LCLD Launches Institute for Modern Leadership


Led by LCLD Board Chair Kim Rivera, more than 40 LCLD Members gathered at Harvard Law School in late July for the first-ever meeting of LCLD’s Institute for the Modern Inclusive Leader—an intensive, two-day summit on the art of inclusive leadership during times of disruption. 

“As leaders at the dawn of a new era, we’re being called to evolve and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances,” said Rivera, chief legal officer of OneTrust. “Rallying a diverse workforce to meet this moment requires buy-in and engagement across a wide spectrum of perspectives—it requires trust. And trust is built on inclusion.” 

That theme was echoed by Prof. David Wilkins of Harvard Law School, who described the “seismic” forces shaking the legal landscape of 2024, ranging from artificial intelligence and hybrid work environments to generational shifts in talent and the assaults on DEI prompted by recent Supreme Court rulings on affirmative action. 

“Risk is exploding everywhere, even as the rule of law is being undermined,” said Wilkins. “Meanwhile, the next generation is hungry for more meaningful work. Our challenge as inclusive leaders is to show our young talent—the most restless and diverse generation in history—how working in the law is essential to making a better world.”  

Members weighed in with perspectives of their own in a discussion of societal pressures, attrition, and remote work that led back to what Wilkins described as the “jagged frontier” of artificial intelligence and the critical difference between AI and human judgment, creativity, and empathy.  

“Clients today need lawyers who can provide more than technical legal services,” he said, urging Members to include their diverse talent as they adapt to meet those needs. “They are looking for judgment, which is shaped by a diversity of life experiences. And if you and your team all think the same, you’re in deep trouble.”  

In breakout sessions led by Wilkins and Scott Westfahl of the Harvard Law School’s Center for Executive Education, Members explored the challenges and opportunities that a next-gen workplace presents as they work to build inclusive environments and develop diverse talent. 

Adaptability took center stage on day two, as Westfahl presented a seminar on Modern Inclusive Leadership that included sidebars on the importance of personal wellness and resilience in inclusive workplaces, led by Laura Tuach of the Harvard Divinity School and Rich Phillips, former CEO of Pilot Freight Services. 

“It’s always inspiring and therapeutic to be with impressive people trying to do the right thing and who are undergoing the same challenges,” said one Member afterward.  

“This is how we push through the headwinds of today,” said Robert Grey, president of LCLD. “It’s by rolling up our sleeves and leaning into collaboration, authenticity, and vulnerability.”   

“It’s time to embrace the possibilities of inclusion and find a path forward,” Kim Rivera said—“fulfilling our commitment to diversity and inclusion while becoming leaders for all. That’s what the Institute for the Modern Inclusive Leader is all about.”