INICIVOX will bring its virtual seminar series, “Identifying the Elephant in the Room,” to the natural products industry, spanning March 16 to April 20.
 
The six-part series will feature professionals from a variety of sectors of the industry, who will share both their positive and negative experiences, while giving other professionals a platform to learn, ask questions, and seek out ways to positively change and improve sexist behavior and inequalities.
 
“The intention of the series is to create an awareness and elevate the discussion on how to address, and respond to, attitudes or behaviors on traditional stereotypes of gender roles that discriminate, devalue or restrict opportunities for professionals working in the natural products space,” said Amy Summers, series director, founder, and president of INICIVOX and Pitch Publicity. “Being silent on these issues has not helped. It’s important that we provide a space to reflect what we are seeing and hearing, internally and externally, through a lens of truth while challenging ourselves and our organizations to do better.”
 
“Identifying the Elephant in the Room” will tackle controversial topics that lack clear communication strategies, and aims to elevate the conversation on the subject matter. The first series took place in fall of 2020, and was focused on addressing critical communications strategies in the face of racism for professionals entering communications fields. The focus of the second series will examine how sexism is addressed in the natural products industry, and how to positively shift behaviors through words and actions.
 
Industry organizations Naturally Network and Naturally Proud Network will participate as partners in the series, while Late Night Health Radio will participate as a media partner. Mark Alyn, the host of the radio show, will interview seminar participants in “After the Elephant” for instant feedback and discussion through his podcast, “Late Night Health.” Pitch Publicity and INICIVOX will fund and promote the seminar series as co-sponsors.
 
An optional in-person speed networking event to apply learnings from the sexism seminar series will take place at SupplySide East on April 19 at 11:30 a.m. at the Meadowlands Exposition Center. Summers and mentors from the series will showcase best practices for making a good first impression, moving beyond surface talk, recognizing exit cues, avoiding conversation stoppers, and making genuine connections.
 
The live virtual series will take place online, and all sessions will be recorded and available for playback to registered attendees. Professionals who attend the entire series can receive a certificate of completion from INICIVOX on sexism discussions.
 
Participants who attend the live sessions can submit questions anonymously via the chat function for instant feedback from mentors on the panels. The seminar series will be segmented by various channels within the natural products industry, which will serve as themes for each of the panels, all of which will be held from 1-2 p.m. ET on Thursdays.
 
For those who register before March 15, the entire series will be available for $75. Members of series partners will receive an additional $25 off the registration fee by entering a discount code provided by the partner.