BIOP 2025: Reflections from FMP

Last month, FMP proudly sponsored and attended the 2nd Annual Blacks in Industrial and Organizational Psychology (BIOP) Conference in Baltimore, MD. This year’s event, centered around the theme “Harboring Innovation: Shaping Tomorrow’s Workplace,” focused on cultivating creativity and forward-thinking approaches within organizations. The conference emphasized how supporting innovative ideas and practices can transform traditional workplaces into more dynamic, efficient, and adaptable environments. Industrial Organizational (I-O) Psychology professionals, academics, and students from around the country gathered to share insights on reimagining work processes, employee engagement, and organizational structures for the future.

As a sponsor, FMP sent an expanded team of consultants to participate in sessions and had HR team members on hand to share career opportunities and insights about our company culture with prospective candidates. The two-day event featured engaging sessions, helpful workshops, and informative panels. Attendees also enjoyed valuable networking opportunities, concluding with the annual gala celebration.

Several FMPers who attended are excited to share their insights from this impactful conference. We’ve gathered our team’s reflections on their experiences and what they learned!

The BIOP conference is an excellent opportunity to meet and connect with others in the field. What aspect of the conference was most valuable to you and why?

“BIOP provides a small intimate space to share with and learn from each other. It provides camaraderie and a sense of belonging. Because it has a relatively small group of attendees, it allows more room for networking and connection.” – Roxanne

“The size and structure of the conference provided ample opportunity to meet and meaningfully interact with other experts and rising leaders in the industry. Many of the presenters and panelists prioritized interactivity, which brought the topics to life and added color and value to the sessions.” – Risa

“The sessions were very valuable and relatable to our work at FMP. Being able to listen and participate in discussions around psychological safety, mentoring, designing surveys, and navigating through turbulent times in the workplace reminded me why I love what I do as a consultant and why I decided to go into I-O psych in the first place.” – Sabrina

What’s a key takeaway you learned that you can apply to your work at FMP?

“I was intrigued by the session on ‘Designing Inclusive Organizational Surveys: Best Practices for Data Collection, Analysis, and Visualization,’ particularly the framing of surveys as empathization tools and the concept of ‘design thinking,’ which was new to me. The facilitators introduced We All Count’s 2021 Data Equity Framework, which helps ensure fairness at every stage of data projects. What resonated most with me was how surveys work better with a design thinking approach. When we treat surveys like product design by understanding users first, then creating solutions, we get better results than when we just collect data without a clear purpose.” – Ashley

“One of the most meaningful aspects of the conference was how it helped me overcome feelings of imposter syndrome. Seeing other Black professionals in leadership roles being celebrated for their contributions allowed me to recognize my own innate ability to lead and captivate an audience.” – Tristine

Is there anything else you want to share about your experience at the conference?

One of the core memories from this trip was sitting down at dinner with folks from FMP. As a fully remote employee, I don’t often interact with folks outside of my project team. I felt more connected as a result of attending BIOP.” – Roxanne

“Attendees were comfortable sharing vulnerable thoughts and experiences, particularly regarding challenges faced by Black employees [in the workplace]. As someone who will never personally experience some of the challenges shared by attendees, I found it valuable to listen and learn how to be a better support.” – Ayat

Looking Forward to BIOP 2026

As you can see, BIOP 2025 was a huge success! The conference provided our team members with valuable insights, meaningful connections, and renewed enthusiasm for our work supporting clients. The intimate setting of BIOP created unique opportunities for in-depth discussions and authentic networking that can sometimes be missed at larger conferences.

For FMP, supporting our team members’ attendance at conferences like BIOP represents our commitment to continuous learning and professional development. The various perspectives and cutting-edge ideas gained from these events enhance our internal culture and the solutions we can provide clients.

We’re already looking forward to BIOP 2026 and the new insights and connections it will bring. Did you attend BIOP 2025? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below!

Ashley Dorsett joined FMP as a Human Capital Consultant in February 2023. She holds an M.S. in Counseling & Student Development from Kansas State University and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Ashley has eight years of professional experience in human resources and learning solutions, with expertise in recruitment, performance management, and training design. At FMP, Ashley supports the National Libraries of Medicine on their innovation efforts.