Inclusive Leadership: The Power of Workplace Diversity (Coursera)

Inclusive Leadership: The Power of Workplace Diversity (Coursera)

This course will equip and empower you to be a highly inclusive leader. You will learn principles, perspectives and practices that help to reap the power of workplace diversity. Workplace diversity has expanded beyond traditional demographics such as gender, race, and ethnicity. Those categories always will matter. In today’s workplace, diversity also encompasses nationality, religious background, sexual orientation, age, ability, experience, and diversity of thought, among other characteristics. Leaders will need to consider all of these aspects of diversity – among all stakeholders. That includes current and prospective employees, customers, clients , students, peers, and anyone else with whom a leader interacts.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Employees are expecting - if not demanding - equal opportunities and work/life balance. They want to work in environments where others value and respect their unique skills and experiences. They seek contexts where they have a strong sense of belonging, where they can “be themselves.” They want their distinct perspective to be heard. As researchers Bernadette Dillon and Juliet Bourke asserted, meeting those expectations necessitates “a new capability that is vital to the way leadership is executed.” That capability is inclusive leadership, which this course defines as “Processes of social influence that strive to value and respect everyone involved in achieving a goal.” Everyone includes members of non-dominant and dominant groups. You will learn six signature traits of inclusive leadership: Commitment, Courage, Cognizance of Bias, Curiosity, Cultural Intelligence, and Collaboration. These traits are based on groundbreaking global leadership studies by Deloitte University researchers Bernadette Dillon and Juliet Bourke. You will explore a wide range of traditional and timely topics. Examples include listening, feedback, inclusive meetings, emotional intelligence, belonging, microaggressions, and micro-affirmations.
The course is designed for current or aspiring leaders in ANY type of organization or institution – working in formal or informal roles, to achieve ANY type of goal. In addition, four Spotlights illuminate these special topics: The Workplace, Privilege, Implicit Bias, and Power. Each module has video lessons, a quiz, and a summary of key concepts. Each lesson includes 1-2 discussion prompts, self-reflections, assigned materials, and optional materials that allow you to delve more deeply into the lesson. In addition, a Resources section for the course shares a wealth of information and insight to further expand your learning.
I’m so glad that you chose this course. Best wishes for a productive and enjoyable learning experience.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Inclusion Matters
In this module, you will learn perspectives on inclusion. We will explore the meanings of inclusion and why inclusion is important for promoting workplace diversity. The lessons will provide a foundation for becoming a highly inclusive leader. The first lesson offers a definition of inclusion. The second and third lessons deepen this definition by describing and giving examples of four factors of inclusion (belonging, uniqueness, equity, and non-discrimination). The fourth lesson explains how organizations benefit from inclusion. It also defines diversity in the workplace. And, it discusses the relationship between inclusion and diversity. The module concludes with a Spotlight on The Workplace. Please note that the Resources section of our course has a glossary of key concepts from this module.

WEEK 2
Inclusive Leadership Matters
In this module, you will learn perspectives on inclusive leadership. The first lesson reviews traditional theories of leadership and offers the definition of leadership that we will use in our course. The second lesson explains how we define inclusive leadership. The next two lessons delve into self-awareness, a crucial aspect of inclusive leadership. The module concludes with a lesson on the benefits of inclusive leadership and a Spotlight on Privilege. Please note that the Resources section of our course has a glossary of key concepts from this module.

WEEK 3
Six Signature Traits of Highly Inclusive Leaders
In this module, we will explore six signature traits of inclusive leadership. Researchers Bernadette Dillon and Juliet Bourke conducted a large-scale international project to study how leaders around the world were responding to changes related to inclusion. They identified six signature traits of highly inclusive leaders. The first lesson provides an overview of the six traits. The next lessons offer an overview of each trait and explain how inclusive leaders enact those traits. The module concludes with a Spotlight on Implicit Bias. Please note that the Resources section of our course has a glossary of key concepts from this module.

WEEK 4
Communication and Inclusive Leadership
In this module, we’re going to explore a variety of communication practices related to the six signature traits of inclusive leaders. Communication refers to the wide variety of ways that humans share meaning with one another, including communicating with oneself! Each lesson in this module provides information and ideas for how to communicate inclusively - how to show others that they are valued and respected. In the first lesson, we will explore a few communication topics that are especially relevant to members of non-dominant groups in the workplace. The following lessons delve into various communication topics, including intrapersonal communication, listening, microaggressions, micro-affirmations, feedback, and inclusive meetings. The module concludes with a Spotlight on Power. Please note that the Resources section of our course has a glossary of key concepts from this module.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Iniciación y Planificación de Proyectos (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Irvine,Tecnológico de Monterrey

Iniciación y Planificación de Proyectos (Coursera)

En este curso, aprenderás los principios fundamentales de la gestión de proyecto en las etapas de iniciación y planificación, lo cual incluye la identificación y mapeo de los interesados e involucrados clave en el proyecto, la definición de los alcances del proyecto y la construcción de la estructura desglosada del trabajo.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks
Writing Skills for Engineering Leaders (Coursera) Coursera
Rice University

Writing Skills for Engineering Leaders (Coursera)

Engineering leaders must write extensively for their jobs, and their writing needs to be professional, reader-focused, and error-free. What leaders write in particular can affect productivity and the bottom line, so the written communication that leaders create must be clear and concise. In this course, you’ll learn essential writing skills that you can apply in your daily activities on the job as an engineering leader.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Organisational behaviour: Know your people (Coursera) Coursera
Macquarie University

