Chicago OD Practitioners Network
Topic: Seeing What We Usually Overlook: Using Identity to Deepen Support and Connection
Date: Friday, October 31, 2025
Location: Virtual, via Zoom
Time: 7:45-8:00 AM, CDT networking
8:00-9:30 AM, CDT program
Register: Send an email to CODPNetwork@gmail.com by Tuesday, October 28 (free program). You will receive a Zoom link the week of the program.
Program Description
We often think supporting people means being empathetic, but empathy can still leave us seeing others through our own lens. In this interactive session, Asha Sarode, JD, MBA, Founder of Uniquity Consulting, introduces a new way to understand and connect with others - through identity and perspective-getting.
Using the metaphor of an organizational canopy, Asha explores how the relationships and communication patterns that sustain healthy ecosystems also sustain healthy organizations. She’ll guide participants through reflective prompts and activities that reveal not only how assumptions shape our perceptions of others, but also how our own identities influence the way we see, interpret, and support people.
Participants will:
- Discover the depth and complexity of identity - and why understanding it is essential for meaningful connection and effective support.
- Examine how identity influences what people need to feel valued and thrive.
- Learn why empathy isn’t always enough - and how perspective-getting builds trust and understanding.
- Practice using curiosity, open questions, and deep listening to uncover what’s often unseen in others - and in ourselves.
This session is designed for practitioners, coaches, and consultants who already understand engagement and development frameworks but want to explore the deeper, human dimensions that make real connection - and transformation - possible.
About the Speaker
Asha Sarode, JD, MBA, is the Founder of Uniquity Consulting, a leadership development firm that helps managers and teams unlock innovation and engagement by understanding the unique identities of the individuals they lead. With over 20 years of experience spanning law, healthcare, and technology, Asha brings a rare combination of analytical depth and human insight.
Her work integrates behavioral research, real-world inquiry, and organizational experience to help leaders cultivate trust, authenticity, and curiosity within their organizations.
Program Format:
Mix of presentation (brief), large group & small group interactive discussions. Informal Zoom atmosphere. We kindly request that all participants keep their cameras on during the entire program to promote active involvement and interaction.
To register, send an email to CODPNetwork@gmail.com by Tuesday, October 28 (free program). You will receive a Zoom link the week of the program.
