Learning Objectives: Discover effective methods for managing and supporting highly sensitive employees in the workplace. It is estimated that approximately one in five individuals are highly sensitive people (HSPs), which means you likely have at least one HSP on your team. HSPs process information more deeply and are more attuned to their surroundings, including lights, sounds, facial expressions, and vocal tones. While they can be exceptional employees - thoughtful, intuitive, conscientious, and dedicated high performers - they also require a unique approach to management. In this session, you will learn how to foster inclusivity and retain this neurodiverse group of individuals, who may prove to be some of your organization's most valuable assets. By the end of this session, attendees will be able to: 1. Identify common triggers for highly sensitive employees and understand how to mitigate them. 2. Discover effective ways to capitalize on the innate strengths of your highly sensitive team members. 3. Learn what not to say in order to avoid hurt feelings and maintain positive relationships with sensitive employees. 4. Implement communication adjustments that can significantly improve interactions with highly sensitive individuals. 5. Develop an action plan to empower and support your highly sensitive employees.

2. Communication Strategies for Engaging
Highly Sensitive People
Learning Objective:
Discover effective methods for managing and supporting highly
sensitive employees in the workplace

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Kendall Norris - Moderator
Kendall Norris is a board member, an executive, a technologist and a strategist that
facilitates collective success across diverse stakeholder groups. His expertise
includes developing and leading international teams, in multiple languages. Areas
of expertise include Enterprise applications/infrastructure | M&A | Risk Management
| Program management.
Kendall's passions are people and education. He has led international mission teams
and helps others transform their lives through his consultancy, writing, speaking
and coaching.
He holds a BA degree in Communications from John Carroll University, an MBA
from Case Western Reserve University. He is a Systems Engineering subject matter
expert. He holds a PMP certification and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

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Mary Simmons - Panelist
Mary Simmons is a Strategic Planning Manager leading cohesive customer and
market strategies at Collins Aerospace, a RTX company. She started her career in the
automotive industry as a manufacturing engineer and past roles include electronic
tool integration, product cost reduction, and project leadership roles.
Mary earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering from
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, maintains Project
Management Professional (PMP) certification and is pursuing an MBA at the Indiana
University Kelley School of Business.
Mary is proficient in engaging across functions, building relationships and outlining
and driving critical tasks. These skills are often utilized in passion areas related to
volunteer organizational development and community engagement. Outside of
work, Mary enjoys dancing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

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Renieal Campbell is a multi-talented media personality currently serving in the
United States Army Reserves as a drill sergeant, motivational speaker, youth mentor,
and former Miss Pennsylvania Earth USA. Renieal is a wholehearted advocate for
youth and veteran empowerment, having given her time to various organizations,
non-profit foundations, and brands.
Organizations include Complex, Vice News, Under Armour, The Travis Manion
Foundation, The United States Army, and news outlet Elite Daily. As a young black
woman and representative of Generation Z, Campbell finds it necessary to help as
many people as possible and leave a meaningful impact that will allow society to
thrive.
She continues to use her experiences in leadership, mentorship, entrepreneurship,
and public speaking to mentor and motivate people throughout the United States.
www.reniealcampbell.com
Renieal Campbell - Panelist

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My Drill Sergeant Experience
• Growing up as a sensitive person from middle child syndrome, being
a child of immigrants, being bullied, and personal insecurity.
• Joining the Army and starting college.
• Imposter syndrome – Am I really the woman society sees and
acknowledges?

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My Drill Sergeant Experience
• Becoming a drill sergeant at 22 years old and my thought process going
into training.
• Being a sensitive person and living the Army lifestyle.
• How do I compartmentalize my personal sensitivity?
• Being black, a woman, and holding positions of leadership in the Army.

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My Takeaway
•Give yourself time, peace, and applause. We’re always changing, growing,
understanding, and learning new things about this world and ourselves. That
deserves applause.
•It’s okay to acknowledge sensitivity. It makes you more in tune with emotions
and can help you maneuver situations effectively.

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Highly Sensitive People
• Term coined by psychologist Elaine Aron - 1997
• Estimated to make up 15-20% of the population
• Deeper central nervous system sensitivity
• Personality trait call sensory-processing sensitivity
• Increased emotional sensitivity
• Strong reactions to external and internal stimuli
• Complex inner life
• Heightened empathy
• Requires periods of seclusion for relief
• Attempts to avoid distressing situations

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Some Characteristics
• Require more downtime, slower
pace, enjoy relaxation and value
well-being
• Longer decision-making time –
process information deeply
• Dealing with conflict and criticism is
a huge burden and can be
overwhelming
• Vulnerable to overstimulation by
environmental and social stimuli
• Tend to withdraw from tense and/or
new situations
• Highly self-aware, creative, deep
appreciation of arts, rich inner life
• Feel things more deeply than others
– pain, pleasure, joy, sadness, etc.
• Easy to please, find joy in simple
things, ‘low maintenance’
• Prefer a small circle of support based
in love, reciprocate with abundance
• Very loyal friend, difficult to get close
to
• Extremely aware of verbal cues and
facial expressions
• Tend to avoid negative overarousal,
i.e., negative news coverage, violent
sports or films
• Overstimulation can lead to
withdraw – often misinterpreted as
introverts or anti-social

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Key Takeaways
• Make decisions differently
• Feels emotions and sensations more intensely
• More empathetic
• Requires adequate downtime
• Environment matters
• Requires boundaries
• Sensitivity can be a superpower at work

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THANK YOU!