What If I Say the Wrong Thing?: 25 Habits for Culturally Effective People (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781614389712)

Vernā Myers, Esq., principal of Vernā Myers Consulting Group, LLC (VMCG), is an internationally recognized expert on diversity and inclusion within law firms, law departments and law schools. Verna is a dynamic speaker and creative advisor in support of creating inclusive environments and improving the recruitment, retention of underrepresented groups. Ms. Myers is well known for her expansive approach to diversity and her belief that inclusion is necessary for people from different cultures, ethnicities, genders, generations, physical abilities, races, sexual orientations, experiences and backgrounds to thrive in their organizations. When these individuals excel, organizations realize the power of diversity.

VMCG has collaborated with over 100 legal clients to effect sustainable organizational change by conducting cultural assessments, developing comprehensive strategic diversity action plans informed by her knowledge of cross-cultural competencies, and facilitating compelling and interactive workshops in the U.S. and around the globe. A highly sought after speaker at numerous conferences worldwide, Vernā sponsors the highly successful annual Opus Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Large Law Firms, and frequently is the keynote speaker at bar and legal association meetings, law firm partner and leadership retreats, women's conferences, and affinity group forums.

Vernā has worked internationally for a number of global law firms with offices in the UK, Germany, China, Japan, Singapore, Canada, Sweden and Russia. In Canada, Ms. Myers has consulted with the Seven Sisters firms in Toronto and in 2009 sponsored her own Toronto Legal Community Workshop "Maintaining Diversity and Inclusion in a Difficult Economy," which attracted representatives from numerous prominent law firms in the area.

Vernā is the author of "Moving Diversity Forward: How To Go From Well-Meaning To Well-Doing," published by the American Bar Association in 2011. www.movingdiversityforward.com. A second book, "What If I Say the Wrong Thing?: Learning the Language of Inclusion" is currently in the works.

In 2010, Pepper Hamilton LLP awarded Ms. Myers its Diversity Champion award. In 2009 she was chosen as one of The Network Journal's "25 Influential Black Women in Business," and in 2008, one of The Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly's "Diversity Heroes".

Prior to establishing VMCG, Verna was the first Executive Director of The Boston Law Firm Group, a consortium of firms committed to increasing racial/ethnic diversity. She served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Attorney General of Massachusetts (1997-99), where she executed a comprehensive diversity and inclusion initiative: increasing minority recruitment; conducting diversity and sexual harassment trainings; and performing outreach to the state's diverse population. Verna practiced corporate and real estate law in Boston for six years at Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP and Fitch, Wiley, Richlin & Tourse, LLP. Verna graduated from Harvard Law School and received a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Barnard College, Columbia University. Vernā Myers, Esq., currently resides in Baltimore, MD.