emerged, particularly concerning the balance between passive learning and interactive engagement, the need for more time allocated to networking and collaboration activities, and logistical clarity regarding event timing and scheduling. Additionally, ensuring better accommodations for religious practices, such as a designated prayer room, and diversifying cultural performances to reflect various faith perspectives were suggested enhancements. Despite these minor logistical and programmatic tweaks, participants left the Conference inspired and eager to continue promoting tolerance and diversity in their workplaces, highlighting the Conference's significant impact in advancing these crucial initiatives.

Connor Hansen

The Conference provided an enlightening exploration of faith's role in the workplace, offering diverse perspectives and strategies, from Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to corporate chaplaincy, within the framework of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Presentations by Thomas Holdman, Mark Whitacre, Cathie Wood, and Judith Richter were profoundly impactful, showcasing intellectual diversity and pluralism in action. The experience underscored the importance of respecting differing viewpoints while uniting in the shared goal of promoting religious freedom. Networking with successful business leaders dedicated to preserving religious liberty was particularly encouraging, affirming the value of maintaining one's faith identity in corporate settings. As a man of faith with corporate aspirations, this affirmation was personally significant and instilled hope for the future. Gratitude is extended to all involved in organizing the Conference and to the donors who facilitated participation, making the experience deeply enriching and inspiring.

Andrea George

Participating in the 'Dare to Overcome' Conference proved to be a transformative experience, offering profound insights and igniting a newfound sense of purpose. Immersed in an environment brimming with passion for human rights and workplace inclusivity, I found inspiration in collaborating with like-minded individuals. Witnessing the collective dedication of businesses and Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) towards promoting religious freedom within the workplace was awe-inspiring, instilling hope for broader societal recognition of human rights. Reflecting on the state of religious freedom in my home country, the Cook Islands, and recognizing its limitations, I am compelled to advocate for change upon my return. The impact of Tom Heldman's "7 Pillars of Humanity" resonated deeply, reminding me of our shared human experience and the imperative of serving humanity. Through this experience, I gained a deeper understanding of my American heritage and a profound appreciation for those dedicated to upholding human rights. Gratitude is extended to the individuals whose efforts made this event possible, forever shaping my perspective and life trajectory.

Amber Helfrich

Participating as a student intern at the Religious Freedom and Business Conference in Washington, DC, was an enriching experience that broadened my perspectives and facilitated meaningful connections. Alongside logistical responsibilities to ensure the smooth operation of the Conference, I cherished the opportunity to engage with business professionals dedicated to fostering religious freedoms in their workplaces. Stepping out of my comfort zone, I found myself in enlightening conversations with individuals from various fields, sparking lasting connections that I hope to nurture in the future. Witnessing the eagerness of participants to exchange ideas and insights left a lasting impression, underscoring the importance of promoting religious freedom in corporate environments. Overall, this experience was invaluable for all BYU Hawaii students involved, providing invaluable lessons and networking opportunities that will shape our future endeavors. I'm hopeful that such opportunities will continue to be available, fostering ongoing relationships and learning experiences within our community.

Summary Reports

Opening Session

Introduction:

The Dare to Overcome Conference was hosted by the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation in Washington, DC, at Catholic University's Busch School of Business. The conference brought leaders of Fortune 500 companies to celebrate businesses with religious inclusion and allowed them to connect with other faith-oriented leaders to share best practices.

Dr. Judith Richter:

Dr. Richter's presentation began with a short introductory video about The NIR School of the Heart. The school was founded to bring students of diverse backgrounds together to learn about cardiology. Students are primarily Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians. The NIR School brings them together to learn how to respect each other's cultural differences and build connections that last a lifetime. Dr. Richter then spoke about the idea of crossing boundaries, which has been a lifelong interest of hers. Her experience in the medical field and her work with The NIR School have helped her cross boundaries of hate, ignorance, and misunderstanding. She spoke about stents and how they open up arteries in hearts. Every heart beats the same, which makes it so stents can work in any heart they are placed in. These heartbeats are a universal symbol of humanity, and they bring us together. Dr. Richter also spoke about her father, who was a survivor of the Holocaust. He said that the Nazis took everything from him, but the one thing they could not take was his knowledge. Knowledge empowers, humanizes, and builds respect and peace. Richter's company was recently able to provide stents to Ukrainian people who were in need of them. She found out later that the area where those stents were sent was the very same area where her four grandparents were sent to Auschwitz to die. Their lives were taken there, but her company was able to give lives back in that same place. Dr. Richter concluded her remarks by stating that attendees should be leaders in the corporate world who inspire others to open hearts and break down barriers. Appealing to our common humanity will create a better world.

