Norwich — In a Thursday morning conversation on diversity in leadership, four panelists discussed changing definitions of diversity and the ways in which it is important in the workplace.

They spoke not only about their respective experiences as African-American, Hispanic and Indian leaders but also about diversity that extends beyond the racial realm.

"I look at diversity as: In the workplace, everybody has something to contribute," said Chandler Howard, CEO of Liberty Bank. He added, "For me, it's about diversity of ideas, diversity of thought and diversity of backgrounds."

The other panelists were Glendowlyn Thames, executive director of CTNext; Elsa Núñez, president of Eastern Connecticut State University, and Seema Mukherjee, owner of Kumon Math and Reading Center of East Lyme.

They spoke at a Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut business breakfast with the theme of "Diversity in Leadership," part of the chamber's Leadership Pathways and Perspectives series of events. Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council Chairman Rodney Butler moderated the panel, and Liberty Bank sponsored the event.

Butler said it's important to get "those that are still trying to understand the power of diversity and the importance of diversity to embrace it, and not just look at it as a check-the-box moment."

Howard was encouraged by seeing the diversity in the room at the Holiday Inn Norwich, saying, "I can recall attending Chamber events 40 years ago and really feeling uncomfortable, because I was the only one of me, and everyone else was a white male, basically."

Thames said while older generations mostly looked at diversity from a perspective of race and gender, the focus is now also on diversity of thought, background, skills and discipline.

Núñez said it's important for her to get out of her Hispanic perspective and look at LGBT diversity, for example, while Mukherjee spoke to the importance of respecting a student "who wants to express himself in a different gender."

Mukherjee also talked about the different experiences she's had living in different places. She grew up in India in a house of Brahmins, the highest class in the caste system, and didn't experience discrimination.

She found that living in Akron, Ohio, "was totally a dream come true," with a mentor paving her way, but later had banks elsewhere turn her down because she didn't have a partner supporting her.

Asked how to diffuse fear of the "other" and bring conversations back to the human level to bridge gaps, Núñez spoke about the importance of free speech — especially where she works, in an academic setting.

"It's my moral responsibility to fight for the right to say that Puerto Ricans are stupid," said Núñez, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico, "even though it would be so painful for me to hear from the podium."

Thames added that it's key for people who may disagree to be "taking that step back and really figuring out where that commonality is."

e.moser@theday.com