"Where to Begin: A Startup Approach to Culture, Inclusion, and Belonging"

---

In today’s fast-paced, innovation-driven world, culture doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through intentional choices.

​

This session explores how organizations can adopt a startup mindset when building culture, inclusion, and belonging. Whether launching a new venture, initiative, or internal program, the earliest decisions shape how people experience the workplace for years to come.

​

Attendees will learn how disciplined, values-driven decisions can embed inclusion and belonging into the foundation of work. When done well, this approach boosts employee satisfaction, fuels innovation, strengthens connections with customers and partners, and drives stronger business outcomes.

​

Whether you're part of a startup or a legacy organization, this conversation will help you build culture with purpose and scale inclusive practices as you grow.

​

Participants will leave ready to:​

1. Apply a startup mindset to culture building. Learn how to approach culture, inclusion, and belonging with the same intentionality and discipline used to launch new ventures, ensuring these values are embedded from the very beginning.

2. Make values-driven decisions that strengthen belonging. Discover practical ways to prioritize inclusion in everyday decisions so teams feel empowered, connected, and motivated to contribute their best work.

3. Scale inclusive practices as organizations grow. Understand how to design systems, habits, and leadership behaviors that sustain belonging and cultural alignment as teams, programs, or organizations expand.

​

Speaker Bio:

Kisha Smith joined the Carolina Panthers in October 2019 as Vice President of Human Resources and was promoted to her current role with Tepper Sports & Entertainment in 2022. She leads Human Resources across the organization, supporting the Panthers, Charlotte FC, and Bank of America Stadium.

​

Prior to joining the organization, Smith spent 15 years with Walmart and Sam’s Club, where she held several leadership roles supporting logistics, regional operations, new store openings, and headquarters teams across multiple markets. She most recently served as Senior Director of HR for Field Operations at Sam’s Club.

​

Known for her commitment to authentic leadership and meaningful dialogue, Kisha is passionate about empowering others through transparency and connection.

​

Smith serves on the Board of Trustees for the Charlotte Ballet. A native of Shelby, North Carolina, she holds degrees from University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Columbia Southern University, Dallas Theological Seminary, and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.