Today, very few businesses can afford not to cater to a diverse customer base. With the Hispanic population forecasted to reach 111 million by 2060, according to the US Census Bureau, and multicultural Americans representing 37.5% of the total US population since 2018 as noted in Clarita’s report, one would be hard-pressed to find a business that is not designing solutions to meet the needs of this growing multicultural market.
Read MoreAs we usher in another Black History Month, I can’t help but reflect on Amanda Gorman’s poem, “The Hill We Climb.” This poem sets the stage for what our future could look like if we commit to “leave behind a country better than the one we were left.” And it also exhibits what our communities and organizations can become if we embrace our differences and foster inclusion. The poem brings us hope and comfort that beyond our healing and hard work, there will be love, light, and victory;
Read MoreIt’s a new year, but, sadly, the exhaustion has continued. Wednesday’s storming on the US Capitol and, more importantly, how the riot was handled has brought to bear a continued display of inequities in the American society that result in Black people, in particular, questioning whether they will ever be treated fairly. Addressing these issues and their impact on our employees is imperative in cultivating environments where people feel they belong. The conversations are uncomfortable but ignoring them is to our detriment. We risk alienating and losing talented employees who are left to think that they contribute and serve organizations that are tone-deaf to real issues that affect them, their families, and communities.
Read MoreRepresentation matters the same way in any organization or industry. It is crucial to whether current and future employees feel included or see themselves rising to the top of your organization. Would someone like Kamala Harris see herself represented on your board of directors or executive leadership team? And if she’s not represented, do you have policies in place that foster her rise to be the first, or are there hurdles due to the absence of an inclusive culture?
Read MoreWe should treat diversity and inclusion (D&I) as a humanity issue rather than a personnel issue. This insightful statement supports the argument that D&I goes beyond human resources (HR) in the ongoing debate about whether the leadership and management of D&I initiatives belong within HR or reporting directly to the head of the organization.
Read MoreFostering diversity and inclusion (D&I) should not be the sole responsibility of the human resources leader or the D&I practitioner. To have a significant impact, we must spread D&I efforts across the organization, and this is only possible if the company’s leadership is walking the talk. Leaders have an essential role in driving inclusiveness, and organizations should bear that in mind as they recruit top talent or develop existing employees for leadership roles. As you move forward in building future teams, think about how important it is for your leaders to model inclusive leadership to get the best outcomes.
Read MoreCorporate social responsibility (CSR) has been a “nice to do” for many years. At the very least, many organizations have seen the importance of philanthropy – donating and supporting local and regional charities as a way of giving back. However, it has become imperative for corporate social responsibility initiatives to level up and become more structured, robust programs in recent times.
Read MoreEmpathy does not mean acceptance. Taking a stand to speak out against injustices and creating a supportive and equitable environment for everyone is just being human. If you fear that you will offend your board of directors, senior team, staff, and customers by being human, you have a bigger problem. After hearing this insightful perspective on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), it’s hard to comprehend why anyone would deem it unnecessary.
Read MoreDiversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability issues are becoming more important to employees and customers making them business imperatives rather than nice to have.
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