Organisational behaviour: Know your people (Coursera)

Organisations have changed and now, more than ever, personnel management is crucial to organisational success. In this course you’ll explore a range of concepts, theories and methodologies that will help you navigate and optimise your work environment. Via structured learning activities (video lectures, quizzes, discussion prompts and written assessments) you will be exposed to the latest best-practice leadership strategies to enable your employees to achieve more at work.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
How to Manage a Remote Team (Coursera) Coursera
GitLab

How to Manage a Remote Team (Coursera)

Remote management is much more than just implementing a work-from-home policy. In this course, you’ll learn and apply remote work best practices, build your remote work policy, and prepare your team for success. This course is ideal for current managers, executives, and human resources professionals who want to learn how to lead and support a high-functioning, scalable remote team. GitLab is one of the world’s largest all-remote organizations; experts from throughout the company will guide you through in-depth lessons for leaders, people managers, and HR professionals to build, manage, and scale.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Coberturas de riesgo con futuros y opciones para agrobusiness (Coursera) Coursera
Universidad Austral

Coberturas de riesgo con futuros y opciones para agrobusiness (Coursera)

La producción agropecuaria y agroalimentaria tiene una gran importancia en las economías latinoamericanas tanto desde el punto de vista de su participación en el PBI de los países, generación de empleo y exportaciones , ya que en muchos casos las exportaciones agroalimentarias constituyen una fuente muy importante de divisas en las economías latinoamericanas.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Global Postharvest Loss Prevention: Fundamentals, Technologies, and Actors (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Global Postharvest Loss Prevention: Fundamentals, Technologies, and Actors (Coursera)

This course provides an overview of the issue of postharvest loss of grains by exploring essential physical, technical, and social dimensions of postharvest supply chains and loss prevention methods globally. Each year, estimates suggest that 1/3 of all food produced is lost or wasted, making postharvest loss a critical global food security and sustainability issue of today. Key knowledge areas are presented including: an overview of postharvest loss; supply chain activities such as harvesting, drying, and storage; economics and markets; an introduction to the network of actors working in this field.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks
The Factors that Influence the Effectiveness of Boards and the Governance Process (Coursera) Coursera
University at Buffalo,The State University of New York

The Factors that Influence the Effectiveness of Boards and the Governance Process (Coursera)

The third course in this Specialization introduces you to the factors that influence how effective boards of directors will be in carrying out their roles and responsibilities and hence the impact they have in shaping the success of the organization they govern. While this course has been developed with North American culture in mind, we do appreciate that, in other parts of the world, the nature of the factors that influence the effectiveness of nonprofit boards of directors may vary. Nevertheless,it is our hope that much of the course content will still be of value to those in other parts of the world.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Overcoming Bias (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Irvine

Overcoming Bias (Coursera)

This course is for anyone that wants to learn more about bias and how it can affect business, relationships, and communities. The course begins with an exploration of the word bias and its many definitions. The course then covers workplace bias and strategies for overcoming personal bias. The course ends with an activity in which the learner creates an action plan for a bias free workplace.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Leading Innovation in Arts and Culture (Coursera) Coursera
Vanderbilt University,National Arts Strategies - NAS

Leading Innovation in Arts and Culture (Coursera)

Developed by David Owens at Vanderbilt University and customized for the cultural sector with National Arts Strategies, this course will help arts and culture leaders create an environment where new ideas are constantly created, shared, evaluated and the best ones are successfully put to work. One of the toughest challenges for any leader is getting traction for new ideas. Winning support can be a struggle. As a result, powerful new ideas often get stuck. This is especially true in the cultural sector. People involved in arts and culture often have little time and even less money for experimentation and risks. This course will help those in the performing arts, museums, zoos, libraries and other cultural organizations build environments where new management and program ideas flourish.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Achieving Supplier Diversity (Coursera) Coursera
Coursera Instructor Network

Achieving Supplier Diversity (Coursera)

If you are interested in learning more about supplier diversity and how to achieve it, then I encourage you to take this course. It is a valuable resource that will help you develop and implement a successful supplier diversity program that benefits your organization and the communities you serve.

Nov 16th 2026
3 Weeks
Management of International Development: Towards Agenda 2030 (Coursera) Coursera
Università Bocconi

Management of International Development: Towards Agenda 2030 (Coursera)

Welcome! This course provides participants with the opportunity to explore the multifaceted concept of international development in order to be able to interpret and lead its challenges, opportunities and constant evolutions. Starting from an in-depth analysis of the current international development architecture, its key actors and trends, the course then illustrates the main international organizations' governance systems; identifies their funding and financing tools necessary to implement development programs and achieve sustainable development goals; and explains how to effectively leverage on human capital to drive organizational success and be ‘fit for purpose’ in an ever changing international development scenario.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Fundamentals of Effective Team Management (Coursera) Coursera
Starweaver

Fundamentals of Effective Team Management (Coursera)

Welcome to our comprehensive course on team management! In today's dynamic and interconnected world, the ability to lead and manage teams effectively is a critical skill for success in various professional domains. This course has been thoughtfully designed to provide you with the knowledge, strategies, and tools necessary to excel in team management. Throughout the program, we will explore various aspects of team leadership, from building high-performing teams to fostering a culture of trust and productivity.

Nov 16th 2026
1 Week