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The Unifying Power of Our Stories


Two side by side pictures. The one on the left is a black and white photo of a young Korean girl in traditional clothes. The one on the right is Sara Jones wearing traditional Korean clothing.

At times, the world can seem divided. With so many different voices and opinions vying for attention, it can be easy to retreat into our echo chambers and only listen to those who agree with us. However, there is a powerful tool that can help bridge divides and encourage understanding: storytelling.

The People and Workplace Culture Community Dialogue Series: The Unifying Power of Our Stories is an upcoming event that aims to showcase the importance of storytelling in bringing people together. At the Oak Room Student Center on the Taylorsville Campus on Monday, March 18, from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., this event will feature a presentation by Sara Jones, CEO of InclusionPro®.

Sara knows all about the power of storytelling. In 2018, she found her birth family in South Korea after 42 years, thanks to a mysterious tattoo. This moving chapter of her life has been shared on the global TED platform, touching over 2 million hearts and minds on the emotional complexity of transracial adoption.

The event will start with a lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon, followed by Jones' presentation from noon to 12:45 p.m. After the presentation, there will be a Q&A session from 12:45 to 1 p.m. This workshop is open to all staff, students, and faculty.

The dialogue will allow us to hear from an accomplished leader and reflect on our stories and the bridges we can build toward a less divisive world. "The human need for belonging exists within all of us," says Sara. She believes that by sharing our stories and listening to other’s stories, we can find common ground and work toward a more united future.

Please mark your calendars for March 18 and join us for an inspiring and thought-provoking event celebrating the power of storytelling. Together, we can build bridges and positively impact the world around us.

Registration:

Employees go to the MySLCC Employee Training Portal, search under “Staff Development" and look for code CH45. Adjunct faculty are compensated hourly for attending.

Students should register in Campus Groups.

This presentation will be recorded and posted.

Program Schedule:

11:30 a.m. - noon – Lunch 
noon - 12:45 p.m. – presentation* 
12:45 - 1 p.m. – Q&A

Sara Jones Bio:

Speaker Bio: Sara Jones is a foremost voice in inclusive leadership, known for her impactful talks on high-performing teams, maximizing individual strengths, and shaping authentic leadership narratives. As CEO of InclusionPro® and a renowned thought leader on inclusion, Jones is a frequent keynote and distinguished speaker to audiences of all sizes. Jones has been featured by TED, NPR and other international media. Her ability to engage with audiences of all backgrounds is evidenced by her high-profile features, including a TED talk on the emotional intricacies of international adoption, at go.ted.com/sarajones, which has garnered over 2 million views.

At InclusionPro, Sara’s expert team crafts transformative global strategies, with a focus on team performance and unity. Her approach is human-centered, emphasizing organizational alignment and the personal growth of leaders and teams. Her expertise also extends to coaching seasoned executives and nurturing emerging public speakers.

With an illustrious career spanning 25 years, Sara's journey from patent attorney to visionary CEO encapsulates a diverse expertise in business, technology, legal strategy, and content creation. Sara's executive journey includes her role as CEO of ApplicantPro, a human resources technology company, and VP of Strategic Development at Patent Law Works in Silicon Valley. She has led business and product development at School Improvement Network, an educational technology company. She started her career as a patent attorney, and became a partner at Workman Nydegger.

Jones serves on the Utah State Workforce Development Board (Utah governor and legislature appointed) and Nat’l Assn of Corporate Directors Utah Chapter Board. In 2007, Sara co-founded Women Tech Council (WTC) a national organization focusing on the economic impact of women in the technology sector. She has served on the Board of Trustees for Intermountain Healthcare Salt Lake Valley Hospitals Board. Jones’ recognitions include the Kirk R. Englehardt Business Ethics Award from Utah Valley University (2024), Distinguished Alumni University of Utah (2021), and Utah Business Magazine CEO of the Year (2019). Jones has a J.D. from BYU Law School and a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Utah.





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