Academic-Corporate Partnership Fosters Workplace Dialogue and Inclusive Culture

​A dynamic partnership between NCDD Member, Middlebury College’s Conflict Transformation Collaborative (CT Collaborative) and Burlington-based nuwave Equity Corporation is demonstrating how dialogue practices can lead to meaningful workplace culture change. By combining Middlebury’s academic expertise with nuwave’s innovative equity work, the collaboration equips organizations with tools to foster inclusive, high-performing environments. Centered on core conflict transformation skills—like active listening and curiosity—the initiative exemplifies the impact of cross-sector collaboration. Soon, new training videos and multimedia resources will make these strategies more accessible and scalable. Read more in the blog post below.

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​In an inspiring example of cross-sector collaboration, the Conflict Transformation Collaborative (CT Collaborative) at Middlebury College has joined forces with nuwave Equity Corporation to promote social innovation and inclusive culture-building in the workplace. This partnership not only brings Middlebury's academic insights into the corporate world but also exemplifies how dialogue and deliberation can catalyze systemic change.

Innovation-Driven Corporate Culture

​nuwave Equity Corporation, a Burlington-based business intelligence company, is no stranger to innovation. Led by founder Emiliano Void, nuwave has earned accolades for its forward-thinking approach to organizational culture. Emiliano believes that cultural inclusivity isn't just a value—it's a driver of performance. "If we can build more inclusive cultures," Emiliano argues, "we can transform the work that we do and the communities we serve."
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To that end, nuwave combines data-driven analysis with an interdisciplinary team of experts to identify cultural strengths and gaps across organizations. But mapping culture is only part of the puzzle. The real transformation comes through skill-building—and that's where the CT Collaborative steps in.

Building Conflict Transformation Skills

For the past three years, the CT Collaborative has been at the forefront of efforts to equip people with the skills, mindsets, and practices necessary for constructive conflict engagement. Through workshops, experimental programming, and extensive feedback, they've developed a toolkit of core competencies: grounded presence, active listening, curiosity-driven inquiry, and the ability to recognize deeper systemic issues behind conflict.
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These skills are vital not only in classrooms or community dialogues but also in boardrooms and break rooms. As Sarah Stroup, director of the CT Collaborative, recounts: "Emiliano and I met at a See Change Sessions lunch at Hula several years ago. We had a great conversation about the importance of fostering interpersonal skills for constructive conflict in the workplace. After several more conversations, he invited the Collaborative to contribute to the skill-building work they are doing with their clients.

From Concept to Community Resource

​This partnership represents an exciting step toward embedding dialogue and deliberation practices into organizational development strategies. The initiative is supported by a consortium of academic institutions, including Champlain College and St. Michael's College, and will produce accessible multimedia resources. The CT Collaborative will begin developing a series of training videos in Spring 2025, which will be made available to the broader community via Middlebury's website.

A Model for Future Collaborations

This collaboration is a compelling reminder of what's possible when we bridge academic research with real-world application. By integrating the principles of constructive conflict and deep listening into the fabric of organizational life, nuwave and the CT Collaborative are not just teaching conflict skills—they are reshaping cultures.

For those in the NCDD network, this partnership offers a promising model for how dialogue and deliberation practitioners can engage with sectors outside the traditional civic or academic spaces. It's about meeting people where they are—and helping them grow into more thoughtful, resilient, and inclusive communities.
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Read the full article here: www.middlebury.edu/conflict-transformation/news/social-innovation-and-better-conflict-skills