Lessons in DEI Leadership – In My Own Voice
May 19, 2021 – 10:00 am CT
On May 19, 2021 at 10:00am (CT) please join Lt. General Nadja Y. West (ret.) and Leon J. Topalian, President & Chief Executive Officer, Nucor, for a virtual fireside chat on Lessons in DEI Leadership moderated by Bob Weidner, President & Chief Executive Officer, MSCI.
Every organization’s only sustainable long-term competitive advantage lies in their people. This virtual fireside allows all employees of MSCI member companies to hear from both Nadja and Leon, in their own voice, share personal and professional lessons in diversity, equity and inclusion leadership.
Nadja West is the first black female Army Surgeon General and three-star General to serve in the United States Army. In addition to her military credentials and many accomplishments, she holds a Doctorate of Medicine from George Washington University School of Medicine and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Nadja serves on both the Nucor and Johnson & Johnson Board of Directors.
“My parents taught me to work hard and be the best I can be and things will work out. I’m just really honored. If anything at all, I hope I can be an inspiration to any one or any group that has not seen themselves in certain positions. We all want to see people who look like us doing certain things to give us inspiration. Hopefully, I can inspire someone to be able to say, ‘I can do that.’” ~ Nadja West
Leon Topalian was named President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nucor Corporation in January 2020. He previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Nucor beginning in September 2019. Topalian began his career with Nucor as a project engineer at Nucor Steel-Berkeley in 1996 and was promoted to Cold Mill Production Supervisor in 1998. He has held various leadership positions throughout his Nucor career in Australia, at Nucor Steel South Carolina, Nucor Steel Kankakee, and Nucor-Yamato Steel Company. He served as Executive Vice President of Beam and Plate Products from 2017 to 2019.
People are truly any organization’s greatest asset. Please join us in learning more about the power and importance of a diverse team and the role of leadership.