Event Description

As part of our series event, Unconscious Bias in the workplace, our next topic is Ageism in the workplace.

Ageism is one of the most widespread and socially accepted forms of prejudice. We often see a multitude of generalizations regarding age groups, rarely based on factual evidence, across social, news, and web media. But what are the impacts when such bias makes its way into the workplace? Join us to explore the effects that ageism poses across age groups as well as how it affects the workplace and employment outcomes.

Learning Objectives

1. Define what ageism bias is for our participants
2. Educate and promote an understanding of the issues and recommend tools and ways to combat it - both from leadership and legal perspectives
3. Explore and dissect the impacts on individuals and the society
4. Highlight the effects - merits and/or demerits of generalizing age groups e.g. Genz, Millennial, etc.

Agenda

12:00 - 12:15pm  Opening
12:15 - 1:00pm    Panel Discussion
1:00 - 1:20pm      Q&A
1:20 – 1:30pm     Closing

Speakers

Busayo Ajayi is a masterful HR Strategist with over 15 years of experience that bridges healthcare, tech,
and finance industries. Known for her adeptness in integrating state-of-the-art HR technologies, she's an
architect of inclusive workplaces that don't just talk about diversity and equity—they live it. Busayo
excels in executing strategic workforce initiatives and has a knack for turning corporate visions into
actionable plans. Her leadership footprint is seen in reduced turnover rates, enhanced employee
engagement, and improved operational excellence. A proud woman of color, first-generation Nigerian-
American, Busayo is not just an accomplished professional but also a mother, wife, and daughter. She is
an influential mentor and serves as an Instructor and Committee Member in various professional
affiliations.

Busayo is currently the founder and chief people strategist of SyzyGen Group, a healthcare HR
consulting firm. Previous clients include Boston Medical Center Healthcare System, Sickle Cell Warriors
Foundation, Women and Infants Hospital just to name a few.

Prior to starting her own firm she served as Head of Human Resources at Women and Infants Hospital
where Busayo led an HR transformation that significantly reduced nurse management turnover. She was
instrumental in developing a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training program that reached over
1,500 employees in a span of five months. As Associate Director, Human Resource Business Partner at
Becton Dickinson, Busayo launched a Black Employee Resource group and led multiple organizational
change projects with a focus on diversity and inclusion. At Boston Medical Center Health System, she led
the design and implementation of their DEI Strategy and returned to design the training curriculum for a
diverse workforce of around 10,000. Her innovative approaches garnered the Massachusetts’ ACHE
Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2019.

Busayo holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Development (MSHRD) and is in pursuit of an
Ed.D. in Leadership and Learning from Vanderbilt University. She is also certified as a Senior Professional
in Human Resources (SPHR) and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).

Leanne Rorick is Principal of Leanne Rorick Consulting, LLC and is currently contracted as Co-
Director of the Monroe County Aging Alliance, a shared initiative of United Way of Greater
Rochester and the Finger Lakes and Rochester Area Community Foundation. Leanne oversees
the development and implementation of Monroe County’s age-friendly, livable community
plan, Creating a Community for a Lifetime. She supports Monroe County with Health Across All
Policies efforts and is co-leading a Reframing Aging Initiative to combat ageism in Monroe
County, in partnership with the National Center to Reframe Aging.

Leanne is also a Research Assistant for Cornell University’s Institute for Translational Research
on Aging, where she is a researcher and trainer in long term care facilities for the Institute’s
Improving Resident Relationships in Long Term Care project.

Leanne holds a bachelor’s degree from Utica College of Syracuse University, certificates of both
Gerontology and Non-Profit Management from St. John Fisher College, and a certificate in the
Americans with Disabilities Act in Healthcare from the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. She is
a member of the Board of Directors for the Rochester Spinal Association, a member of the
Greater Rochester Area Partnership for the Elderly and has also joined the RASE Commission’s
Older Adult Community Advancing Recommendations Team.