Sumreen Ahmad:

Sumreen Ahmad began her speech with a piece of advice her father gave her many years ago, which is that if you are not serving humanity, you are not serving your true purpose. She spoke of her background growing up in the Islamic faith and how that influenced her life decisions. She has striven to lead her life through the lens of Ehsan, which is the Islamic Dimension that constitutes the highest form of worship through excellence in work and social interactions. For her, working in the corporate sector was a good fit because the belief of Ehsan merged her foundational beliefs with her work. Once when, she was complimented on her leadership style, which she attributed to being inspired by her faith. At that time, her company was not open to the idea of diversity and inclusion initiatives, but she knew that she wanted to advocate for change in that area. She spoke about how faith and inclusion are an integral part of society because religious beliefs present an inseparable part of people's lives. Commitment to faith inclusion must extend to the business sector because it will increase employees' feelings of belonging. This will also increase their desire to be productive and excel in service to broader communities.

Dell Technologies

Glenda Cameron:

Glenda spoke on how Dell's fight against human trafficking has transcended across all faiths and ERGs. It has brought them together in a new way as they focus on spreading awareness. Dell has worked with the employees to educate and equip them to reduce the risk of human trafficking in their communities. Glenda's main advice to the audience was to involve company executives in important initiatives such as this. Getting them involved will help the movement gain traction.

Shawn Trotter:

Shawn shared how important it is for ERGs to come together and find common ground on topics. Dell's ERGs hold multi-faith events a few times a year where they celebrate differences and talk about common causes. It took a long time for the ERGs to get off the ground, but they have made a huge difference in the company and outside of the company. Bringing in A21 was a huge help to them as they helped educate the Dell employees.

Josh Gamboa:

Josh spoke about how the human trafficking training made him aware that this is not a faraway issue but rather one that impacts the places we live and interact. Even though the difference we can make might be small, light does not cast a shadow, and one piece of light can make an impact. It is not enough just to be against something like human trafficking; we must actively fight it. Human trafficking has a personal impact on people, and it is nearly impossible not to get involved. Everything we do is planting a seed, so we must make sure that we are doing our part in the process.

Steve Helms:

Steve said that although the subject matter of human trafficking is heavy, it is very impactful and necessary. He also said that sometimes we fall into categorizations of ERGs and only see how we are separate from one another, but uniting for this cause brought all the ERGs together. Like Glenda, he mentioned the importance of including the top executives of the company because that was what got people talking about the cause and about ERGs in general.

Establishing a Successful Faith-Based ERG Panel

Introduction:

Panelists shared how they established their faith-based ERG, how they structured it, the challenges they have faced, the value to the organization, and the wins they have had.

Naomi Kraus:

Naomi said that a majority of chapters had existed for a long time before she arrived at Google. Religious ERGs were not officially recognized, so when her chapter tried to get a budget request for cheesecake at one of their events, they were turned down. She realized that other religious ERGs were having similar issues, so they all came together against Google to petition for official recognition. After approval, an Interbelief Network was formed as an umbrella ERG for individual religious ERG chapters. This allows them to hold IBN events where all chapters come together and also have individual chapter events. They share experiences and practices and build empathy among the groups. Naomi has lots of satisfaction from running the Jewish ERG, and she feels that it benefits her community. Religious ERGs add value to the business, and they contribute to Google's success. A recent win is that the IBN put together a religious calendar where events could be scheduled around religious observances.

Michael Roberts:

Michael told a story about how his gay friend pushed him to start a religious ERG at Salesforce. Since equality is one of the key values at Salesforce, he felt that it was important to have people of faith be included in the message of equality. He spoke about how important it was to secure executive sponsorship from local to global levels. He also talked about how the average age of Salesforce employees is around 28, which is very young. They often were raised in certain faiths that they may not ascribe to anymore, but they have the desire to bring that part of themselves to work and unpack their faith in an Interfaith group. A recent win for Salesforce ERGs is their Duos program, which allows people to partner up with someone from a different faith. They commit to spending time with that person over a 4-week period and learning more about that person and their faith. This program has been a huge success.

Tariq Nagpurwala:

Tariq spoke of Meta's grassroots culture, where faith communities should be no exception. 20-30 affinity groups were created, and this was one of the first places he felt comfortable practicing his faith freely in the workplace. One specific thing he mentioned was being able to have a scheduled prayer time on Fridays, which helps promote faith and productivity. The mission of the faith groups is to build community and bring the world closer together, so the company has continued to support religious communities on the Meta campus. The community has grown to about 8,000 people. Interfaith groups are very useful in providing structure for requests where the company needs feedback from religious entities. Although activating groups is difficult, finding people who have passion for it makes it so the regional groups can be set up and then run smoothly. There is also external motivation for regional leaders to work with religious ERGs because the work they do with the groups can be included in their performance reports. They get credit for the work they do, and it is not completely volunteer-based. Another important thing Tariq mentioned is that candidates going through the interview process have the opportunity to speak with someone who works in an ERG. One recent win at Meta was a widespread initiative to spread awareness about Ramadan. They passed out Ramadan swag to start conversations that fostered engagement in the company.

