SourcingFeb 08, 2022
Rio Tinto Workplace Report Reveals ‘Deeply Disturbing’ CulturePolicies & IssuesFeb 10, 2022
Signet Executive to Lead Second BIJC IDEA Session
Chief Diversity Officer and Senior VP Reggie Johnson will head a panel discussion on bias and racism in retail settings on Feb. 16.
Reggie Johnson is chief diversity officer and senior vice president at Signet Jewelers. He will lead a panel discussion on racism in retail settings on Feb. 16.
New York—A high-ranking Signet executive will lead the second session in the Black in Jewelry Coalition’s new education program, slated to take place next week.
Reggie Johnson, Signet Jeweler’s chief diversity officer/senior vice president, will guide a panel discussion titled “Encounters with Bias and Racism.”
The discussion will feature four panelists sharing first-hand accounts of times they have been the victims of biased and racist behavior as both retail employees and retail customers, and how each encounter could have been avoided.
The panelists are: Kecia Caffie, president of Signet’s Banter by Piercing Pagoda; Karen Smith, metal artist and founder of We Wield the Hammer; Jeffery Bolling, owner and designer at Jeffery B. Jewelers; and Malyia McNaughton, designer and CEO of Made by Malyia Jewelry.
The session, which will take place on Zoom, is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. Eastern.
Registration is available here.
In addition, the session will be recorded, and the replay will be available through July.
Related stories will be right here …
Reggie Johnson, Signet Jeweler’s chief diversity officer/senior vice president, will guide a panel discussion titled “Encounters with Bias and Racism.”
The discussion will feature four panelists sharing first-hand accounts of times they have been the victims of biased and racist behavior as both retail employees and retail customers, and how each encounter could have been avoided.
The panelists are: Kecia Caffie, president of Signet’s Banter by Piercing Pagoda; Karen Smith, metal artist and founder of We Wield the Hammer; Jeffery Bolling, owner and designer at Jeffery B. Jewelers; and Malyia McNaughton, designer and CEO of Made by Malyia Jewelry.
The session, which will take place on Zoom, is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. Eastern.
Registration is available here.
In addition, the session will be recorded, and the replay will be available through July.
BIJC launched its training program, called I.D.E.A. (inclusion, diversity and equity for all), earlier this year.
Diversity and inclusion expert Risha Grant led the first session, “Get Rid of the BS,” on Jan. 19. In it, she talked about the importance of recognizing one’s own biases, confronting them, and being an ally.
The recording of Grant’s talk is available for replay now via the BIJC website and, as with Johnson’s session, will remain accessible through July.
BIJC is offering the Jewelry Industry I.D.E.A. Training Program in partnership with the following industry organizations: the American Gem Society, Buyers Intelligence Group, Ethical Metalsmiths, Jewelers Board of Trade, Jewelers of America, Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America, Responsible Jewellery Council, and the Women’s Jewelry Association.
BIJC formed in the summer of 2020 amid the racial reckoning that started in the United States and spread worldwide.
It is the first international nonprofit membership organization for the advancement of Black professionals in the gem, jewelry, and watch industry.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Policies & Issues
The Latest
CollectionsJul 17, 2026
HOWL Taps Shailene Woodley for ‘Home Sweet Home’ CampaignWoodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
U.K. Woman Pays £5 for £15K Diamond Ring at Car Boot SaleA WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
Diamond Dealer Jeff Pancis Pens MemoirThe founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
Events & AwardsJul 17, 2026
Gem Awards Opens 2027 Nomination PeriodSubmissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.
Weekly QuizJul 17, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
EditorsJul 16, 2026
Q&A: Guzema’s Co-Owners On Its US Expansion, 10-Year AnniversaryValeriya Guzema and Mariana Lenha look back on the last decade and discuss the Ukrainian brand’s first U.S. store.
SourcingJul 16, 2026
Ekati to Close, Leaving Canada With One Diamond Mine The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
FinancialsJul 16, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Sales Soar for the Seventh Quarter in a RowJewelry sales for the company, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier, and Buccellati, rose 21 percent in the first quarter.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program Certifies First Advanced Apprentice GraduateThe graduate, Grace Barden, credited the program with helping her secure a job as a bench jeweler.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
Jewelers of Louisiana to Host 80th ConventionThe event, scheduled for next month in New Orleans, will include dinner, a custom jewelry design contest, and education sessions.
SourcingJul 15, 2026
1,305-Carat Diamond Recovered from Mine in BotswanaThe yet-to-be named stone is the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to come out of Lucara’s Karowe mine.
IndependentsJul 15, 2026
New Jersey Jeweler Barry Berman Dies at 81The founder of Fords Jewelers, Berman is remembered for his love of connecting with his community.
FinancialsJul 15, 2026
Watches of Switzerland’s US Sales Jump 18%, Declines to Comment on Sale Report The watch and jewelry retailer had a strong fiscal year despite what its CEO described as a “complex operating backdrop.”
Events & AwardsJul 15, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
CollectionsJul 15, 2026
Pomellato’s New High Jewelry Is LiberatingBold color, expressive gem-setting, and sculptural form define the three chapters that make up “Stile Libero.”
IndependentsJul 14, 2026
Foundrae Opens First Standalone Store Outside USThe New York-based jewelry brand has expanded overseas, opening a store in London’s Mayfair district.
ColumnistsJul 14, 2026
Sherry Smith: What Today’s Jewelry Consumer Is Telling Us Rising revenue does not automatically mean a healthy business, particularly in the current economic landscape, Smith writes.
TrendsJul 14, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Shoulder Dusters These long, fluid drop earrings are sure to catch the eye.
CrimeJul 14, 2026
Man Charged in $1M Jewelry Store Heist Lands on FBI Most Wanted ListAlberto Perez-Elias is one of four men charged with robbing a Cape Coral, Florida, jewelry store and is the only one still at large.
Events & AwardsJul 14, 2026
Conference on Mining, Sustainability Kicks Off in NYCInitiatives in Art and Culture is hosting its 16th annual Gold and Diamond Conference, with the theme of “Resilience.”
Lab-GrownJul 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Changes Her Mind on Lab-Grown DiamondsThe designer, who once said she’d never sell lab-grown diamonds, debuted two capsule collections designed to be fun and easy to wear.
SourcingJul 13, 2026
De Beers Announces Potential Layoffs, 2-Year Production Pause at VenetiaThe diamond miner and marketer is undergoing another round of cost-cutting measures ahead of its sale by Anglo American.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
Registration Opens for JIS Fall 2026 ShowThe annual trade-only buying event is slated for Oct. 16-19 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
AGTA Accepting Entries for Spectrum 2026AGTA also has announced the lineup of judges for the colored gemstone cutting and jewelry design contest’s various categories.
TechnologyJul 10, 2026
There’s a New Blind Box for Luxury Watches Collectibles platform Arena Club’s new Time Boxes could contain a Rolex or Patek Philippe watch.
TrendsJul 10, 2026
Jade Trau Creates a Constellation of DiamondsThe “Constellation Plié” collar, our Piece of the Week, features diamonds arranged in a constellation of shining stars.