Craig Carter:

Twenty-seven years ago, Intel kicked off employee resource groups. In this process, the Christian group was advocated for. The most recent religious ERG they worked to set up was a Bahai group. Craig has been involved in the Christain ERG for years, and he felt called upon by God to set up meetings with the other religious ERGs to form a Cross-Faith/Belied Alliance at Intel. However, having an ERG can seem like a US-centric idea; getting in touch with HR can help with structures that suit each area of the company. A recent win for Intel employees was having religious employees stand up for coworkers who are not in the same faith as them. This was surprising to some but was very positive for the community.

Commissioner on Religious Nondiscrimination

Andrea Lucas:

Lucas shared how religious discrimination has been a major focus for her and that she wants to make the protection of religious liberty a signature issue during her term. She said that the need for unity in a polarized country is deeply important, but unity cannot come at the expense of diversity. Celebrating and defending religious liberty is a foundational part of our republic. The EEOC's mission is to protect religious workers from discrimination since religious liberty has become a second-class right in some areas of society and culture. The private sector has a tremendous influence over religious liberty and has a significant role to play in protecting it. She then shared nine best practices, including the following:

1. Understand your basic legal obligations and rights related to religion in the workplace.
2. Be aware of substantial compliance resources from the EEOC.
3. Be aware that the EEOC takes enforcement efforts involving religious discrimination and accommodation very seriously, and your workplace should, too.
4. Employers should have clearly written and easily accessible policies for religious accommodations.
5. Affirmatively allow for religious expression at work. 
6. When incorporating AI in any employee applicant process, keep in mind the need to avoid religious discrimination and bias. 
7. Explicitly include religion in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, commitments, training, and other diversity efforts.
8. Be aware of the many dimensions of how religion can intersect with racial, ethnic, and national origin diversity.
9. When developing or implementing corporate initiatives related to promoting mental health and wellness, consider how faith, religion, and spirituality may arise in that context.
   

Military Chaplaincy Model for America

Rev. Alan T. "Blues" Baker:

Reverend Alan Baker spoke about how a chaplain's caring presence and nurturing relationships can be pivotal to a company. Chaplaincy does not mean having a place for people to come to the chaplain, but rather coming to people where they are and helping them. After his experience in the military, he learned that chaplains need to grow and adapt according to their "tribe" or "team." Switching focus to the corporate sector, Baker touched on the importance of employees being able to bring their whole selves to work. It is crucial for company leadership to understand this because increased job satisfaction leads to increased productivity, which will benefit the company greatly. He then stated four ways areas in which corporate chaplains can make a difference. These are absenteeism, presentism, life and death issues, and crisis and trauma issues. Battles in the corporate sector are much different than battles in the military sector, but chaplaincy is important regardless. Chaplains can give hope to those who need it most. Chaplains have four capabilities: providing, facilitating, caring, and advising. As corporations work to provide spiritual care as the military does, they must embrace religious diversity, invite employees to bring their whole selves to work, encourage faith-based ERGs in the workplace, and integrate chaplains into the workplace and give them access to individuals at all levels.

Corporate Positions and Employee Beliefs Panel

Kent Johnson:

Kent's remarks were centered around the importance of creating an environment where people listen to one another. This is vital for all corporations, especially ones with religious ERGs. The workforce is polarized, and public announcements may not align with employees' personal or religious beliefs. Companies should make an effort to listen to their employees and stakeholders before announcing public positions. Companies that have an established culture of listening will be able to manage potential outbursts and belligerent employees better than those with no established culture of listening.

Paul Lambert:

In agreement with Kent, Paul shared how important it is to listen to all perspectives. We must also recognize that our company does not have to be a complete reflection of us as individuals. We should have the space to be who we are, but that does not mean the company should completely align with a single individual belief we have. Employees should feel safe enough to voice their thoughts and know that they are being heard by executives. Having a culture of fear of having difficult conversations will make it difficult to create a positive environment. Starting difficult conversations in an understanding and humble way is extremely important. Another important aspect of this is for companies to create a detailed process that they use whenever they take a stance on certain issues because this will allow for consistency as they move forward.

Intel's Cross-Faith/Belief Leaders Alliance

Craig Carter:

Craig and some of his fellow coworkers at Intel gave a short presentation about how their religious ERGs work together to make their company a more inclusive place. They shared the three Rs, which are the results of having religious ERGs. These include recruiting, retention, and results. Each of these is promoted by the use of religious ERGs and free religious expression in the workplace. Intel has had 27 years of experience with religious ERGs and has had no issues because of the wonderful people involved in them. They make an effort to bring their best selves to work and encourage others to do the same.

Ark Invest's Cathie Wood on Faith and Business

Catherine Wood:

Cathie shared how she became interested in bringing faith to the workplace. While she was working in a large investment firm, she became disillusioned with the investing industry and wanted to create a new firm that promoted faith-centered values. Her firm, ARK, named after the ark of the covenant, is based on Psalm 91, which she recites to herself multiple times every day. She prays to have God's will guide her path and work with ARK to prioritize allocating capital to its highest and best use.